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תּוֹחֶלֶת

𐤕𐤅𐤇𐤋𐤕

tôwcheleth

H8431 noun

SILEX Entry

Root יחל to wait, to hope, to tarry, to expect

Definition

The state or condition of hoping or awaiting a future event; a sense of expectation regarding something desired, often with an emphasis on endurance or persistence in the face of delay or adversity. It signifies anticipatory confidence, usually in a favorable outcome, rather than mere wishful thinking.

Semantic Range

expectation, hope, act of hoping, thing hoped for, anticipatory waiting, enduring hope, deferred hope, longing

Root / Etymology

Root יחל (y-ḥ-l), to wait, tarry, hope. תּוֹחֶלֶת (tôḵelet) is a feminine abstract noun form, expressing the state or quality of hoping or expecting.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, תּוֹחֶלֶת appears primarily in wisdom and poetic literature (e.g., Proverbs, Psalms), denoting not only abstract hope but also the sustaining power of hope during periods of uncertainty or suffering. It is often contrasted with disappointment (e.g., 'hope deferred'). While later translations (including the LXX and Vulgate) sometimes render it with Greek or Latin terms that acquire religious overtones (such as 'elpis' or 'spes'), the biblical nuance is more existential, surrounding human longing and persistence, rather than dogmatic or creedal belief. In the post-exilic period, the word sometimes begins to acquire communal or eschatological overtones but retains its base in human experience. English 'hope' captures only part of the term's range, as it may also signify the act of hopeful waiting or the condition of anticipation itself. Distinct from related terms like מִקְוֶה (miqweh, 'something waited for, gathering, or hope'), which can refer to a concrete object of hope or collection.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from יָחַל; expectation; hope.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

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Root Family

יחל (y-ḥ-l) — to wait, to hope, to tarry, to expect

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3175 יָחִיל hopeful one
H3176 יָחַל I will earnestly hope
H3178 יַחְלְאֵלִי the Yachleelite

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8431-03 תּוֹחֶ֣לֶת tochelet HNcfsc hope enduring hope of 2
H8431-05 וְ/תוֹחֶ֖לֶת vetochelet HC/Ncfsc and-expectation and hope-of 1
H8431-04 וְ/תוֹחַלְתִּ֖/י vetochaleti HC/Ncfsc/Sp1cs and my hope and my enduring hope 1
H8431-02 תֹּחַלְתּ֥/וֹ tochaleto HNcfsc/Sp3ms his hope his enduring hope 1
H8431-01 תּ֝וֹחַלְתִּ֗/י tochaleti HNcfsc/Sp1cs my hope my enduring hope 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8431-01 Psalms 39:8 תּ֝וֹחַלְתִּ֗/י tochaleti HNcfsc/Sp1cs my hope my enduring hope
H8431-03 Proverbs 10:28 תּוֹחֶ֣לֶת tochelet HNcfsc hope enduring hope of
H8431-05 Proverbs 11:7 וְ/תוֹחֶ֖לֶת vetochelet HC/Ncfsc and-expectation and hope-of
H8431-03 Proverbs 13:12 תּוֹחֶ֣לֶת tochelet HNcfsa hope enduring hope of
H8431-02 Job 41:1 תֹּחַלְתּ֥/וֹ tochaleto HNcfsc/Sp3ms his hope his enduring hope
H8431-04 Lamentations 3:18 וְ/תוֹחַלְתִּ֖/י vetochaleti HC/Ncfsc/Sp1cs and my hope and my enduring hope
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