What does תָּכַן mean in the Bible?
e. measure out (by weight or dimension); figuratively to arrange , equalize , through the idea of levelling (ment, estimate , test )".
Hebrew · H8505
תָּכַן
To balance , i.e. measure out (by weight or dimension); figuratively to arrange , equalize , through the idea of levelling (ment, estimate , test )
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תָּכַן H8505
What does תָּכַן mean in the Bible?
תָּכַן is a Hebrew word meaning "to balance , i.e. measure out (by weight or dimension); figuratively to arrange , equalize , through the idea of levelling (ment, estimate , test )".
Full entry for תָּכַן (H8505) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H8505?
The BSB source-word alignment has 18 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include just (5), . . . (3), are weighed (1), are weighed out (1), has directed (1).
Where does תָּכַן appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at 1 Samuel 2:3. Its strongest book concentrations include Ezekiel (9), Proverbs (3), Isaiah (2), 1 Samuel (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 just 5× Ezekiel 18:25, Ezekiel 18:29, Ezekiel 33:17, Ezekiel 33:20
. . . 3× Ezekiel 18:25, Ezekiel 18:29
are weighed 1× 1 Samuel 2:3
are weighed out 1× Proverbs 16:2
has directed 1× Isaiah 40:13
or marked off 1× Isaiah 40:12
the counted 1× 2 Kings 12:11
vvv 1× Job 28:25
weighs 1× Proverbs 21:2
who bear up 1× Psalms 75:3
who weighs 1× Proverbs 24:12
Show sample aligned rows
1 Samuel 2:3 נִתְכְּנ֖וּ to are weighed Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural 2 Kings 12:11 הַֽמְתֻכָּ֔ן to the counted Article | Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular Job 28:25 תִּכֵּ֥ן to vvv Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular Psalms 75:3 תִכַּ֖נְתִּי to who bear up Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular Proverbs 16:2 וְתֹכֵ֖ן to are weighed out Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Proverbs 21:2 וְתֹכֵ֖ן to weighs Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Proverbs 24:12 תֹ֘כֵ֤ן to who weighs Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Isaiah 40:12 תִּכֵּ֔ן to or marked off Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular Isaiah 40:13 תִכֵּ֥ן to has directed Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular Ezekiel 18:25 יִתָּכֵ֖ן to just Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row 1 Samuel 2:3
Aligned rows 18
Books represented 7
1 Samuel 1 2 Kings 1 Job 1 Psalms 1 Proverbs 3 Isaiah 2 Ezekiel 9
Source forms
יִתָּכֵ֖ן 4x yit·tā·ḵên Ezekiel 18:25, Ezekiel 18:29, Ezekiel 33:17, Ezekiel 33:20
וְתֹכֵ֖ן 2x wə·ṯō·ḵên Proverbs 16:2, Proverbs 21:2
יִתָּכֵֽן׃ 2x yit·tā·ḵên Ezekiel 18:29, Ezekiel 33:17
הַֽמְתֻכָּ֔ן 1x ham·ṯuk·kān 2 Kings 12:11
יִתָּכֵ֔ן 1x yit·tā·ḵên Ezekiel 18:25
יִתָּֽכְנּוּ֙ 1x yit·tå̄·ḵən·nū Ezekiel 18:29
יִתָּכֵֽנוּ׃ 1x yit·tā·ḵê·nū Ezekiel 18:25
נִתְכְּנ֖וּ 1x niṯ·kə·nū 1 Samuel 2:3
Parsing patterns
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 7x Ezekiel 18:25, Ezekiel 18:29, Ezekiel 33:17, Ezekiel 33:20
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular 3x Job 28:25, Isaiah 40:12, Isaiah 40:13
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 2x Proverbs 16:2, Proverbs 21:2
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural 2x Ezekiel 18:25, Ezekiel 18:29
Article | Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular 1x 2 Kings 12:11
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural 1x 1 Samuel 2:3
Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular 1x Psalms 75:3
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 1x Proverbs 24:12
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. to balance , i.e. measure out (by weight or dimension); figuratively to arrange , equalize , through the idea of levelling (ment, estimate , test )
Source Gloss
to balance , i.e. measure out (by weight or dimension); figuratively to arrange , equalize , through the idea of levelling (ment, estimate , test )
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
to balance, i.e. measure out (by weight or dimension); figuratively to arrange, equalize, through the idea of levelling (ment, estimate, test) BDB: regulate Usage: bear up, direct, be (un-)equal, mete, ponder, tell, weigh.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 3 Aligned forms 15
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 10×
Imperfect Ezek 18:25 · Ezek 18:29 · Ezek 33:17 · Ezek 33:20 9×
Perfect 1Sam 2:3 1×
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 4×
Perfect Isa 40:12 · Isa 40:13 · Job 28:25 · Ps 75:4 4×
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 1×
Participle active Prov 24:12 1×
Word Origins
תָּכַן is a primitive root - no further derivation.
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