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תַּחְתּוֹן

𐤕𐤇𐤕𐤅𐤍

tachtôwn

H8481 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root תחת to be beneath, to go under, to occupy a lower place

Definition

Adjective denoting a position that is lowest, most inferior, or situated below; used to identify or describe something as the bottommost, lowest in vertical order or status, or lower among two or more levels. Often used in spatial or metaphorical contrasts with 'upper' (עֶלְיוֹן).

Semantic Range

lower (spatial), lowest (comparative/superlative), bottommost, nether, situated beneath or below, lower in social or structural hierarchy

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root תַּחַת (tachat), meaning 'under, beneath, below.' The form תַּחְתּוֹן (tachtôwn) is a derived adjective meaning 'lower' or 'bottommost,' indicating the superlative or comparative sense of being furthest to the bottom or lowest in a set.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical Hebrew, תַּחְתּוֹן frequently functions as a spatial descriptor, marking the lower part of physical objects (e.g., lower room, lower millstone, lower regions). It appears alongside עֶלְיוֹן ('upper, higher') to denote clear vertical or hierarchical oppositions, most notably in architectural or geographic references (e.g., lower and upper rooms, lower and upper gates). The term may also appear in compound constructions, such as in references to 'lower Egypt' versus 'upper Egypt,' or 'lower regions' (as in Ezekiel 31:14). In the exilic and post-exilic periods, it remains a term for spatial or social orderings but acquires no significant theological nuance. English translations sometimes render it as 'nether' (archaic) or simply 'lower,' which generally captures the spatial dimension but may miss implications of inferior status or order in certain contexts. Distinct from תַּחַת, which is a preposition, תַּחְתּוֹן is adjectival. Not to be confused with words for 'depth' or 'foundation.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or תַּחְתֹּן; from תַּחַת; bottommost; lower(-est), nether(-most).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

תחת (t-ḥ-t) — beneath, under, lower place, that which is below

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H8460 תְּחוֹת beneath
H8478 תַּחַת under, in place of
H8479 תַּחַת under him
H8480 תַּחַת in Tachath
H8482 תַּחְתִּי in the lowest regions of

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8481-02 הַ/תַּחְתֹּנָ֜ה hatachetonah HTd/Aafsa the lower the bottommost 6
H8481-04 תַּחְתּ֖וֹן tacheton HAamsa the lower bottommost 3
H8481-01 הַ/תַּחְתּ֖וֹן hatacheton HTd/Aamsa the lower the bottommost 2
H8481-03 מֵֽ/הַ/תַּחְתֹּנ֛וֹת mehatachetonot HR/Td/Aafpa than the lower from the lowest ones 2

Occurrences in Scripture

13 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8481-04 Joshua 16:3 תַּחְתּ֖וֹן tacheton HAamsa the lower bottommost
H8481-04 Joshua 18:13 תַּחְתּֽוֹן tacheton HAamsa lower bottommost
H8481-02 1 Kings 6:6 הַ/תַּחְתֹּנָ֜ה hatachetonah HTd/Aafsa the lowest the bottommost
H8481-04 1 Kings 9:17 תַּחְתּֽוֹן tacheton HAamsa the lower bottommost
H8481-02 Isaiah 22:9 הַ/תַּחְתּוֹנָֽה hatachetonah HTd/Aafsa the lower the bottommost
H8481-02 Ezekiel 40:18 הַ/תַּחְתּוֹנָֽה hatachetonah HTd/Aafsa the-lower the bottommost
H8481-02 Ezekiel 40:19 הַ/תַּחְתּ֜וֹנָ/ה hatachetonah HTd/Aamsa/Sh the lower the bottommost
H8481-02 Ezekiel 41:7 הַ/תַּחְתּוֹנָ֛ה hatachetonah HTd/Aafsa the lowest the bottommost
H8481-03 Ezekiel 42:5 מֵֽ/הַ/תַּחְתֹּנ֛וֹת mehatachetonot HR/Td/Aafpa than-the-lower from the lowest ones
H8481-03 Ezekiel 42:6 מֵ/הַ/תַּחְתּוֹנ֛וֹת mehatachetonot HR/Td/Aafpa than the lower from the lowest ones
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