Word Study for H8540 (תְּמַהּ)

tᵉmahh /tem-ah'/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to תָּמַהּ

Meaninga miracle

KJV usagewonder.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of tᵉmahh — 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 Aramaic word tᵉmahh, represented by H8540, refers to a miracle or wonder. It appears 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. This term is used exclusively in the book of Daniel to describe mighty, supernatural acts performed by God that serve as powerful demonstrations of His sovereignty.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H8540 is always paired with the word for "signs" to describe God's miraculous works. King Nebuchadnezzar, after his restoration, felt compelled "to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me" Daniel 4:2. This highlights how these events serve as a testimony to God's power. The term is part of a declaration of praise, exclaiming, "how mighty are his wonders!" Daniel 4:3. It is also used to affirm God's ability to intervene on behalf of his people, as He is the one who "worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth" to rescue Daniel Daniel 6:27.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a fuller context for the meaning of H8540:

H852 ʼâth (a portent; sign): This word is used in direct parallel with tᵉmahh in every one of its scriptural appearances. Together, "signs and wonders" form a comprehensive phrase for God's miraculous interventions (Daniel 4:2, Daniel 4:3, Daniel 6:27).
H5648 ʻăbad (to do, make, prepare, keep, etc.; [idiom] cut, do, execute, go on, make, move, work): This is the action verb used to describe the creation of wonders. God is the one who "worketh signs and wonders" Daniel 6:27 and has "wrought" them for Nebuchadnezzar Daniel 4:2.
H8624 taqqîyph ({powerful}; mighty, strong): This adjective directly modifies tᵉmahh to emphasize the immense power of God's miraculous acts, as declared in the praise, "how mighty are his wonders!" Daniel 4:3.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H8540 is centered on the revelation of God's character and power.

Divine Testimony: Wonders are not random events but are purposeful acts intended to serve as a public testimony. Nebuchadnezzar's desire to "shew the signs and wonders" demonstrates their role as evidence of God's work Daniel 4:2.
Sovereign Intervention: The use of the word underscores God's ability to intervene directly in human affairs and nature. He is praised as the one who "worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth" to achieve his purposes, such as delivering Daniel Daniel 6:27.
Awe and Praise: These mighty acts are so profound that they evoke a response of awe and worship. The exclamation about how "mighty are his wonders" is a direct result of witnessing God's power Daniel 4:3.

Summary

In summary, H8540 is a specific Aramaic term that captures the essence of a divine miracle. While its usage is rare, its appearance in the book of Daniel is significant, consistently highlighting God's mighty acts. Paired with "signs," it describes the irrefutable evidence of God's sovereignty and His power to act within creation, prompting praise and recognition from even the most powerful earthly kings.

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 3 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.

תִמְהִין
תִמְהוֹ
תִמְהַיָּ

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

3 verses, all in Daniel — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

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.