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תְּמוּנָה

𐤕𐤌𐤅𐤍𐤄

tᵉmûwnâh

H8544 noun

SILEX Entry

Root מין to portion, to distinguish, to sort according to type

Definition

A physical or conceptual representation of form or appearance; an image, likeness, or semblance. The term generally refers to something perceived as corresponding to the shape or form of another—either in material (carved, drawn) image, or immaterial (mental, visionary) likeness. It functions to convey resemblance as opposed to mere abstraction, focusing on the visible form or semblance of something, rather than its substance.

Semantic Range

image, likeness, appearance, representation, form (visual or mental), semblance, visionary form, visible manifestation, phantom

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root מִין (m-y-n), meaning 'to portion out, to sort, to reproduce according to kind.' תְּמוּנָה is a feminine noun formation, indicating that which is portioned out or distinguished in form, hence 'form, likeness.' This is distinct from other roots for image, such as צֶלֶם (tselem).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, תְּמוּנָה commonly denotes an image, likeness, or form, but emphasizes visible or perceptible qualities rather than substance or essence. It is used in contexts involving representations, both forbidden (as in prohibitions against physical images representing divine beings, e.g., Deut 4:12, 15-16) and allowed (such as visions, e.g., Num 12:8, where it refers to the 'form' of YHWH perceived by Moses). Unlike צֶלֶם, which often refers to a physical statue or idol, תְּמוּנָה has a broader range, including visual appearances in dreams or visions. English translations sometimes render it as 'image,' 'form,' 'likeness,' or 'appearance,' but no single term captures its semantic full range. Over time, the term appears less frequently, and post-biblical Hebrew tends to use other words for visual representation. Notably, later English translations (especially those influenced by earlier theological debates) sometimes read more abstraction into the term than the original contexts warrant. In all periods, it is carefully distinguished from physical idol (פסל, pesel), as תְּמוּנָה does not inherently denote idolatry but rather visual representation, physical or otherwise.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or תְּמֻנָה; from מִין; something portioned (i.e. fashioned) out, as ashape, i.e. (indefinitely) phantom, or (specifically) embodiment, or (figuratively) manifestation (of favor); image, likeness, similitude.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מין (m-y-n) — to portion, to distinguish, to sort according to type

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4327 מִין to her kind

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8544-01 תְּמוּנָ֔ה temunah HNcfsa likeness formed likeness 4
H8544-02 תְּמוּנַ֣ת temunat HNcfsc likeness likeness-of 3
H8544-04 וּ/תְמוּנָ֛ה utemunah HC/Ncfsa and form and visible likeness 1
H8544-03 תְּמוּנָתֶֽ/ךָ temunatekha HNcfsc/Sp2ms your likeness your visible form 1
H8544-05 וּ/תְמֻנַ֥ת utemunat HC/Ncfsc and-form-of and likeness-of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

10 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8544-01 Exodus 20:4 תְּמוּנָ֔ה temunah HNcfsa likeness formed likeness
H8544-05 Numbers 12:8 וּ/תְמֻנַ֥ת utemunat HC/Ncfsc and-form-of and likeness-of
H8544-04 Deuteronomy 4:12 וּ/תְמוּנָ֛ה utemunah HC/Ncfsa and form and visible likeness
H8544-01 Deuteronomy 4:15 תְּמוּנָ֔ה temunah HNcfsa form formed likeness
H8544-02 Deuteronomy 4:16 תְּמוּנַ֣ת temunat HNcfsc similitude likeness-of
H8544-02 Deuteronomy 4:23 תְּמ֣וּנַת temunat HNcfsc likeness likeness-of
H8544-02 Deuteronomy 4:25 תְּמ֣וּנַת temunat HNcfsc the likeness likeness-of
H8544-01 Deuteronomy 5:8 תְּמוּנָ֔ה temunah HNcfsa likeness formed likeness
H8544-03 Psalms 17:15 תְּמוּנָתֶֽ/ךָ temunatekha HNcfsc/Sp2ms your likeness your visible form
H8544-01 Job 4:16 תְּ֭מוּנָה temunah HNcfsa a form formed likeness
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