תְּנוּבָה (te.nu.vah)
te.nu.vah
fruit
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun teṇûvâ refers to the initial yield or first fruits of the earth. It describes the early harvest that signals the promise of a larger crop to come. This word appears in only four verses, giving it a concentrated presence in the biblical text.
Its usage highlights a moment of anticipation. In Judges 6:11, the angel finds Gideon threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from Midian; here, the teṇûvâ represents the fragile hope of survival and future provision despite oppression. Similarly, in Isaiah 28:4, the prophet compares the fading beauty of Jerusalem’s pride to a fig before the summer fruit (teṇûvâ), which is quickly eaten by birds as soon as it appears. This imagery underscores transience.
The term carries theological weight by linking present reality to future blessing. It is not merely about food, but about the covenant promise that God provides for His people. When Lamentations 5:2 mentions that "our inheritance has been turned over to strangers," the loss of teṇûvâ signifies the collapse of that divine provision and security.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word teṇûvâ points to the first fruits, that initial yield which signals a larger harvest is coming. It captures a moment of anticipation where the beginning promises the whole. In Judges 6:11, Gideon hides in a winepress, threshing wheat to save it from Midian. Here, the fragile hope of survival stands against oppression, reminding us that even small beginnings matter deeply to God.
This concept links present reality to future blessing. It is not just about food but about covenant promise. When Lamentations 4:9 describes those who pine away for lack of field fruits, it shows how vital this provision is for life itself. The loss of teṇûvâ signifies the collapse of security, while its presence offers hope.
For your faith, this word invites trust in God’s timing. He provides not only what is immediate but also what is yet to come. Even when circumstances seem dire, the promise of fruit remains. You can rest in the knowledge that God sees your efforts and honors your dependence on Him for daily bread.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- fruits of1×
- fruit/ my1×
- fruit1×
- from/ [the] produce<s> of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תְּנוּבֹ֣ת1×
- תְּנוּבָתִ֖/י1×
- תְּנוּבָֽה\׃\ \ס1×
- מִ/תְּנוּבֹ֖ת1×
Key Verses
-
Lamentations 4:9
Those who are killed with the sword are better than those who are killed with hunger; for these pine away, stricken through, for lack of the fruits of the field.
Here the lack of field fruits highlights the severity of famine and the loss of divine provision during Jerusalem's fall.