What does תַּרְדֵּמָה (tardēmāh) mean in the Bible?
תַּרְדֵּמָה (tardēmāh): Divinely induced unconsciousness enabling God's sovereign action without human resistance or awareness
Hebrew · H8639
תַּרְדֵּמָה
A lethargy or (by implication) trance
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.
תַּרְדֵּמָהH8639
Pronunciationtardēmāh
What does תַּרְדֵּמָה (tardēmāh) mean in the Bible?
תַּרְדֵּמָה (tardēmāh): Divinely induced unconsciousness enabling God's sovereign action without human resistance or awareness
Full entry for תַּרְדֵּמָה (H8639) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H8639?
The BSB source-word alignment has 7 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include a deep sleep (3), when deep sleep (2), deep sleep (1), of deep sleep (1).
Where does תַּרְדֵּמָה (tardēmāh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 2:21. Its strongest book concentrations include Genesis (2), Job (2), 1 Samuel (1), Isaiah (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 Ita deep sleep3×Genesis 2:21, Genesis 15:12, 1 Samuel 26:12
when deep sleep2×Job 4:13, Job 33:15
deep sleep1×Proverbs 19:15
of deep sleep1×Isaiah 29:10
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 2:21תַּרְדֵּמָ֛הtoa deep sleepNoun - feminine singularGenesis 15:12וְתַרְדֵּמָ֖הtoa deep sleepConjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular1 Samuel 26:12תַּרְדֵּמַ֣תtoa deep sleepNoun - feminine singular constructJob 4:13תַּ֝רְדֵּמָ֗הtowhen deep sleepNoun - feminine singularJob 33:15תַּ֭רְדֵּמָהtowhen deep sleepNoun - feminine singularProverbs 19:15תַּרְדֵּמָ֑הtodeep sleepNoun - feminine singularIsaiah 29:10תַּרְדֵּמָ֔הtoof deep sleepNoun - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 2:21
Aligned rows7
Books represented5
Genesis21 Samuel1Job2Proverbs1Isaiah1
Source forms
וְתַרְדֵּמָ֖ה1xwə·ṯar·dê·māhGenesis 15:12
תַּרְדֵּמָ֛ה1xtar·dê·māhGenesis 2:21
תַּ֝רְדֵּמָ֗ה1xtar·dê·māhJob 4:13
תַּ֭רְדֵּמָה1xtar·dê·māhJob 33:15
תַּרְדֵּמָ֑ה1xtar·dê·māhProverbs 19:15
תַּרְדֵּמָ֔ה1xtar·dê·māhIsaiah 29:10
תַּרְדֵּמַ֣ת1xtar·dê·maṯ1 Samuel 26:12
Parsing patterns
Noun - feminine singular5xGenesis 2:21, Job 4:13, Job 33:15, Proverbs 19:15
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular1xGenesis 15:12
Noun - feminine singular construct1x1 Samuel 26:12
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Divinely induced unconsciousness enabling God's sovereign action without human resistance or awareness
Source Gloss
a lethargy or (by implication) trance
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Divinely induced unconsciousness enabling God's sovereign action without human resistance or awareness
a lethargy or (by implication) trance BDB: deep sleep Usage: deep sleep.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
Heavy sleep or stupor.
Showing 1 selected witness from 7 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
תַּרְדֵּמָה is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
Describes judicial hardening that dulls spiritual perception.Isaiah 29:9-16