### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word H8403 (תַּבְנִית, tabnîyth) is derived from the root `{{H1129}}` (בָּנָה, banah), meaning "to build" or "to establish." At its core, tabnîyth refers to a "structure" or "built form." However, its semantic range extends significantly beyond mere physical construction. By implication, it encompasses the concept of a "model," "pattern," "likeness," "resemblance," "figure," or "similitude." This implies not just the physical object itself, but its design, blueprint, or the form it takes, often serving as a copy or representation of something else. It can denote both an actual physical structure and the conceptual design that precedes it or is embodied within it.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
H8403 (tabnîyth) appears approximately 20 times in the Hebrew Bible, revealing two primary contextual applications:
1. **Divine Blueprint for Sacred Structures:** A prominent use of tabnîyth is in the context of God's instructions for the Tabernacle and the Temple. Here, it signifies the divinely revealed "pattern" or "model" that Moses and later David and Solomon were commanded to follow with meticulous precision.
* In [[Exodus 25:9]], God instructs Moses, "According to all that I show you, the pattern [tabnîyth] of the tabernacle and the pattern [tabnîyth] of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it." This is reinforced in [[Exodus 25:40]], "And see to it that you make them according to the pattern [tabnîyth] which was shown you on the mountain." This emphasizes that the earthly sanctuary was not of human design but a precise replica of a heavenly archetype, demanding absolute obedience to divine instruction.
* Similarly, in [[1 Chronicles 28:11-12]], David gives Solomon the "pattern" [tabnîyth] for the Temple and all its courts and treasuries, stating that "all this he made clear to me in writing, by the hand of the Lord, all the works of this pattern [tabnîyth]" ([[1 Chronicles 28:19]]). This highlights the divine origin and authoritative nature of the Temple's design, underscoring that its construction was not a human invention but a sacred commission.
2. **Forbidden Images and Idolatry:** tabnîyth is also used negatively to describe the "likeness" or "form" of idols, which the Israelites were strictly forbidden to make or worship.
* [[Deuteronomy 4:16-18]] warns against corrupting oneself by making "a carved image in the form [tabnîyth] of any figure: the likeness [tabnîyth] of male or female, the likeness [tabnîyth] of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness [tabnîyth] of any winged bird that flies in the air, the likeness [tabnîyth] of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness [tabnîyth] of any fish that is in the water beneath the earth." This repeated use underscores the comprehensive prohibition against creating any visible representation of God or substituting Him with created things.
* [[Psalm 106:20]] laments Israel's sin, stating they "exchanged their glory for the likeness [tabnîyth] of an ox that eats grass," referring to the golden calf incident.
* Prophetic condemnations of idolatry also employ tabnîyth, such as in [[Isaiah 44:13]] describing an idol maker shaping wood "according to the pattern [tabnîyth] of a man," and [[Ezekiel 8:10]] where Ezekiel sees "every form [tabnîyth] of creeping things and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed on the wall all around."
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary linguistic connection for H8403 (tabnîyth) is its root, `{{H1129}}` (בָּנָה, banah), "to build." This etymological link emphasizes that tabnîyth refers to something that is constructed or formed, whether physically or conceptually.
Other related Hebrew terms that convey ideas of "likeness" or "image" include:
* `{{H6754}}` (צֶלֶם, tselem): "image," often used for man being created in God's image ([[Genesis 1:26-27]]) or for idols.
* `{{H1823}}` (דְּמוּת, demuth): "likeness," "similitude," often paired with tselem to emphasize resemblance ([[Genesis 1:26]]).
* `{{H8544}}` (תֹּאמְנָה, tomnah): "form," "shape," though less common than tabnîyth or tselem.
Conceptually, tabnîyth is linked to:
* **Divine Revelation and Instruction:** The idea that God provides precise specifications for worship.
* **Heavenly Archetype:** The notion that earthly sacred structures are copies of a heavenly reality ([[Hebrews 8:5]]).
* **Obedience:** The necessity of adhering strictly to God's commands in matters of worship and life.
* **Idolatry:** The profound sin of creating and worshipping images or representations of created things, which distorts the true nature of God and leads to spiritual corruption.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of H8403 (tabnîyth) is profound and multifaceted:
1. **Divine Sovereignty and Authority in Worship:** The use of tabnîyth for the Tabernacle and Temple underscores God's absolute sovereignty over how He is to be worshipped. The detailed patterns given to Moses and David were not suggestions but divine commands, emphasizing that true worship must conform to God's revealed will, not human innovation or preference. This highlights the principle that God dictates the terms of engagement with Him.
2. **The Reality of a Heavenly Prototype:** The emphasis on the earthly tabnîyth being a copy of a heavenly reality (as seen in [[Exodus 25:9]], [[Exodus 25:40]], and later explicitly stated in [[Hebrews 8:5]]) points to a transcendent dimension of God's dwelling and worship. The earthly sanctuary served as a shadow, a tangible representation of spiritual truths and a greater, heavenly reality.
3. **The Gravity of Idolatry:** The negative use of tabnîyth in the context of forbidden images reveals the core issue of idolatry: the human tendency to reduce the invisible, infinite God to a finite, visible "likeness." This is a direct affront to God's uniqueness and spiritual nature, leading to spiritual degradation and a distortion of divine truth. The prohibition against making *any* tabnîyth of created things for worship underscores the comprehensive nature of the Second Commandment.
4. **Typological Significance:** The tabnîyth of the Old Testament sanctuary ultimately finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The author of Hebrews argues that the Tabernacle and its services were a "copy and shadow of the heavenly things" ([[Hebrews 8:5]]), and that Christ is the reality to which these patterns pointed. He is the true Temple ([[John 2:19-21]]), the perfect sacrifice, and the ultimate High Priest, bringing to completion all that the earthly tabnîyth foreshadowed.
### Summary
H8403 (תַּבְנִית, tabnîyth) is a rich Hebrew term rooted in the concept of "building" (`{{H1129}}`). Its primary meanings encompass "structure," "model," "pattern," "likeness," and "similitude." Biblically, it functions in two crucial ways: positively, as the divinely revealed "pattern" for the Tabernacle and Temple, emphasizing God's precise instructions for worship and the earthly sanctuary's role as a copy of a heavenly prototype; and negatively, as the forbidden "likeness" or "figure" used in idolatry, highlighting the severe prohibition against creating images of created things for worship. Theologically, tabnîyth underscores God's sovereignty in worship, the reality of a heavenly archetype, the profound sinfulness of idolatry, and ultimately points to the fulfillment of Old Testament patterns in Christ.
TRV