What does תּוֹחֶלֶת (tohelet) mean in the Bible?
תּוֹחֶלֶת (tohelet) is a Hebrew word meaning "expectation".
Hebrew · H8431
תּוֹחֶלֶת
Expectation
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תּוֹחֶלֶת H8431
Pronunciation tohelet
What does תּוֹחֶלֶת (tohelet) mean in the Bible?
תּוֹחֶלֶת (tohelet) is a Hebrew word meaning "expectation".
Full entry for תּוֹחֶלֶת (H8431) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H8431?
The BSB source-word alignment has 6 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include along with my hope (1), and the hope (1), Hope (1), hope of [overcoming] him (1), My hope is (1).
Where does תּוֹחֶלֶת (tohelet) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Job 41:9. Its strongest book concentrations include Proverbs (3), Job (1), Lamentations (1), Psalms (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 It along with my hope 1× Lamentations 3:18
and the hope 1× Proverbs 11:7
Hope 1× Proverbs 13:12
hope of [overcoming] him 1× Job 41:9
My hope is 1× Psalms 39:7
The hope 1× Proverbs 10:28
Show sample aligned rows
Job 41:9 תֹּחַלְתּ֥וֹ to hope of [overcoming] him Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Psalms 39:7 תּ֝וֹחַלְתִּ֗י to My hope is Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular Proverbs 10:28 תּוֹחֶ֣לֶת to The hope Noun - feminine singular construct Proverbs 11:7 וְתוֹחֶ֖לֶת to and the hope Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct Proverbs 13:12 תּוֹחֶ֣לֶת to Hope Noun - feminine singular construct Lamentations 3:18 וְתוֹחַלְתִּ֖י to along with my hope Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Job 41:9
Aligned rows 6
Books represented 4
Job 1 Psalms 1 Proverbs 3 Lamentations 1
Source forms
תּוֹחֶ֣לֶת 2x tō·w·ḥe·leṯ Proverbs 10:28, Proverbs 13:12
וְתוֹחֶ֖לֶת 1x wə·ṯō·w·ḥe·leṯ Proverbs 11:7
וְתוֹחַלְתִּ֖י 1x wə·ṯō·w·ḥal·tî Lamentations 3:18
תּ֝וֹחַלְתִּ֗י 1x tō·w·ḥal·tî Psalms 39:7
תֹּחַלְתּ֥וֹ 1x tō·ḥal·tōw Job 41:9
Parsing patterns
Noun - feminine singular construct 2x Proverbs 10:28, Proverbs 13:12
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct 1x Proverbs 11:7
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular 1x Lamentations 3:18
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular 1x Psalms 39:7
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular 1x Job 41:9
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. expectation
Source Gloss
expectation
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
expectation BDB: hope Usage: hope.
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
expectation, hope, or anticipation
hope or expectation of fulfillment
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 6 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
תּוֹחֶלֶת is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
The term emphasizes that the wicked also anticipate a future, but their hope collapses. Proverbs 10:28
Represents the future confidence placed in worldly strength. Proverbs 11:7
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.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain