What does תֹּהוּ (tōhû) mean in the Bible?
תֹּהוּ (tōhû): Primordial chaos and emptiness; moves from cosmic formlessness to moral/spiritual worthlessness and futility.
Hebrew · H8414
תֹּהוּ
A desolation (of surface), i.e. desert ; figuratively, a worthless thing ; adverbially, in vain
Reading a lexicon entry
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.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
תֹּהוּH8414
Pronunciationtōhû
What does תֹּהוּ (tōhû) mean in the Bible?
תֹּהוּ (tōhû): Primordial chaos and emptiness; moves from cosmic formlessness to moral/spiritual worthlessness and futility.
Full entry for תֹּהוּ (H8414) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H8414?
The BSB source-word alignment has 20 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include of chaos (2), wasteland (2), and emptiness (1), and it was formless (1), and who with false charges (1).
Where does תֹּהוּ (tōhû) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 1:2. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (11), Job (3), 1 Samuel (2), Deuteronomy (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itof chaos2×Isaiah 24:10, Isaiah 34:11
wasteland2×Job 12:24, Psalms 107:40
and emptiness1×Isaiah 40:17
and it was formless1×Jeremiah 4:23
and who with false charges1×Isaiah 29:21
are as empty1×Isaiah 41:29
are nothing1×Isaiah 44:9
empty1×1 Samuel 12:21
empty [pleas]1×Isaiah 59:4
empty space1×Job 26:7
formless1×Genesis 1:2
in a barren1×Deuteronomy 32:10
in a wasteland1×Isaiah 45:19
in futility1×Isaiah 49:4
into the wasteland1×Job 6:18
it to be empty1×Isaiah 45:18
meaningless1×Isaiah 40:23
worthless1×1 Samuel 12:21
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 1:2תֹ֙הוּ֙toformlessNoun - masculine singularDeuteronomy 32:10וּבְתֹ֖הוּtoin a barrenConjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular1 Samuel 12:21הַתֹּ֗הוּtoworthlessArticle | Noun - masculine singular1 Samuel 12:21תֹ֥הוּtoemptyNoun - masculine singularJob 6:18בַתֹּ֣הוּtointo the wastelandPreposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularJob 12:24בְּתֹ֣הוּtowastelandPreposition-b | Noun - masculine singularJob 26:7תֹּ֑הוּtoempty spaceNoun - masculine singularPsalms 107:40בְּתֹ֣הוּtowastelandPreposition-b | Noun - masculine singularIsaiah 24:10תֹּ֑הוּtoof chaosNoun - masculine singularIsaiah 29:21בַתֹּ֖הוּtoand who with false chargesPreposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 1:2
Aligned rows20
Books represented7
Genesis1Deuteronomy11 Samuel2Job3Psalms1Isaiah11Jeremiah1
Source forms
בְּתֹ֣הוּ2xbə·ṯō·hūJob 12:24, Psalms 107:40
וָתֹ֖הוּ2xwā·ṯō·hūIsaiah 40:17, Isaiah 41:29
תֹ֥הוּ2xṯō·hū1 Samuel 12:21, Isaiah 45:18
תֹ֖הוּ2xṯō·hūIsaiah 34:11, Jeremiah 4:23
תֹּ֑הוּ2xtō·hūJob 26:7, Isaiah 24:10
בַתֹּ֣הוּ1xḇat·tō·hūJob 6:18
בַתֹּ֖הוּ1xḇat·tō·hūIsaiah 29:21
הַתֹּ֗הוּ1xhat·tō·hū1 Samuel 12:21
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine singular10xGenesis 1:2, 1 Samuel 12:21, Job 26:7, Isaiah 24:10
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular2xIsaiah 40:17, Isaiah 41:29
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular2xJob 12:24, Psalms 107:40
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular2xJob 6:18, Isaiah 29:21
Article | Noun - masculine singular1x1 Samuel 12:21
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular1xDeuteronomy 32:10
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular1xIsaiah 40:23
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular1xIsaiah 49:4
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Primordial chaos and emptiness; moves from cosmic formlessness to moral/spiritual worthlessness and futility.
Source Gloss
a desolation (of surface), i.e. desert ; figuratively, a worthless thing ; adverbially, in vain
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
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.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
Formlessness or desolation.
Emptiness or chaos.
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 20 lexical occurrence verses.
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
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.