תְּחִנָּה (te.chin.nah)
te.chin.nah
supplication
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 22 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun tachinnah refers to a plea for favor or grace, arising from the root meaning "to be gracious." It describes an earnest request made by someone seeking mercy or goodwill from a superior. In the Old Testament, this term captures the posture of approaching God or a king with humility, acknowledging one’s need for divine or royal benevolence.
Its usage spans several key contexts. In 1 Kings 8, Solomon uses it repeatedly to describe the prayers offered by Israelites in times of distress, framing supplication as a cry for favor rather than a demand. Similarly, Ezra 9:8 employs it when the community asks for grace after exile, highlighting its connection to mercy. Psalms 6 and 55 also use the word to express personal cries for help, showing that tachinnah applies both to corporate worship and individual desperation.
Translators often render tachinnah as "supplication" or "favor," depending on context. The term emphasizes the relational aspect of prayer—seeking alignment with God’s gracious character rather than merely listing requests. This nuance distinguishes it from more generic words for prayer, anchoring it in the desire for divine kindness.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tachinnah describes a plea for favor, rooted in the idea of receiving grace from someone in authority. When you approach God with this kind of prayer, you are not making demands but asking for His kindness. It reflects a humble heart that acknowledges its need for mercy and seeks to align with God’s gracious character rather than listing specific requests.
In 1 Kings 8:30, Solomon prays for God to listen to the supplications of His people when they cry out in distress. This shows that tachinnah is about seeking alignment with God’s will and relying on His benevolence. Whether in times of personal struggle or corporate worship, this posture invites us to trust in God’s willingness to hear and respond with compassion.
When life feels heavy, remember that God values your sincere cries for help. You do not need perfect words or grand gestures—just a heart open to His grace. Let tachinnah remind you that prayer is a relationship, where you can bring your vulnerabilities and find comfort in His steadfast love.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 22 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- supplication/ their4×
- supplication/ my4×
- supplication/ his3×
- [the] supplication of3×
- supplication/ your2×
- supplication2×
- favor2×
- supplications/ their1×
- supplication/ our1×
- and/ the/ supplication1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תְּחִנָּתָ֑/ם3×
- תְּחִנָּת֖/וֹ2×
- תְּחִנָּ֗ה2×
- תְּחִנֹּ֣תֵי/הֶ֔ם1×
- תְּחִנָּתָ/ם֙1×
- תְּחִנָּתִ֣/י1×
- תְּחִנָּתִ֗/י1×
- תְּחִנָּתְ/ךָ֮1×
- תְּחִנָּת֔/וֹ1×
- תְּחִנָּ֑ה1×
- תְּחִנַּתְ/כֶ֖ם1×
- תְּחִנַּ֤ת1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 8:30
Listen to the supplication of your servant, and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Yes, hear in heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.
This verse highlights how Solomon frames supplication as a cry for divine mercy when people are in distress, showing the relational nature of tachinnah.
-
Ezra 9:8
Now for a little moment grace has been shown from Yahweh our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a stake in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and revive us a little in our bondage.
Here, the community uses the concept of grace to ask for survival after exile, emphasizing tachinnah's connection to seeking favor in times of judgment.
-
Psalms 119:170
Let my supplication come before you. Deliver me according to your word.
The psalmist’s plea for deliverance according to God’s word demonstrates how personal desperation can be expressed through tachinnah.
-
Daniel 9:20
While I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before Yahweh my God for the holy mountain of my God—
Daniel presents his supplication alongside confession, illustrating how tachinnah involves humility and repentance before God.