תׇּהֳלָה
𐤕𐤄𐤋𐤄
tohŏlâh
H8417 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
TAHOLAH refers to arrogant boasting, empty display, or foolish boasting; it encompasses a sense of loud, ostentatious bluster, often with a negative connotation of imprudence or vanity. The term indicates a kind of boastful folly—words or actions characterized by showy self-importance lacking substance or sound judgment. It appears in contexts describing foolish speech or conduct that stems from pride or egotism.
Semantic Range
boastful folly, arrogant display, vainglorious boasting, empty show, ostentatious bluster, foolish pride
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root הלל (h-l-l), whose core meaning is 'to shine' or 'to make a show.' While the root often expresses positive praise, it can take a negative sense of making a loud show, boasting, or engaging in ostentatious display. תׇּהֳלָה is a feminine noun formation. The etymology reflects semantic development from 'making a show' to 'empty show' and then 'vain or foolish boasting.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
TAHOLAH is a rare term, attested only in Job 13:12, where it is paired with cognate expressions of emptiness and folly. Unlike the more common הלל forms with positive connotations (e.g., תְּהִלָּה 'praise'), תׇּהֳלָה is distinctly negative, referring to empty or foolish boasting rather than legitimate celebration or public acclaim. The term reflects a rare semantic branch of הלל, emphasizing hollow pride or ostentatious display. English translations such as 'boasting,' 'arrogance,' or 'braggadocio' approximate the meaning, but may not fully express the nuance of foolishness or lack of substance. The word does not appear outside of poetic or wisdom texts and does not carry theological significance; instead it functions as a literary descriptor of vain social behavior. Later English versions sometimes render it as 'your maxims' (KJV), but this narrows the negative, mocking tone present in the original context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of an unused noun (apparently from הָלַל) meaning bluster; braggadocio, i.e. (by implication) fatuity; folly.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
הלל (h-l-l) — to shine, to boast, to make a show, to praise
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1947 | הוֹלֵלָה | acts of folly |
| H1948 | הוֹלֵלוּת | reckless foolishness |
| H1966 | הֵילֵל | shining one |
| H1974 | הִלּוּל | festal rejoicings |
| H1984 | הָלַל | I will extol |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8417-01 |
תָּהֳלָֽה | taholah | HNcfsa |
folly | vain boastfulness | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8417-01 |
Job 4:18 | תָּהֳלָֽה | taholah | HNcfsa |
folly | vain boastfulness |