תֹּ֫רֶן (to.ren)
to.ren
mast
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun toren refers to a tall, solitary pole used as a mast or a standard-staff. In ancient maritime and military contexts, it served as a vertical structure for displaying flags or signals, functioning much like a beacon on land or a ship’s main support.
Its occurrence is rare, appearing in only two verses, both within the book of Isaiah. This scarcity highlights its specific imagery rather than general nautical terminology. The word evokes a clear visual of height and visibility, marking a position for observation or communication.
Translators typically render toren as "mast" when describing ships, but "standard" or "flagpole" in contexts involving land-based signals. This distinction reflects the dual nature of the object: it is both a structural component for sails and a symbolic marker for identity or warning. The sources do not suggest metaphorical extensions beyond this physical description.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word toren describes a tall, solitary pole used as a mast or a standard-staff. In ancient times, this structure served as a vertical marker for ships and armies, functioning much like a beacon on land or a ship’s main support. Its rarity in Scripture highlights its specific imagery rather than general nautical terminology. The word evokes a clear visual of height and visibility, marking a position for observation or communication.
When translators render toren as "mast" in Isaiah 33:23, they describe the rigging of a ship that has come undone. The inability to strengthen the foot of the mast leads to disaster, showing how fragile human strength can be without divine order. Conversely, in Isaiah 30:17, the image shifts to a banner on a hill, where even a small remnant becomes visible to enemies. This dual nature reflects the object's role as both a structural component and a symbolic marker of identity.
For your faith, this word reminds us that visibility is not always about power. Sometimes, being left like a beacon means you are exposed, yet it also means you are seen by God. In seasons where your own "rigging" feels untied or weak, remember that God uses even broken structures to display His glory. You do not need to be the strongest mast; you only need to stand in His presence.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- mast/ their1×
- like <the>/ flagstaff1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תָּרְנָ/ם֙1×
- כַּ/תֹּ֙רֶן֙1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 30:17
One thousand will flee at the threat of one. At the threat of five, you will flee until you are left like a beacon on the top of a mountain, and like a banner on a hill.
This verse uses the concept of a beacon or banner on a hill to illustrate how a small remnant becomes highly visible to enemies when God intervenes.
-
Isaiah 33:23
Your rigging is untied. They couldn’t strengthen the foot of their mast. They couldn’t spread the sail. Then the prey of a great plunder was divided. The lame took the prey.
Here the word refers to the mast of a ship whose rigging is untied, symbolizing the collapse of human strength and the resulting division of plunder.