### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root תָּנָה (tânâh, `{{H8566}}`) is a primitive verb, signifying the act of "presenting a mercenary inducement," which leads to the specific meaning of "bargaining with" or "hiring" someone for illicit purposes. Its primary semantic range is tightly bound to the context of prostitution, where it denotes the transaction of hiring a harlot or, by extension, a harlot hiring herself out for payment. This implies a commercial exchange for sexual services, often carrying strong negative connotations of moral compromise and exploitation. Unlike the general verb for "to hire" (e.g., שָׂכַר, `{{H7936}}`), תָּנָה specifically points to a transaction involving illicit gain or services, particularly in a sexual or metaphorically unfaithful context.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb תָּנָה (tânâh, `{{H8566}}`) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in the Hithpael stem, which often denotes a reflexive or reciprocal action.
* **[[Hosea 8:9]]**: "For they have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey wandering alone; Ephraim has hired lovers."
* Here, the phrase הִתְנוּ אֲהָבִים (hitnu ahavim) is translated as "Ephraim has hired lovers." The Hithpael form הִתְנוּ (hitnu) suggests that Ephraim (representing Israel) actively engaged in this "hiring" for themselves. The "lovers" (אֲהָבִים) are not individuals but a prophetic metaphor for foreign nations, specifically Assyria, with whom Israel sought alliances. This portrays Israel's turning away from Yahweh, their covenant partner, to seek security and assistance from pagan powers, likening their actions to a harlot who pays for illicit relationships. The context is one of profound spiritual unfaithfulness and covenant breaking, where Israel's idolatry and political alliances are depicted as acts of prostitution.
While the verb itself is rare, its derived noun form, אֶתְנַן (etnan), meaning "harlot's hire" or "wages of prostitution," is more common and reinforces the core meaning. Examples include:
* **[[Deuteronomy 23:18]]**: "You shall not bring the hire of a harlot or the wages of a dog into the house of the LORD your God for any vow, for both of these are an abomination to the LORD your God." This verse explicitly condemns the use of such ill-gotten gains for sacred purposes, highlighting their defiling nature.
* **[[Isaiah 23:17-18]]**: Speaking of Tyre, "And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she will return to her hire, and will commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world on the face of the earth. And her merchandise and her hire will be holiness to the LORD; it will not be treasured or stored, for her merchandise will be for those who dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently and for fine clothing." Here, "her hire" (תְּנָתָהּ, t'nātāh) refers to the gains from Tyre's commercial and perhaps metaphorical "fornication" with nations. The passage ultimately points to a future where even such defiled wealth will be consecrated to the Lord, demonstrating divine sovereignty over all things, even those acquired through sinful means.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **אֶתְנַן (etnan)**: As noted, this noun is directly derived from תָּנָה (tânâh, `{{H8566}}`) and means "harlot's hire" or "wages of prostitution." It appears in contexts like [[Deuteronomy 23:18]], [[Ezekiel 16:31]], and [[Hosea 2:12]], consistently referring to the payment associated with illicit sexual activity or spiritual unfaithfulness.
* **זָנָה (zanah, `{{H2181}}`)**: This is the more general and frequently used verb for "to commit fornication," "to play the harlot," or metaphorically, "to be unfaithful to God." While זָנָה describes the act of harlotry or spiritual adultery itself, תָּנָה (tânâh, `{{H8566}}`) focuses specifically on the transactional, mercenary aspect of that unfaithfulness – the "hiring" or "bargaining" for illicit relations.
* **שָׂכַר (sakhar, `{{H7936}}`)**: This is the common Hebrew verb for "to hire" in a general sense (e.g., hiring laborers or animals). תָּנָה (tânâh, `{{H8566}}`) is distinguished by its specific, negative connotation tied to illicit or immoral transactions, especially prostitution.
* **Idolatry and Covenant Breaking**: In prophetic literature, especially Hosea, the concept embodied by תָּנָה (tânâh, `{{H8566}}`) and זָנָה (zanah, `{{H2181}}`) is a powerful metaphor for Israel's abandonment of their covenant with Yahweh and their pursuit of other gods or foreign alliances.
### Theological Significance
The rare but potent use of תָּנָה (tânâh, `{{H8566}}`) carries significant theological weight. It underscores the transactional nature of Israel's spiritual apostasy. In [[Hosea 8:9]], Israel is not merely depicted as passively straying but actively *hiring* "lovers" (foreign nations), implying a deliberate, mercenary engagement in relationships that violate their covenant with God. This portrays their sin as a calculated betrayal, a willing exchange of divine fidelity for perceived earthly gain or security.
The consistent condemnation of "the hire of a harlot" (אֶתְנַן) in the Law ([[Deuteronomy 23:18]]) highlights God's absolute rejection of any gains acquired through such defiling means, deeming them unfit for sacred use. This reflects the purity and holiness required in worship and relationship with Yahweh. Even in the case of Tyre ([[Isaiah 23:17-18]]), where her "hire" is eventually consecrated, it speaks to God's ultimate sovereignty and ability to redeem and purify even the most defiled resources for His purposes, rather than condoning the initial illicit acquisition. The word, therefore, serves as a stark reminder of the depth of human unfaithfulness and the divine abhorrence of mercenary impurity, whether literal or metaphorical.
### Summary
The Hebrew verb תָּנָה (tânâh, `{{H8566}}`) denotes the act of "hiring" or "bargaining" in the context of mercenary inducement, specifically for prostitution. While appearing only once as a verb in [[Hosea 8:9]], its singular use powerfully illustrates Israel's active and transactional pursuit of illicit alliances, likening their spiritual unfaithfulness to hiring lovers. Derived nouns, such as אֶתְנַן ("harlot's hire"), further reinforce the concept of gains acquired through morally reprehensible means, which are consistently condemned as an abomination in the Law. Theologically, תָּנָה (tânâh, `{{H8566}}`) underscores the intentional and transactional nature of covenant breaking, serving as a potent symbol of spiritual adultery and the divine rejection of impurity and mercenary unfaithfulness.
TRV