English · KJV
H8377

תְּאוֹ

tᵉʼôw /teh-o'/ Ask about this word
Rootand תּוֹא
Meaning(the original form), from תָּאָה; a species of antelope (probably from the white stripe on the cheek)
KJV usagewild bull (ox).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of tᵉʼôw — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word tᵉʼôw, represented by H8377, refers to a species of antelope, also translated as wild bull or wild ox. The original form of the word is תּוֹא. It appears 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The two biblical occurrences of H8377 present the term in distinct contexts. In Deuteronomy, it is listed among the clean animals that the Israelites are permitted to eat, translated as the wild ox alongside the hart and the roebuck Deuteronomy 14:5. In Isaiah, it is used metaphorically to describe the sons of Jerusalem who have fainted from judgment, lying helpless "as a wild bull in a net" Isaiah 51:20. This image powerfully conveys the trapping of a strong creature, now rendered powerless by the rebuke of God.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a broader context for the animal and its symbolic use:

  • H354 'ayâl (hart): Defined as "a stag or male deer." This animal is listed with the wild ox as clean for consumption Deuteronomy 14:5 and is used metaphorically to describe both intense longing for God Psalms 42:1 and renewed strength Isaiah 35:6.
  • H3180 yachmûwr (fallow deer): Meaning "a kind of deer." Like the wild ox, it is included in lists of permissible food Deuteronomy 14:5 and was part of the provisions for Solomon's table 1 Kings 4:23.
  • H5968 'âlaph (faint): This verb, meaning "to be languid; faint," describes the condition of the sons who are compared to the wild bull in the net Isaiah 51:20. It conveys a state of utter exhaustion or helplessness, as when Jonah fainted from the sun's heat Jonah 4:8.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H8377 is drawn from its two distinct applications:

  • A Creature of Divine Provision: By being listed among the clean animals in the law, the wild ox is part of God's provision for His people, sanctified for their consumption Deuteronomy 14:5. This places the creature within the framework of Israel's dietary laws and covenant relationship with God.
  • A Symbol of Strength Subdued by Judgment: The imagery in Isaiah 51:20 uses the wild bull to represent formidable strength rendered completely helpless when caught in a net. This powerfully illustrates the state of God's people ("Thy sons") when they are overcome by the "fury of the LORD" and His rebuke.
  • An Illustration of Frailty under Rebuke: The comparison of the fainted sons to a trapped wild bull highlights a key theological theme: even the strong are made weak and languid when subjected to divine discipline Isaiah 51:20. The creature's plight becomes a vivid picture of human powerlessness before God.

Summary

In summary, tᵉʼôw H8377 is a term used only twice, yet it carries distinct significance in both instances. As a wild ox, it is identified as a clean animal acceptable for consumption under Mosaic law, marking it as part of God's provision. As a wild bull in a net, it becomes a potent prophetic symbol of strength that is completely overcome by divine judgment. These two uses show how a specific creature can feature in both the practical regulations and the profound theological imagery of scripture.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • תְאוֹ
  • תוֹא

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H354 אַיָּל an intensive form of אַיִל (in the sense of ram); a stag or male deer; hart. H3180 יַחְמוּר from חָמַר; a kind of deer; fallow deer. H5968 עָלַף a primitive root; to veil or cover; figuratively, to be languid; faint, overlaid, wrap self.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Deuteronomy and Isaiah (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

1
Deuteronomy
1
Isaiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.