or תְּהֹם; (usually feminine) from הוּם; an abyss (as a surging mass of water), especially the deep (the main sea or the subterranean watersupply); deep (place), depth.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **tᵉhôwm**, represented by `{{H8415}}`, is a term for an **abyss** or the **deep**. It appears 36 times across 35 unique verses in the Bible. Its definition encompasses a surging mass of water, such as the main sea or the subterranean water supply, and is also used to signify a deep place or depth.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H8415}}` is used in several key contexts. It is introduced in the creation account, where "darkness was upon the face of the **deep**" before God’s Spirit moved upon the waters [[Genesis 1:2]]. It is central to the flood narrative, where "all the fountains of the great **deep**" were broken up [[Genesis 7:11]]. The term also describes God's power over nature, as He led Israel through the **depths** of the sea [[Psalms 106:9]] and provides blessings from the **deep** that lies under the earth [[Genesis 49:25]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help to define the nature and scope of the deep:
* `{{H4325}}` **mayim** (water): This is the general term for water and is frequently used alongside `{{H8415}}` to describe the substance of the deep, as seen in the creation account where the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the **waters** over the deep [[Genesis 1:2]].
* `{{H3220}}` **yâm** (sea): This refers to a large body of water like a sea or ocean. The terms are often linked, with the **depths** described as being in the heart of the **sea** [[Exodus 15:8]] or the **depths** of the sea being made into a path for the ransomed [[Isaiah 51:10]].
* `{{H4599}}` **maʻyân** (fountain): This word identifies a source or spring. It is used to describe the origin of the floodwaters, when the **fountains** of the great deep were broken up [[Genesis 7:11]] and later stopped [[Genesis 8:2]].
* `{{H699}}` **ʼărubbâh** (window, sluice): Often mentioned in parallel with the deep's fountains, this term refers to the "windows of heaven" as another source of the flood [[Genesis 7:11]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H8415}}` is significant, representing a powerful and primal force under God's absolute control.
* **Primordial Element:** The deep exists in the earliest moments of creation, representing a chaotic, unformed state over which God establishes order. He sets a compass upon the face of the **depth** [[Proverbs 8:27]] and covers the earth with it as a garment [[Psalms 104:6]].
* **Instrument of Divine Power:** God uses the deep as an instrument for both judgment and salvation. It is unleashed as a flood [[Genesis 7:11]] and as a force of destruction against cities [[Ezekiel 26:19]], yet it is also parted to deliver His people [[Psalms 106:9]] and provides life-giving water from the earth [[Deuteronomy 8:7]].
* **Source of Blessing and Life:** The deep is not solely a force of chaos. It is part of God's blessing for Joseph's descendants [[Deuteronomy 33:13]] and a feature of the good land promised by the Lord, which contains **depths** that spring out of valleys and hills [[Deuteronomy 8:7]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H8415}}` is far more than a simple geographical term. It is a powerful biblical symbol for the vast and mysterious waters of the world, both seen and unseen. It represents a primal force that can be used for divine judgment or as a source of immense blessing, but in every instance, it remains subject to the sovereign command and purpose of God.
TRV