Original Word: תָּוֶךְ
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: tavek
Pronunciation: tah-vek
Phonetic Spelling: (taw'-vek)
KJV: among(-st), X between, half, X (there-,where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among), X out (of), X through, X with(-in)
NASB: midst, among, middle, within, center, inside, along
Word Origin: [from an unused root meaning to sever]

1. a bisection
2. (by implication) the centre

hope

From an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre -- among(-st), X between, half, X (there-,where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among), X out (of), X through, X with(-in).

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
midst
NASB Translation
along (3), among (135), among* (1), between (2), center (10), high (1), home (2), inside (9), interior (1), internally (1), middle (32), middle part (1), midst (162), presence (1), reenter* (2), through (2), two (1), within (18).

תָּ֫וֶךְ₄₁₈ substantive midst (Late Hebrew id., also denominative תִּוֵּוךְ; √ unknown; not apparently in cognate languages); — absolute תָּ֫וֶךְ Genesis 15:10 +; construct תּוֺךְ Genesis 1:6 +; תּוֺכִי, תּוֺכוֺ, etc., 2 feminine singular תּוֺכֵּ֫ כִי Psalm 116:19; Psalm 135:9, תּוֺכֹה Ezekiel 48:15,21, תּוֺכֲכֶם Genesis 23:9 +, תּוֺכָ֫הְנָה Ezekiel 16:53 (Ges^{§ 91f}); — midst, whether of a space or place, a number of people or things, or of a linE: absolute Judges 16:29 עַמּוּדֵי הַתָּוֶךְ = the middle columns, Jeremiah 39:3 ׳שַׁעַר הַתּ, בַּתָּוֶךְ Genesis 15:10 וַיְבַתֵּר ׳אֹתָם בַּתּ, Numbers 35:5 וְהָעִיר בַּתָּוֶךְ, Joshua 8:22; Judges 15:4; Isaiah 66:17 אַחַר אֶחָד בַּתָּוֶךְ; construct 1 Kings 8:54 קִדַּשׁ הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶתֿ תּוֺךְ הֶחָצֵר, Ezekiel 15:4 וְתוֺכוֺ נָחָר; usually with preposition, as בְּ (often = an emphasis in, in the very heart and midst of), Genesis 1:6 בְּתוֺךְ הַמַּיִם, Genesis 2:9 הַגָּן ׳בְּת, Genesis 9:21 אָהֳהֹ ׳בְּת, Genesis 18:24 הָעִיר ׳בְּת, Genesis 37:7 הַשָּׁדֶה ׳בְּת, Exodus 11:4 אני יוצא מצרים ׳בת, Exodus 39:3, Joshua 8:9 הָעָם ׳בְּת, Judges 7:16 הַכַּ דִּים ׳בת, 1 Kings 3:20 הַלַּיְלָה ׳בְּת; בְּתוֺכָהּ (of land or city) Numbers 13:32; Isaiah 7:6, etc.; in Ezekiel בְּתוֺכֵךְ, בְּתוֺכָהּ, etc., of sins done, or judgment to be wrought, in the very midst of Jerusalem, Ezekiel 5:8,10; Ezekiel 9:4; Ezekiel 22:3,7,9,13 +; מֵעַי ׳בְּת Psalm 22:15; Psalm 40:9 מֵעָ֫י ׳תּוֺרָֽתְךָ בְּת, לִבִּי ׳בְּת Psalm 22:11, compare Proverbs 4:21; after verbs of motion, = into Exodus 14:27; 1 Samuel 9:14, = through Exodus 14:29; Numbers 33:8; Ezekiel 9:4; Nehemiah 9:11; of a number of persons = among (not nEcess. of the actual middle), Genesis 40:20 עֲבָדָיו ׳בְּת, בְּתוֺכְנוּ Genesis 23:6, בְּתוֺכָם 1 Samuel 10:10; Job 1:6, etc., הַגָּר בְּתוֺכֲכֶם Leviticus 17:8,10,13 +; = between (of things arranged by twos) Exodus 39:25 in P often (12 t.) of the divinE presence, or dwelling, in the midst of Israel, Exodus 25:8; Exodus 29:45,46; Leviticus 15:31; Leviticus 16:16 + (Carpenter^{Hex. i. 209, ed. 2, 410}; J E D in such cases have always קֶרֶב), so Ezekiel 37:26,28; Ezekiel 43:7,9, compare Haggai 2:5; מִן, as Genesis 19:29 מִתּוֺךְ הַהֲפֵכָה, Exodus 3:2 ׳מִתּ הַסְּנֶה, Exodus 33:11 הָאֹהֶל ׳לאֹ יָמִישׁ מִתּ, Deuteronomy 4:12 + הָאֵשׁ ׳מִתּ, 1 Samuel 15:6 עֲמָלֵק ׳רְדוּ מִתּ; = from among, as to take, separate, etc., מִתּוֺכָם, הָעָם ׳מִתּ, etc., Exodus 7:5; Exodus 28:1; Numbers 3:12; Numbers 4:2,18; Numbers 16:21,33; Numbers 17:10; Numbers 19:20 (all P) +; אֶל, as Exodus 14:23 ויבאואֶ֗֗֗לאתּוֺךְ הַיָּם, Leviticus 11:33; Numbers 17:12 וַיָּרָץ הַקָּהָל ׳אֶלאתּ, Numbers 19:6; Deuteronomy 21:12 בֵּיתֶ֫ךָ ׳וַהֲבֵאתָהּ אֶלאתּ, Deuteronomy 22:2; Deuteronomy 23:11; 2 Samuel 3:27; 2 Samuel 4:6; Jeremiah 21:4 +; מֵעַל Ezekiel 11:23. — תוך is used by most writers, occurring approximately 8-10 times in many books, but is especially frequent in P (c. 106 t,) and Ezekiel (116 t.). synonym קֶרֶב, q. v.

Overview

The Hebrew term תָּוֶךְ (tāwēḵ, Strong’s 8432) signals the idea of “the middle,” “the center,” or “among.” It locates objects, people, or events at the very heart of a setting—geographical, social, spiritual, or temporal. With roughly 418 occurrences, the word forms an important biblical thread that highlights where God acts, where His people gather, and where decisive choices are made.

Semantic Range and Nuance

1. Spatial center: the very core of a place (Genesis 2:9; Joshua 8:22).
2. Social center: the community or assembly itself (Leviticus 19:16).
3. Spiritual center: the sphere where God’s presence dwells (Exodus 29:45).
4. Temporal center: the midst of days or years (1 Kings 3:18; Habakkuk 3:2).

First Appearances in Torah

• Genesis 1:6–7 – the waters divided “in the midst” of the expanse, underscoring ordered creation.
• Genesis 2:9 – “the tree of life in the middle of the garden” became the focal point of Edenic blessing.
• Genesis 3:3 – the prohibited tree “in the middle of the garden” marked the epicenter of the fall.

Early usage thus establishes תָּוֶךְ as the stage on which covenant life and rupture unfold.

God’s Presence in the Midst

• “And let them make a sanctuary for Me, and I will dwell among them.” (Exodus 25:8)
• “For You are great and perform wonders; You alone are God.” (Psalm 86:10) — contextually, the psalmist declares this while portraying God moving “in the midst” of His works.
• “The LORD your God is among you, a mighty Savior.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

Whether in the desert camp, the tabernacle, or eschatological Zion, תָּוֶךְ describes God’s immanent, covenantal nearness.

Worship and Obedience at the Center

Israel camped with the tabernacle at the center (Numbers 2:17), dramatizing that worship orders community life. Mosaic law repeatedly commands Israel to remove impurity “from your midst” (Deuteronomy 13:5; Deuteronomy 17:7), safeguarding a holy space for divine fellowship. The Psalms echo this orientation: “God is in the midst of her; she will not be moved.” (Psalm 46:5).

Sin and Judgment in the Midst

Because the middle is where holiness belongs, any rival claim invites judgment:
• Exodus 12:12 – the first Passover plague falls “in the midst of Egypt.”
• Joshua 7:13 – Achan’s sin is “in your midst,” halting Israel’s advance.
• Ezekiel 5:8 – Jerusalem, placed “in the center of the nations,” becomes the focus of wrath for covenant breach.

The motif warns that tolerated sin infects the core and threatens communal destiny.

Redemptive and Prophetic Oracles

Prophets harness תָּוֶךְ to promise restored intimacy:
• “I will put My Spirit within you.” (Ezekiel 36:27) — literally, “in your midst,” replacing stone with flesh.
• “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I am coming, and I will dwell in your midst.” (Zechariah 2:10).
• Habakkuk 3:2 pleads, “In the midst of the years revive it,” a prayer for God’s renewing intervention.

Liturgical and Historical Contexts

Historical books often record miracles occurring in the middle of battle lines (2 Samuel 23:12), rivers (Joshua 3:17), or fires (Daniel 3:25). Such placements accentuate divine supremacy where danger is greatest. Corporate worship likewise centers the congregation around divine acts remembered “in the midst” (Psalm 22:22; Psalm 111:1).

Theological Implications for Ministry Today

1. Centrality of God’s presence: The church gathers around the risen Christ “in the midst” (compare Matthew 18:20) just as Israel encamped around the tabernacle.
2. Call to holiness: Persistent biblical commands to purge evil “from your midst” provide a framework for church discipline and personal sanctification.
3. Missional orientation: Israel was set “in the center of the nations” (Ezekiel 5:5) to display God’s character; likewise, believers are placed strategically to radiate gospel light from the inside out.
4. Assurance of divine aid: God’s covenant promise to stand “in the midst” undergirds confidence amid trial (Isaiah 43:2).

Representative References

Genesis 2:9; Exodus 25:8; Leviticus 19:16; Numbers 14:14; Deuteronomy 13:5; Joshua 3:17; 2 Samuel 23:12; 1 Kings 3:18; Psalm 46:5; Isaiah 43:2; Ezekiel 36:27; Zephaniah 3:17; Habakkuk 3:2; Zechariah 2:10.

In the unfolding drama of Scripture, תָּוֶךְ marks the place where God meets humanity, where community identity is forged, and where decisive covenantal events transpire.

בְּ֝ת֗וֹךְ בְּ֝תוֹכִ֗י בְּֽת֘וֹכֵ֤כִי בְּת֖וֹךְ בְּת֛וֹךְ בְּת֣וֹךְ בְּת֣וֹךְ ׀ בְּת֣וֹכְכֶ֔ם בְּת֤וֹךְ בְּת֥וֹךְ בְּת֧וֹךְ בְּת֨וֹךְ בְּת֬וֹךְ בְּתֹכְכֶ֔ם בְּתֹכָ֔ם בְּתֽוֹךְ־ בְּתֽוֹכְכֶ֑ם בְּתֽוֹכְכֶם֙ בְּתוֹךְ֙ בְּתוֹךְ־ בְּתוֹכ֑וֹ בְּתוֹכ֔וֹ בְּתוֹכ֖וֹ בְּתוֹכ֛וֹ בְּתוֹכְכֶ֑ם בְּתוֹכְכֶ֔ם בְּתוֹכְכֶ֖ם בְּתוֹכְכֶֽם׃ בְּתוֹכֵ֑ךְ בְּתוֹכֵ֑נוּ בְּתוֹכֵ֔ךְ בְּתוֹכֵ֔נוּ בְּתוֹכֵ֣ךְ בְּתוֹכֵ֣כִי בְּתוֹכֵ֥ךְ בְּתוֹכֵֽךְ׃ בְּתוֹכָ֑הּ בְּתוֹכָ֑ם בְּתוֹכָ֔הּ בְּתוֹכָ֔ם בְּתוֹכָ֖הּ בְּתוֹכָ֖ם בְּתוֹכָ֜ם בְּתוֹכָ֣הּ בְּתוֹכָ֤ם בְּתוֹכָֽהְנָה׃ בְּתוֹכָֽהּ׃ בְּתוֹכָֽם׃ בְּתוֹכָהּ֒ בְּתוֹכָם֙ בְּתוֹכֽוֹ׃ בְתֹכְכֶ֖ם בְתֽוֹךְ־ בְתוֹךְ־ בְתוֹכֵ֔ךְ בְתוֹכֵ֖ךְ בְתוֹכֵ֛ךְ בְתוֹכֵ֣נוּ בְתוֹכֵֽךְ׃ בְתוֹכָ֑הּ בְתוֹכָ֑ם בְתוֹכָ֖הּ בְתוֹכָ֖ם בְתוֹכָ֜ם בְתוֹכָ֣הּ בְתוֹכָ֤הּ בְתוֹכָֽהּ׃ בְתוֹכָֽם׃ בְתוֹכָהּ֙ בַּתָּ֑וֶךְ בַּתָּ֔וֶךְ בַּתָּֽוֶךְ׃ בְּתֹוכֹֽו׃ בתוך בתוך־ בתוך׃ בתוכה בתוכה׃ בתוכהנה׃ בתוכו בתוכו׃ בתוכי בתוכך בתוכך׃ בתוככי בתוככם בתוככם׃ בתוכם בתוכם׃ בתוכנו בתככם בתכם הַתָּ֑וֶךְ הַתָּ֗וֶךְ התוך וְת֤וֹךְ וְתוֹכ֣וֹ וּבְת֖וֹךְ וּבְת֛וֹךְ וּבְת֣וֹךְ וּבְת֥וֹךְ וּבְתוֹךְ֙ וּבְתוֹכָ֖ם וּמִ֨תּוֹכָ֔הּ ובתוך ובתוכם ומתוכה ותוך ותוכו מִתּ֖וֹךְ מִתּ֛וֹךְ מִתּ֣וֹך מִתּ֣וֹךְ מִתּ֤וֹךְ מִתּ֥וֹךְ מִתּֽוֹכְךָ֙ מִתּוֹךְ֙ מִתּוֹךְ֮ מִתּוֹךְ־ מִתּוֹכְכֶ֖ם מִתּוֹכָ֑ם מִתּוֹכָ֔הּ מִתּוֹכָֽהּ׃ מִתּוֹכָֽם׃ מִתּוֹכָהּ֙ מתוך מתוך־ מתוכה מתוכה׃ מתוכך מתוככם מתוכם מתוכם׃ תּ֖וֹךְ תּ֣וֹך תּ֣וֹךְ תּ֤וֹךְ תּ֥וֹךְ תּוֹכ֑וֹ תּוֹכָ֖ם תּוֹכוֹ֙ תוֹכְךָ֛ תוך תוכו תוכך תוכם bat·tā·weḵ batTavech battāweḵ bə·ṯō·ḵām bə·ṯō·ḵə·ḵem ḇə·ṯō·ḵə·ḵem bə·ṯō·w·ḵā·hə·nāh bə·ṯō·w·ḵāh ḇə·ṯō·w·ḵāh bə·ṯō·w·ḵām ḇə·ṯō·w·ḵām bə·ṯō·w·ḵê·ḵî bə·ṯō·w·ḵê·nū ḇə·ṯō·w·ḵê·nū bə·ṯō·w·ḵêḵ ḇə·ṯō·w·ḵêḵ bə·ṯō·w·ḵî bə·ṯō·w·ḵōw bə·ṯō·wḵ bə·ṯō·wḵ- ḇə·ṯō·wḵ- bə·ṯō·wḵ·ḵem beToch betoChah betoChahenah betoCham betochChem betoChech betocheChem beToChechi betoChenu betoChi betoCho bəṯōḵām bəṯōḵəḵem ḇəṯōḵəḵem bəṯōwḵ bəṯōwḵ- ḇəṯōwḵ- bəṯōwḵāh ḇəṯōwḵāh bəṯōwḵāhənāh bəṯōwḵām ḇəṯōwḵām bəṯōwḵêḵ ḇəṯōwḵêḵ bəṯōwḵêḵî bəṯōwḵênū ḇəṯōwḵênū bəṯōwḵî bəṯōwḵḵem bəṯōwḵōw hat·tā·weḵ hatTavech hattāweḵ mit·tō·w·ḵāh mit·tō·w·ḵām mit·tō·wḵ mit·tō·wḵ- mit·tō·wḵ·ḵā mit·tō·wḵ·ḵem mitToch mittoChah mittoCham mittochCha mittochChem mittōwḵ mittōwḵ- mittōwḵāh mittōwḵām mittōwḵḵā mittōwḵḵem tō·w·ḵām tō·w·ḵōw tō·wḵ ṯō·wḵ·ḵā Toch toCham tochCha toCho tōwḵ tōwḵām ṯōwḵḵā tōwḵōw ū·ḇə·ṯō·w·ḵām ū·ḇə·ṯō·wḵ ū·mit·tō·w·ḵāh ūḇəṯōwḵ ūḇəṯōwḵām uMittoChah ūmittōwḵāh uveToch uvetoCham vetoch vetoChah vetoCham vetoChech vetocheChem vetoChenu vetoCho wə·ṯō·w·ḵōw wə·ṯō·wḵ wəṯōwḵ wəṯōwḵōwInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts