### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **taʻălummâh**, represented by `{{H8587}}`, refers to a **secret** or a **thing that is hid**. It appears **3 times** across **3 unique verses** in the Bible. Derived from a root meaning to conceal, it signifies something that is kept out of sight, unknown, or inaccessible to human understanding.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H8587}}` is used to describe things that are known only to God. It refers to the **secrets** of the heart, which God alone can search out and know [[Psalms 44:21]]. In the book of Job, the term is used to describe the profound **secrets** of wisdom, which are far greater than human knowledge [[Job 11:6]]. It is also used in a physical sense, describing a **thing that is hid** deep within the earth, which God sovereignly brings forth to light, demonstrating His power over creation [[Job 28:11]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words expand upon the concept of secrecy and revelation:
* `{{H2713}}` **châqar** (to examine intimately): This word is directly linked to `{{H8587}}` as an action only God can perform, to **search out** the hidden things of the human heart [[Psalms 44:21]].
* `{{H3045}}` **yâdaʻ** (to know): God's omniscience is highlighted by his ability **to know** the secrets that are otherwise concealed, reinforcing the idea that nothing is truly hidden from Him [[Psalms 44:21]].
* `{{H2451}}` **chokmâh** (wisdom): Secrets are explicitly tied to divine **wisdom**. The "secrets of wisdom" are presented as something only God can shew, revealing their depth [[Job 11:6]].
* `{{H216}}` **ʼôwr** (illumination or luminary): This term stands in contrast to `{{H8587}}`. The "thing that is hid" is ultimately brought to **light** by God, showing His power to reveal what is concealed [[Job 28:11]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H8587}}` is significant, emphasizing God's unique knowledge and power.
* **Divine Omniscience:** The word underscores that God's knowledge is absolute. He perceives the innermost **secrets** of the heart, which remain hidden from all others [[Psalms 44:21]].
* **The Profundity of Wisdom:** The "secrets of wisdom" are shown to be complex and vast, "double to that which is". This highlights that God's wisdom is beyond human comprehension [[Job 11:6]].
* **Sovereignty and Revelation:** God's power over the created world is demonstrated by His ability to bring a **thing that is hid** into the open. This action of bringing the hidden to light is an expression of His ultimate authority [[Job 28:11]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H8587}}` is more than just a word for a hidden object. It is a term that frames a core theological concept: the boundary between human ignorance and divine omniscience. Whether referring to the depths of the human heart, the profundity of wisdom, or the hidden parts of the earth, **taʻălummâh** consistently points to a reality that is fully known, searched, and controlled by God.
TRV