Word Study for H8484 (תִּיכוֹן)

tîykôwn /tee-kone'/ Ask about this word

Rootor תִּיכֹן · from תָּוֶךְ

Meaningcentral

KJV usagemiddle(-most), midst.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of tîykôwn — 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 tîykôwn, represented by H8484, is used to define something as central or middle(-most). It appears 11 times across 9 unique verses in the Bible. Derived from the root word H8432 tâvek, which means "centre" or "midst," H8484 specifically points to the central point or element within a larger structure or sequence.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H8484 is most frequently used in detailed architectural descriptions of sacred spaces. For the tabernacle, it describes the middle bar that passed through the boards, reaching from one end to the other to secure the structure (Exodus 26:28, Exodus 36:33). In the construction of Solomon's Temple, it refers to the middle chamber in a multi-level design, accessed by winding stairs 1 Kings 6:8. The term is also used to designate a specific location, such as the middle court where the prophet Isaiah received a word from the LORD 2 Kings 20:4. Its usage extends to time, marking the "beginning of the middle watch" as the pivotal moment for Gideon's attack Judges 7:19.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a fuller context for the concept of a central position:

H8432 tâvek (midst): As the root word, it signifies the center or a bisection. It is used broadly to indicate being "in the midst" of a group of people or a place, such as in the midst of a bush Exodus 3:2 or in the midst of the city Ezekiel 9:4.
H8481 tachtôwn (bottommost, lower): This word is often used in direct contrast to H8484, establishing the lowest part of a sequence. It describes the "lowest chamber" of the house, from which one would ascend to the midst Ezekiel 41:7, or the "nethermost chamber" in the temple 1 Kings 6:6.
H5945 ʻelyôwn (lofty, upper): This term denotes an elevation and is used to describe the "highest" level. It often completes the three-tiered structure, being used alongside terms for the lowest and middlemost parts of a building (Ezekiel 41:7, Ezekiel 42:5).

Theological Significance

The use of H8484 highlights several key ideas within the scriptures.

Structural Integrity and Order: The word is integral to the descriptions of the tabernacle and temple, emphasizing a precise, divinely ordained plan. The "middle bar" provides crucial stability Exodus 26:28, and the progression from the lowest to the middle to the third level shows a clear hierarchical design 1 Kings 6:8.
Pivotal Position: Whether in space or time, the "middle" often represents a point of strategic importance. Gideon initiates his decisive attack at the middle watch Judges 7:19, and Isaiah receives his prophetic command while in the middle court 2 Kings 20:4.
Architectural Progression: In the visionary temple described by Ezekiel, the "middlemost" is part of a detailed architectural scale, positioned between the lowest and the highest chambers (Ezekiel 41:7, Ezekiel 42:5).

Summary

In summary, H8484 tîykôwn is more than just a directional term; it specifies a position of structural, sequential, and strategic importance. From the stabilizing middle bar of the tabernacle to the middle chamber of the temple and the middle watch of the night, this word consistently marks the central element that is crucial to the function, order, and significant events described in the biblical text.

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 an adjective across 11 occurrences, inflected in 3 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.

תִּיכֹנָה
תִּכֹנוֹת
תִּיכֹן

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 9 verses across 5 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Ezekiel (3 verses); never once in the other 34.

Exodus

Judges

1 Kings

2 Kings

Ezekiel

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.