תְּהוֹם

an abyss (as a surging mass of water), especially the deep (the main sea or the subterranean watersupply)

Definition

The Hebrew word תְּהוֹם (tehom) refers to the deep, chaotic waters that existed before creation and are often held in check by God's power. It primarily describes the primordial ocean or abyss, as seen in Genesis 1:2 where it is the formless deep over which the Spirit of God hovers. It can also signify the subterranean waters that feed springs and rivers (Deuteronomy 8:7) or the depths of the sea, such as the waters that covered the Egyptian army (Exodus 15:5). In poetic texts, it sometimes represents a place of danger or chaos that is subdued by God's authority.

Biblical Usage

תְּהוֹם appears 35 times in the Old Testament, predominantly in the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy) and poetic books like Psalms and Proverbs. It is used in creation and flood narratives (Genesis 1:2; 7:11), descriptions of God's mighty acts in nature (Exodus 15:5, 8), and blessings involving agricultural fertility from underground sources (Genesis 49:25; Deuteronomy 33:13). The word often conveys a sense of vast, untamed, and potentially destructive watery depths.

Etymology

Derived from the root הוּם (hwm), meaning 'to roar,' 'to be tumultuous,' or 'to confuse.' This root suggests noise, chaos, and agitation. The noun תְּהוֹם carries the sense of a surging, roaring mass of water. It is related to the Akkadian word 'tiamat,' the name of a primordial sea goddess in Mesopotamian myth, indicating a shared ancient Near Eastern concept of chaotic waters.

Semantic Range

תְּהוֹם is theologically significant as it represents the primeval chaos that God orders and bounds at creation (Genesis 1:2, 6-9). It symbolizes the forces of disorder that are under God's sovereign control, whether in holding back the deep during the Exodus (Exodus 15:8) or promising life-giving water from the depths (Deuteronomy 8:7). Understanding this term enriches the biblical theme of God's mastery over chaos and his provision of order and life.

In the ancient Near East, the deep (tehom) was often personified in mythology as a chaotic sea monster (like Tiamat) that a god must defeat to create the world. The biblical authors use this familiar cultural concept but 'demythologize' it; תְּהוֹם is not a deity but a natural, albeit chaotic, part of creation that is entirely subject to the command of the one true God (Psalm 104:6-9).

מָצוּל (matsul, H4688) — a deep place, specifically the depths of the sea. יָם (yam, H3220) — sea; typically the Mediterranean or other bodies of water, less focused on the primordial or subterranean aspect.

Word Details

Scripture References