### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **taʻtuaʻ**, represented by `{{H8595}}`, denotes **fraud** or **error**. It appears **2 times** across **2 unique verses** in scripture, found exclusively in the book of Jeremiah. The term is used to describe things that are deceptive and lead away from truth, ultimately pointing to a state of being fraudulent and worthless.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H8595}}` is used in two nearly identical passages to describe idols. Both verses declare that idols "are vanity, and the work of **errors**" ([[Jeremiah 10:15]], [[Jeremiah 51:18]]). This specific phrasing connects the physical creation of idols to a fraudulent and misguided activity. The context reveals that these objects of false worship are not only deceptive but are also destined to **perish** `{{H6}}` at "the time of their visitation" ([[Jeremiah 10:15]], [[Jeremiah 51:18]]), reinforcing their ultimate powerlessness.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the context and meaning of **taʻtuaʻ**:
* `{{H1892}}` **hebel** (vanity): Defined as emptiness or something transitory and unsatisfactory, this word appears alongside **taʻtuaʻ** to describe idols ([[Jeremiah 10:15]], [[Jeremiah 51:18]]). It emphasizes their inherent worthlessness, a concept also seen when wealth gotten by **vanity** is said to diminish [[Proverbs 13:11]].
* `{{H4639}}` **maʻăseh** (work): Meaning an action or a product, this term identifies idols as the tangible result of fraudulent activity, or the "work of **errors**" ([[Jeremiah 10:15]], [[Jeremiah 51:18]]). This stands in sharp contrast to the "works" of God, which are described as great [[Psalms 92:5]] and marvellous [[Psalms 139:14]].
* `{{H6486}}` **pᵉquddâh** (visitation): This term refers to a visitation, often in the sense of a reckoning or judgment. In the context of **taʻtuaʻ**, it is the "time of their **visitation**" when fraudulent works will perish [[Jeremiah 10:15]]. This word is also used to describe a day of judgment [[Isaiah 10:3]] and administrative oversight [[Numbers 4:16]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H8595}}` is centered on the nature of idolatry and divine truth.
* **Idolatry as Deception:** The term frames idolatry not merely as mistaken worship but as a "work of **errors**" ([[Jeremiah 10:15]], [[Jeremiah 51:18]]), establishing it as something fundamentally born from fraud and deceit.
* **The Emptiness of False Works:** By being directly associated with **vanity** `{{H1892}}`, **taʻtuaʻ** underscores the biblical principle that human efforts rooted in falsehood are ultimately empty, unsatisfactory, and transitory [[Jeremiah 10:15]].
* **Guaranteed Divine Reckoning:** The word is always presented in the context of impending judgment. The fraudulent works have an appointed "time of their **visitation**" `{{H6486}}`, at which point they will perish, illustrating the certainty of divine justice against falsehood [[Jeremiah 51:18]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H8595}}` **taʻtuaʻ** provides a specific and potent condemnation of fraud, particularly in the context of idolatry. Though used only twice, its placement in Jeremiah defines idols as the "work of **errors**," highlighting them as worthless, deceptive, and doomed to perish. The term encapsulates the biblical view that what is not of God is a fraud, and that all such works face a final, decisive moment of divine visitation and judgment.
TRV