Word Study for H8505 (תָּכַן)

tâkan /taw-kan'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningto balance, i.e. measure out (by weight or dimension); figuratively, arrange, equalize, through the idea of levelling (ment. estimate, test)

KJV usagebear up, direct, be (un-)equal, mete, ponder, tell, weigh.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of tâkan — 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 tâkan, represented by H8505, is a primitive root meaning to balance, measure out, arrange, or equalize. It appears 18 times in 13 unique verses. Figuratively, it describes the mental process of estimating or testing, as well as directing or bearing up. Its meaning ranges from the literal act of weighing and measuring to the divine act of pondering human hearts and ordering the cosmos.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In Scripture, H8505 is used to illustrate God's omniscience and sovereignty. God is depicted as the one who pondreth the hearts, evaluating the inner person beyond their own self-perception Proverbs 21:2. Similarly, the LORD weigheth the spirits, assessing the true nature of a person's ways, even when they seem clean in their own eyes Proverbs 16:2. In the context of creation, its scope expands to cosmic proportions, questioning who else could have meted out heaven or directed the Spirit of the LORD (Isaiah 40:12, Isaiah 40:13). The term is also central to the question of divine justice, as in Ezekiel, where the people question if the Lord's way is equal Ezekiel 18:25.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the contexts in which H8505 is used:

H1844 dêʻâh (knowledge): This term is directly linked to God's evaluative action. The LORD is described as a God of knowledge, and it is by Him that actions are weighed 1 Samuel 2:3.
H1870 derek (a road; figuratively, a course of life or mode of action): This is often the object of God's "weighing." While every way of a man may seem right to him, the Lord ponders the heart behind those actions Proverbs 21:2.
H3826 libbâh (the heart): This represents the inner being that God assesses. Scripture states that the Lord pondereth the heart, emphasizing His deep understanding of human motivation Proverbs 24:12.
H3976 môʼzên (a pair of scales): This word for a literal balance is used alongside H8505 to illustrate God's creative power, who weighed the hills in a balance Isaiah 40:12.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H8505 is profound, touching on God's character and his relationship with creation.

Divine Assessment: The word establishes that God's judgment is not based on external appearances but on a perfect weighing of the heart and spirit (Proverbs 16:2, Proverbs 21:2). He is the one who truly knows and evaluates human motives.
Sovereign Order: H8505 is used to describe God's immeasurable power in creation. He alone "meted out" the heavens and "weighs" the elements of the world, demonstrating His role as the ultimate architect and sustainer (Isaiah 40:12, Job 28:25).
Standard of Justice: The repeated use in Ezekiel concerning whether God's ways are "equal" highlights that God Himself is the standard of perfect balance and justice, even when His actions are questioned by humanity (Ezekiel 18:29, Ezekiel 33:20).

Summary

In summary, H8505 tâkan moves beyond a simple definition of weighing or measuring. It serves as a powerful descriptor of God's authority and wisdom. It illustrates His capacity to both order the physical universe with precision and to perfectly evaluate the unseen motives of the human heart. From the balancing of hills to the pondering of souls, tâkan reveals a God who is intimately involved in the details of His creation and the moral standing of His people.

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 verb across 18 occurrences, inflected in 7 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.

יִתָּכֵן
תִּכֵּן
תֹכֵן
יִתָּכֵנוּ
נִתְכְּנוּ
תִכַּנְתִּי
מְתֻכָּן

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 13 verses across 7 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Ezekiel (4 verses); never once in the other 32.

1 Samuel

2 Kings

Job

Psalms

Proverbs

Isaiah

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.