תְּמַהּ
𐤕𐤌𐤄
tᵉmahh
H8540 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
An extraordinary event, phenomenon, or occurrence regarded as a marvel or causing astonishment; a wonder often ascribed to divine or supernatural agency. In Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible, typically used to describe acts or events that induce awe or amazement, frequently associated with divine intervention or revelation.
Semantic Range
wonder, marvel, miracle; extraordinary event inducing astonishment
Root / Etymology
From Aramaic root תמַהּ, corresponding to the Hebrew root תמה, which means 'to be astonished, amazed, or to wonder.' The nominal form תְּמַהּ developed as a designation for something that causes astonishment, i.e., a wonder or miracle. The Aramaic usage parallels the Hebrew semantic field but developed its own nuances in later Jewish Aramaic texts.
Historical & Contextual Notes
תְּמַהּ occurs only in the Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible (notably Daniel and Ezra), where it refers to miraculous signs or events, often associated with the demonstrations of divine power before kings or at moments of great import. In contrast to the common Hebrew terms פלא (peleʾ, 'wonder') and נס (nes, 'sign, banner, miracle'), תְּמַהּ appears in contexts dominated by Aramaic discourse, especially within the courtly and narrative spheres of the exile period. In post-exilic context, it continued to carry the sense of a supernatural wonder but became somewhat rarer. Standard English translations typically render it as 'wonder' or 'miracle,' which capture its general meaning, though the contextual emphasis on extraordinary, awe-inducing events connected to the divine is more specific. The word's usage is closely tied to moments shaping Israelite self-understanding during the Babylonian and Persian periods; there is no evidence it carried connotations of ritual, magic, or regularity, but rather unique, remarkable acts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to תָּמַהּ; a miracle; wonder.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
תמה (t-m-h) — to be astonished, to wonder, to be amazed
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8540-02 |
וְ/תִמְהִ֔ין | vetimehin | AC/Ncmpa |
and-wonders | wonders | 1 |
H8540-03 |
וְ/תִמְה֖וֹ/הִי | vetimehohi | AC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms |
and-its-wonders | and his wonders | 1 |
H8540-01 |
וְ/תִמְהַיָּ֔/א | vetimehaya | AC/Ncmpd/Td |
and the wonders | the wonders | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8540-01 |
Daniel 3:32 | וְ/תִמְהַיָּ֔/א | vetimehaya | AC/Ncmpd/Td |
and the wonders | the wonders |
H8540-03 |
Daniel 3:33 | וְ/תִמְה֖וֹ/הִי | vetimehohi | AC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms |
and-its-wonders | and his wonders |
H8540-02 |
Daniel 6:28 | וְ/תִמְהִ֔ין | vetimehin | AC/Ncmpa |
and-wonders | wonders |