תָּנָה (ta.nah)
ta.nah
to recount
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb tannah, appearing in the Piel stem, carries the specific meaning of recounting or rehearsing a narrative. It is not merely casual storytelling but involves retelling events with precision, often to ensure they are remembered accurately. This word appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both within the book of Judges.
In these instances, the term describes the act of publicly declaring historical deeds, particularly God’s interventions on behalf of Israel. The sources highlight its use in contexts where communities gather to remember past deliverances, reinforcing collective identity through shared memory. By using tannah, the text emphasizes the importance of preserving the truth of what has occurred, ensuring that future generations understand their heritage and faith foundation.
This limited usage underscores its specialized role in biblical literature. Rather than a general term for speaking, tannah points to the deliberate act of recounting significant events, likely with an eye toward instruction or commemoration. Its rarity makes each occurrence stand out, marking moments where remembering is as crucial as the event itself.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tannah invites us to see memory as an active, communal duty. It is not just recalling facts, but deliberately rehearsing God’s faithful actions so they remain vivid for those who come after. When we share what the Lord has done, we anchor our identity in His proven character.
In Judges 5:11, this verb calls people to gather and recount Yahweh’s righteous acts. This practice strengthens the community by reminding everyone of their shared heritage and God’s past interventions. It turns history into a living foundation for present faith.
Let us commit to telling our own stories of grace. By sharing these moments with others, we help preserve the truth of God’s work in our lives and encourage fellow believers to trust Him more deeply today.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to/ recount1×
- they will recount1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/תַנּ֕וֹת1×
- יְתַנּוּ֙1×
Key Verses
-
Judges 5:11
Far from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water, there they will rehearse Yahweh’s righteous acts, the righteous acts of his rule in Israel. “Then Yahweh’s people went down to the gates.
This verse uses tannah to command the community to publicly rehearse Yahweh’s righteous acts, linking memory directly to corporate worship and identity.
-
Judges 11:40
that the daughters of Israel went yearly to celebrate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.
Here the related concept of annual commemoration is described, showing how yearly rituals served to keep specific historical events alive in the people's consciousness.