תַּנָּה
𐤕𐤍𐤄
tannâh
H8568 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A female jackal; in some poetic or figurative contexts, the term may be associated with wild desert creatures, particularly jackals, emphasizing harshness, desolation, or lamentation. While primarily designating the female of the species, the word may sometimes be used in parallelism with other desert animals to evoke imagery of loneliness or wasteland.
Semantic Range
female jackal, jackal (general), wild desert animal, creature associated with wasteland or ruins, poetic symbol of desolation
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root תן (tan), meaning 'jackal.' The feminine form תַּנָּה (tannâh) specifically denotes a female jackal. The root is attested in other Semitic languages (Ugaritic tn, Akkadian tan(n)u), often referring to a jackal or wild desert creature; occasionally, the root is employed idiomatically for wailing or howling animals. The connection to 'dragon' in some translations arises from the mythic or poetic expansion of the term in certain biblical contexts, but the primary zoological referent is the jackal.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In most biblical contexts, תַּנָּה appears in poetic or lament passages where wild desert animals symbolize desolation (e.g., Micah 1:8). Jackals are scavenging animals commonly associated with ruins and wastelands, hence their frequent figurative use to depict devastation. The translation as 'dragon' in English versions reflects Septuagint and Vulgate influence, where the word was rendered with mythic connotations, but the best zoological identification is with the jackal, not any mythical or reptilian creature. The masculine תַּן (tan) is the general term; תַּנָּה is its feminine counterpart. Tannim (plural) is used similarly throughout biblical poetry. 'Dragon' is a later interpretive overlay rather than a native Israelite animal classification.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably feminine of תַּן; a female jackal; dragon.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
תן (t-n) — howl, wail, jackal
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8568-02 |
תַּנִּים֙ | tanim | HNcbpa |
jackals | great serpentine monsters | 1 |
H8568-01 |
לְ/תַנּ֥וֹת | letanot | HR/Ncbpc |
for jackals | to wail intensely | 1 |
H8568-03 |
תנין | tnyn | HNcbpa |
sea-monsters | female jackals | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8568-01 |
Malachi 1:3 | לְ/תַנּ֥וֹת | letanot | HR/Ncbpc |
for jackals | to wail intensely |
H8568-03 |
Lamentations 4:3 | תנין | tnyn | HNcbpa |
sea-monsters | female jackals |
H8568-02 |
Lamentations 4:3 | תַּנִּים֙ | tanim | HNcbpa |
jackals | great serpentine monsters |