תֹּהוּ
A desolation (of surface), i.e. desert ; figuratively, a worthless thing ; adverbially, in vain
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What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
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What does תֹּהוּ (tōhû) mean in the Bible?
תֹּהוּ (tōhû) is a Hebrew word meaning "a desolation (of surface), i.e. desert ; figuratively, a worthless thing ; adverbially, in vain". a desolation (of surface), i. The city of chaos reflects societal breakdown under judgment.
Meaning
Primordial chaos and emptiness; moves from cosmic formlessness to moral/spiritual worthlessness and futility.
a desolation (of surface), i.e. desert; figuratively, a worthless thing; adverbially, in vain BDB: formlessness Usage: confusion, empty place, without form, nothing, (thing of) nought, vain, vanity, waste, wilderness.
Why This Word Matters
The city of chaos reflects societal breakdown under judgment. Isaiah 24:7-13
Indicates deliberate reversal of ordered habitation. Isaiah 34:9-17
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Biblical Occurrences
Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.
Showing 8 of 20 occurrences in the biblical text.
Appears In
Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.