תַּחֲנוּן (ta.cha.nun)
ta.cha.nun
supplication
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 15 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun tachnunim refers to a specific kind of prayer or request made with humility, often translated as "supplication" or "plea." It appears fifteen times in the Hebrew Bible, most frequently in the Psalms and the prophetic books like Jeremiah and Daniel. Unlike general requests, this word carries the weight of asking for favor or mercy from a superior, whether that is a human leader or God Himself.
Its usage often highlights a posture of dependence. In Daniel 9:4, for instance, the prophet prays tachnunim to acknowledge his people’s sin and seek restoration. The term suggests an earnest appeal rather than a casual petition, emphasizing the requester’s lowly position before the one who holds the power to grant the favor.
Translators typically render it as "supplication" or "plea," capturing the nuance of humble entreaty. This distinction helps readers see that biblical prayer often involves recognizing one’s need and approaching God with sincere, respectful urgency rather than entitlement.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When life feels heavy or uncertain, we often reach out to God with a simple, honest cry. The Hebrew word tachnunim captures this posture perfectly. It is not a demand for rights, but a humble plea for mercy from someone who holds the power to help. This reminds us that approaching God does not require perfect words or high status; it only requires a sincere heart willing to admit its need.
In Daniel 9, the prophet uses this word while confessing sin and asking for restoration. He does not rely on his own goodness but on God’s great mercies. This offers comfort: our prayers are heard not because we are worthy, but because God is gracious. We can bring our deepest struggles to Him with confidence that He listens to the voice of the humble.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 15 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- supplications/ my6×
- and/ supplications2×
- [the] supplications of2×
- supplications/ your1×
- supplications/ our1×
- supplications/ his1×
- supplications1×
- and/ with/ supplications1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תַּחֲנוּנָֽ/י\׃3×
- תַּחֲנוּנוֹתָֽ/י\׃1×
- תַּחֲנוּנַ֑/י1×
- תַּחֲנוּנֶ֜י/ךָ1×
- תַּחֲנוּנֵ֤י1×
- תַּחֲנוּנֵ֙י/נוּ֙1×
- תַּחֲנוּנִ֥ים1×
- תַּ֭חֲנוּנַ/י1×
- תַּ֣חֲנוּנָ֔י/ו1×
- תַחֲנוּנֵ֖י1×
- וּֽ/בְ/תַחֲנוּנִים֮1×
- וְ/תַחֲנוּנִ֑ים1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 9:3
I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and petitions, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.
This verse shows the word used in a context of fasting and sackcloth, highlighting that supplication often arises from deep repentance and serious spiritual seeking.
-
Daniel 9:18
My God, turn your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by your name; for we do not present our petitions before you for our righteousness, but for your great mercies’ sake.
Here the plea is explicitly grounded not in personal righteousness but in God’s mercy, defining the core attitude of humble dependence.
-
Zechariah 12:10
I will pour on David’s house and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and of supplication. They will look to me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for his only son, and will grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for his firstborn.
This unique occurrence describes God pouring out a spirit of supplication, showing that even the desire to pray humbly is a gift from Him.
-
Psalms 86:6
Hear, Yahweh, my prayer. Listen to the voice of my petitions.
David pairs his petition with a request for God to hear his prayer, illustrating how this word functions as an earnest appeal for divine attention.