טִין
𐤈𐤉𐤍
ṭîyn
H2917 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A substance of wet, sticky earth—clay or mud—often occurring in natural settings, and used in various contexts for its adhesive and malleable properties. In biblical usage, refers specifically to clay as a physical material, particularly in relation to construction, pottery, or as a natural feature of the landscape. The semantic range encompasses both naturally occurring mud and processed clay used by artisans.
Semantic Range
clay, mud, mire, potter's clay, soft earth, adhesive or malleable natural material
Root / Etymology
Root ט-י-נ, core sense 'to be muddy, to be clay-like.' טִין derives from this root and refers specifically to clay or mud. It is closely related to, but distinct from, the more common Hebrew טִיט (ṭîṭ), which may denote a different nuance of mud or mire. In Aramaic and late Biblical Hebrew, טִין is the prevalent form.
Historical & Contextual Notes
טִין is distinctively found in Aramaic passages of the Hebrew Bible, notably in Daniel (e.g., Daniel 2:41–43), describing the material in Nebuchadnezzar's vision (feet of iron and clay). Unlike the Hebrew form טִיט, used in earlier (pre-exilic) biblical texts to denote mud or mire—often with negative connotations—טִין carries a more neutral or technical sense of 'potter's clay' in royal or visionary contexts. Its usage reflects the linguistic influence of Aramaic during the exilic and post-exilic periods. English translations sometimes conflate טִיט and טִין as 'clay' or 'mire,' but the latter term appears specifically in imperial or visionary settings and often with symbolic overtones. The differentiation highlights both chronological and dialectal shifts in the biblical corpus.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) perhaps, by interchange, for a word corresponding to טִיט; clay; miry.
Bantu Hebrew
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טין (ṭ-y-n) — to be muddy, to be clay-like, to form of clay
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2917-01 |
טִינָֽ/א | tina | ANcmsd/Td |
clay-the | the clay | the clay | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2917-01 |
Daniel 2:41 | טִינָֽ/א | tina | ANcmsd/Td |
miry | the clay | the clay |
H2917-01 |
Daniel 2:43 | טִינָ֔/א | tina | ANcmsd/Td |
clay-the | the clay | the clay |