תִּימָרָה (ti.ma.rah)
ti.ma.rah
column
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun timarah refers to a pillar or column that spreads outward at the top, resembling the fronds of a date palm tree. In the Song of Solomon, this specific image describes the neck of the beloved, evoking an elegant, sturdy shape that tapers upward before flaring out like a crown of leaves.
Its meaning is tightly bound to this visual resemblance. The word does not simply mean any vertical support; it implies a structure with a distinctive, palm-like head. This concrete imagery allows the poet to celebrate physical beauty through natural forms, linking human anatomy directly to the lush landscape of the ancient Near East.
Translators often render timarah as "tower" or "column," but these English words can miss the organic quality of the original. The Hebrew term preserves the connection to the date palm, a tree valued for both its utility and its graceful silhouette. By using this word, the text invites readers to see beauty in structures that mirror the living world around them.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word timarah points to a column shaped like a date palm, tapering upward before flaring out at the top. In Song of Solomon 3:6, this image appears alongside pillars of smoke rising from incense. The poet uses this natural shape to describe beauty that is both sturdy and graceful.
This imagery invites us to see God’s design in the world around us. Just as the date palm stands tall and provides shade, we are created with a strength that supports our daily lives. The text encourages us to appreciate the physical world as a reflection of divine artistry.
When we encounter beauty in nature or in others, we can pause to recognize the care behind it. This word reminds us that elegance and stability often go hand in hand. It is an invitation to look closer at the details of creation and find joy in their simplicity.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- like/ columns of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כְּ/תִֽימֲר֖וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
Song of Solomon 3:6
Who is this who comes up from the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all spices of the merchant?
The verse uses the image of pillars rising from the wilderness to evoke the majestic and fragrant presence associated with the beloved, linking the concept of a column to divine beauty and incense.