Original Word: תַּחַת
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: tachath
Pronunciation: tah'-khath
Phonetic Spelling: (takh'-ath)
KJV: as, beneath, X flat, in(-stead), (same) place (whereis), room, forsake, stead of, under, X unto, X whenwas mine, whereas, (where-)fore, with
NASB: under, place, instead, beneath, foot, underneath, return
Word Origin: [from the same as H8430 (תּוַֹח - Toah)]

1. the bottom (as depressed)
2. only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc

Thahash

From the same as Towach; the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc. -- as, beneath, X flat, in(-stead), (same) place (where...is), room, for...sake, stead of, under, X unto, X when...was mine, whereas, (where-)fore, with.

see HEBREW Towach

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
underneath, below, instead of
NASB Translation
account (2), against* (4), allegiance* (1), Amid (1), among (2), because (1), because* (12), below (1), below* (10), beneath (13), beneath* (7), exchange (3), flat (2), foot (8), inasmuch* (1), instead (34), like (1), place (136), place* (1), places (1), replace* (1), replaces* (1), return (4), right where (1), site (1), sites (1), spot (1), stead (1), under (201), underneath (5), underparts (1), where (1), where they stand (1), whereas (1), whereas* (1), while she was mine (1), why* (1).

תַּחַת noun [masculine] the under part (Arabic id.), hence as

adverb accusative and

preposition underneath, below, instead of (so Arabic , Sabean תחת, Ethiopic Phoenician תחת (Lzb³⁸⁵); Biblical Aramaic ᵑ7, תְּחוֺת, Palmyrene in מן לתחת Tariff Genesis 1:4 (Cooke³²⁰), Syriac ); — 1 as

adverb accusative Genesis 49:25 (= Deuteronomy 33:13) the deep רֹבֶצֶת תָּ֑חַת that coucheth beneath; more usually with מִן, מִתָּחַת literally off (מִן

1c) the under part = beneath, Exodus 20:4 (= Deuteronomy 5:8) בָּאָרֶץ מִתָּ֑חַת (so Deuteronomy 4:39; Joshua 2: 1 Kings 8:23 [both D²], Isaiah 51:6), Deuteronomy 33:27; Judges 7:8; Amos 2:9; Isaiah 14:9; Job 18:16; Ezekiel 47:1b

II. as

preposition; so construct, and with suffix (usually in the plural, and so literally in the parts underneath) תַּחְתַּי Habakkuk 3:16+, חַתֵּנִי (compare בַּעֲדֵנִי, עוֺדֶנִּי: Ges^{§ 103d}) 2 Samuel 22:37,40,48 (Psalm 18:37; 18:40; 18:48 תַּחְתָּ֑י); תַּחְתֶּיךָ; תַּחְתָּיו (Kt תַּחְתּוֺ 2 Samuel 2:23; 2 Samuel 3:12; 2 Samuel 16:8; Job 9:13), תֵּחְתֶּיהָ Leviticus 13:23 16t., תַּחְתֶּ֫נָּה (compare אֵינֶנָּה, עוֺדֶנָּה) Genesis 2:21; תַּחְתֵּינוּ 1 Samuel 14:9; Psalm 47:4; תַּחְתֵּיהֶם Joshua 2:14; Amos 2:13; תַּחְתֵּיהֶם Numbers 16:31; 1 Kings 20:24; 1 Chronicles 4:41; 1 Chronicles 5:22; 2Chronicles 12:10 (for תַּחְתָּם 1 Kings 14:27), תַּחְתָּם Deuteronomy 2:12 10t., תַּחְתֵּקהֶן Jeremiah 28:13; —

1 under, beneath, Genesis 7:19 הַשָּׁמַיִם תַּחַת כָּלֿ under the whole heaven (so Deuteronomy 2:25; Deuteronomy 4:19; Job 28:24; Job 37:3; Job 41:3; Daniel 9:12), Dan 18:4 הָעֵץ ׳ת, Dan 21:15; Dan 24:2+ often; Job 30:14 שׁוֺאָה ׳תּ under the crash they roll themselves against me; הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ ׳ת Ecclesiastes 1:3,9,13 #NAME? Ecclesiastes (so in Phoenician, Cooke^{4. 7; 5. 12}). With לְ2Chronicles 4:3 תַּחַת לוֺ, Songs 2:6 = Songs 8:3 לְראֹשִׁי ׳ת. Idiomatic

a. תַּחַת הָהָר at the foot of the mountain, Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 4:11, so Deuteronomy 3:17 ׳אַשְׁדֹּת הַמִּסְגָּה ת Joshua 11:3,17 +; figurative Psalm 18:37 תַּחְתָּ֑י תַּרְחִיד אְעָדַי thou broadenest mysteps under me, Job 36:15 רַחַב לאֹ מוּצָק תַּחְתֶּיךָ (so read for תחתיה, Di Bu) breadth unstraitened is beneath thee.

b. ׳הַלָּשׁוֺן ת, of something held there as a dainty morsel, and ready, when needed, to be brought out, figurative of sweetness Songs 4:11, of evil Psalm 10:7 ׳לְשֹׁנוֺ עָמָל וָאָוֶן ת, Job 20:12 (so שְׁפָתֵימוֺ ׳ת Psalm 140:4), of praise Psalm 66:17 לְשֹׁנוֺ ׳וְרוֺמַם ת (synonym בִּגְרוֺנָם Psalm 149:6).

c. ׳תַּחַת פ: (a) of subjection, Psalm 18:40 תַּחְתָּ֑י תַּכְּ רִיעַ קָמַי, Psalm 18:48 (compare Psalm 47:4; Psalm 144:2), Psalm 45:6; Job 9:13. (b) of a woman, אִישָׁתּ ׳ת, i.e. under his authority, Numbers 5:19,20,29, so Ezekiel 23:5 תַּחְתַּי being under me = being mine (figurative of Israel as ׳יs spouse), compare ὕπανδρος Romans 7:2, and Qor 66:10. (c) of being burdened or oppressed under, Isaiah 24:5 the earth יָֽשְׁבֶיהָ ׳הָֽנְפָה ת, Proverbs 30:21 שָׁלוֺשׁ רָגְזָה אֶרֶץ ׳ת, Proverbs 30:22; Proverbs 30:23; Habakkuk 3:7 אָיֶן ׳ת i.e. (si vera 1.) suffering under calamity.

d. ׳יַד פ ׳ת, of authority or control, Genesis 41:35 יַד מַּרְעֹה ׳וְיִצְבְּרוּ בָר ת; Judges 3:30 (compare Psalm 106:42), 1 Samuel 21:4; 1 Samuel 21:5 (strike out אֶל; dittograph חֹל), v.1 Samuel 21:9; Isaiah 3:6.

e. ׳רַגְלֵי פ ׳ת, of subjection or conquest, Psalm 8:7 רַגְלָיו כֹּל ׳שַׁתָּה ת, Psalm 18:39; Psalm 47:4; Lamentations 3:34, compare Malachi 3:31.

2 what is under one, the place in which one stands: hence as accusative,

a. with reflexive pronoun, idiomatic, in one's place, where one stands, Exodus 16:29 תַּחְתָּיו שְׁבוּ אִישׁ abide every one in his place, Leviticus 13:23,28; Joshua 5:8; Joshua 6:5,20; Judges 7:21; 1 Samuel 14:9 וְעָמַדְנוּ תַחְתֵּינוּ we will remain where we are, 2 Samuel 2:23 וַיָּמָת תַּחְתָּו he died where he was (compare Jeremiah 38:9 [read וּמֵת]), Jeremiah 7:10; Isaiah 25:10; Isaiah 46:7; Amos 2:13; Habakkuk 3:16 וְתַחְתַּי אֶרְגָּ֑ז I tremble where I stand, Zechariah 12:6; Zechariah 14:10; Job 36:20; Job 40:12 תַּחְתָּם

b. in transferred sense, in place of, instead of: (a) Genesis 2:18; Genesis 4:25 הֶבֶל ׳ת instead of Abel, Genesis 22:13 בְּנוֺ ׳ת, Genesis 30:2 אלהיס אנכי ׳הֲת (compare Genesis 50:19), Genesis 44:33; 2 Samuel 19:1 + often; Job 16:4; Isaiah 3:24; Isaiah 55:13; Isaiah 61:3,7; of one succeeding to the place of another, תַּחְתָּיו וַיִּמְחֹ Genesis 36:33-49 1 Kings 8:20; 1 Kings 11:43; 1 Kings 14:20 + often, Deuteronomy 2:12,21 וַיֵָּֽשְׁבוּ תַחְתָּם, Leviticus 16:32; 1 Kings 2:35 +; Psalm 45:17 in place of thy fathers (whom thou mayest therefore forget) will be thy children. compare in Ph CIS^i.3.9 (Cooke³⁰). Sq. infinitive Isaiah 60:15 הֱיוֺתֵח ׳ת instead of thy being . . . Peculiarly Job 34:26 (si vera lectio)= as if they were, like; but text very dubious; Bi Bu תָּחֵת חֲמָתוֺ רְשָׁעִ֑ים his wrath breaketh in pieces the wicked. (b) in particular, of things mutually interchanged, in place of, in exchange or return for: Genesis 30:15 דּוּדָאֵי בְנֵח ׳ת in return, for thy son's love-apples, Exodus 21:23) גֶפְשׁlife for life, Exodus 21:24; Exodus 21:25; Exodus 21:26; Exodus 21:27; Exodus 21:36; Exodus 22:37, Joshua 2:14 נַפְשֵׁנוּ תַחְתֵּיכֶם לָמוּת, 1 Samuel 2:20; 1 Kings 20:39 נפשׁו ׳נפשׁך ת, 1 Kings 20:42 (compare 2 Kings 10:24), 2 Kings 21:2; Isaiah 43:3,4; often with verbs of requiting, Genesis 44:4 טוֺבָם ׳לָ֫מּה שִׁלַּמְתֶּם רָעָה ת why have ye rewarded evil in exchange for good ? 1 Samuel 25:21; 2 Samuel 16:12; 2 Samuel 19:22; Psalm 35:12 טוֺבָה ׳יְשַׁלְּמוּנִי דָעָה ת, Psalm 38:21a; Psalm 109:4; Psalm 109:5; Proverbs 17:3 +; Jeremiah 5:19 תַּחַת מֶה in return for what? (compare עַלמֶֿה Jeremiah 22:8; Deuteronomy 29:23; 1 Kings 9:8). So followed by infinitive Psalm 38:21b. 3 as

conjunction: a. תַּחַת אֲשֶׁר: (a) instead of that (German. anstatt dass), Deuteronomy 28:62 הֱיִיתֶם ׳א ׳ת instead of that ye were..., instead of your being.., Ezekiel 36:34. (b) in return for (the fact) that, because that (ᵐ5 ἀνθ’ ὧν Amos 1:3 + often), Numbers 25:13 ׳אֲשֶׁר קִנָּא לא ׳ת, Deuteronomy 21:14; Deuteronomy 22:29; Deuteronomy 28:47; 1 Samuel 26:21; 2 Kings 22:17 2Chronicles 34:25; Isaiah 53:12; Jeremiah 29:19; Jeremiah 50:7; 2Chronicles 21:12.

b. תַּחַת כִּי Deuteronomy 4:37 (but ? read : וֶַ˜תּחִי as end of Deuteronomy 4:36), Proverbs 1:29. compare עֵקֶב אֲשֶׁר (כִּיׅ.

III compounds: —

1 אֶלתַּֿחַת, after a verb of motion:

a. (in) under, Judges 6:19 וַיּוֺצֵא אֶלֿ הָאֵלָה ׳ת, 1 Kings 8:6 ("" 2 Chronicles 5:7), Jeremiah 3:6; Jeremiah 38:11 (on 1 Samuel 21:5 see

II. 1 d); after קָרָא Zechariah 3:10: so ׳לְ ׳אֶלתֿ Ezekiel 10:2.

b. into the place of, Leviticus 14:42.

2 מִתַּחַת (= ὑπ’ ἐκ):

a. alone, from under, from beneath as מִתַּחַת הַשָּׁמַיִם Genesis 1:7, and especially after such verbs as שִׁחֵת Genesis 6:17, מָחֶה Exodus 17:14; Deuteronomy 9:14; Deuteronomy 25:19; Deuteronomy 29:19; 2 Kings 14:27, הֶאֲבִיד Deuteronomy 7:24, compare Lamentations 3:66; Ezekiel 47:1 a מִמְּתַּן ׳מִתּ הַבַּיִת, Proverbs 22:27 לָ֫מָּה יִקַח מִשְׁכָּֽבְּךָ מִּתַּחְתֶּיךָ; Exodus 6:6,7 סִבְלוֺת מִצְרַיִם ׳מִתּ, Hosea 4:12 אֱלֹהֵיהֶם ׳וַיִּזְנוּ מִתּ (compare

II. 1 c a, b); ׳יַד פ ׳מִתּ (compare

II. 1 d) from under the hand (power) of ... Exodus 18:10; 2 Kings 8:20,22; 2 Kings 13:5; 2 Kings 17:7 +; מִתַּחְתָּיו (compare

II. 2 a) from his place Exodus 10:23; Zechariah 6:12. Rarely = תַּחַת or ׳מִתַּחַת לְ, Genesis 1:9 (P) Ezekiel 1:8; Ezekiel 42:9; Ezekiel 46:23; Job 26:5.

b. ׳מִתַּחַת לְ (opposed to ׳מִמַּעַל לְ) under, beneath: Genesis 1:17 ׳הַמַּיִם אֲשֶׁר מִתּ לָרָקִיעַ, Exodus 20:4 הַמַּיִם מִתַּחַת לָאָרֶץ (so Deuteronomy 4:18; Deuteronomy 5:8), Judges 3:16 לְמַדָּיו ׳מִתּ, Jeremiah 38:12 +; of locality, Genesis 35:8 לְבֵיתְאֵל ׳מִתּ, 1 Samuel 7:11; 1 Kings 4:12.

c. ׳לְמִתַּחַת לְ ( compare מִן

9b), id quod ׳מִתַּחַת לְ 1 Kings 7:32.

Essential Concept

תַּחַת (tachath) centers on the idea of one thing being “under,” “beneath,” or “in place of” another. The preposition therefore spans concrete space, social rank, moral obligation, and redemptive substitution, tying together more than five hundred Old Testament occurrences into a unified theological thread.

Spatial Orientation: What Is Literally Under

From the creation narrative onward, tachath marks physical position. “God made the expanse and separated the waters that were below the expanse from the waters that were above” (Genesis 1:7). Mountains stand tachath the heavens (Deuteronomy 4:19). Earth lies tachath the firmament (Genesis 1:9). Individuals sit tachath a tree for shade (1 Kings 13:14), armies camp tachath city walls (Joshua 8:4), and treasures are hidden tachath the ground (Job 3:21). These usages teach that the Creator orders every level of reality, sustaining all that is over and all that is under His dominion.

Moral and Social Hierarchy

Tachath conveys rank or subordination. Kings rise “in place of” prior kings (1 Kings 15:8). Elders serve “under” Moses (Exodus 18:21). A son stands tachath his father at the familial altar (Genesis 22:13). Thus Scripture affirms both continuity and accountability in human authority structures while reminding leaders that they themselves serve under God.

Substitution: The Heart of Redemption

Genesis 22:13–14 epitomizes tachath as substitution: “Abraham looked up and saw behind him a ram caught in the thicket… and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son.” The Passover instructions likewise require a lamb tachath each firstborn (Exodus 13:13). Later, David cries, “Let Your hand be against me and my father’s house” tachath the people (2 Samuel 24:17). This substitutionary pattern culminates in Isaiah 53 where the Servant is wounded tachath transgressors, anticipating the atoning work of Jesus Christ (Matthew 20:28; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

Covenantal and Legal Exchange

Tachath appears in legal formulas that ensure justice. “Life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth” (Exodus 21:23–24) employs tachath to balance wrong with equivalent restitution. Boaz removes his sandal tachath the nearer kinsman’s right (Ruth 4:7–8), a symbolic transfer of legal standing. These passages demonstrate God’s demand for equitable recompense while preserving the potential for merciful substitution.

Cultic and Ritual Placement

Priests lay parts of sacrifices tachath the altar (Leviticus 1:15). Blood is poured tachath the base (Leviticus 4:7). At Sinai, half the blood is sprinkled on the altar tachath Israel (Exodus 24:6–8). The worshiper thereby acknowledges that the victim stands in the offerer’s place, reinforcing personal accountability before a holy God.

Poetic and Prophetic Resonance

Hebrew poetry leverages tachath for emotional contrast. “Beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning” (Isaiah 61:3). “Instead of Your fathers shall be Your sons” (Psalm 45:16). Prophets warn that nations will fall tachath divine judgment (Ezekiel 26:12) while the humble will be lifted from under oppression (Zechariah 9:11–12). The term shapes both lament and hope, underscoring God’s power to reverse fortunes.

Theological Implications

1. Sovereignty: Everything is arranged under God’s rule; nothing lies outside His hierarchy (Psalm 8:6).
2. Substitutionary Atonement: From Eden’s coverings (implicitly animals slain tachath Adam and Eve) to Calvary, Scripture presents innocent life given tachath the guilty.
3. Justice and Mercy: Tachath balances retributive equity with gracious exchange, revealing the character of God who is both righteous and compassionate.

Ministry Application

• Leadership: Serve under God’s authority, recognizing the privilege of standing tachath predecessors while preparing successors (2 Timothy 2:2).
• Intercession: Like Moses and David, believers may plead to bear consequences tachath others (Galatians 6:2).
• Discipleship: Christ’s call to take up the cross places self-interest under His lordship (Luke 14:27), freeing the church to offer itself tachath a broken world.

Christological Fulfillment

Jesus fulfills every strand of tachath. He came “not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). On the cross He was made sin tachath us, “so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). His resurrection exalts Him far above all, and God has placed everything tachath His feet (Ephesians 1:22), securing the believer’s eternal standing under His gracious reign.

Summary

Tachath weaves through Scripture as the grammar of placement and replacement. Whether describing geography, governance, retribution, or redemption, it consistently affirms that God rules over what lies beneath, provides substitutes for the condemned, and ultimately offers His own Son in our stead.

הֲתַ֣חַת הֲתַ֤חַת הֲתַ֥חַת התחת וְ֝תַחְתֶּ֗יהָ וְתַ֖חַת וְתַ֗חַת וְתַ֙חַת֙ וְתַ֣חַת וְתַ֤חַת וְתַ֥חַת וְתַ֧חַת וְתַ֨חַת וְתַֽחַת־ וְתַחְתַּ֣י וּמִתַּ֖חַת וּמִתַּ֙חַת֙ וּמִתַּחְתָּ֣יו וּמִתַּ֖חַת ומתחת ומתחתיו ותחת ותחת־ ותחתי ותחתיה לְמִתַּ֙חַת֙ למתחת מִ֭תַּחַת מִתַָּ֑֜חַת מִתַּ֕חַת מִתַּ֖חַת מִתַּ֗חַת מִתַּ֙חַת֙ מִתַּ֛חַת מִתַּ֜חַת מִתַּ֣חַת מִתַּ֤חַת מִתַּ֥֣חַת מִתַּ֥חַת מִתַּ֨חַת מִתַּחְתֶּֽיךָ׃ מִתַּחְתָּ֖יו מִתָּ֑֜חַת מִתָּ֑חַת מִתָּֽחַת׃ מתחת מתחת׃ מתחתיו מתחתיך׃ תַ֖חַת תַ֨חַת תַּ֖חַת תַּ֗חַת תַּ֚חַת תַּ֛חַת תַּ֠חַת תַּ֣חַת תַּ֣חַת ׀ תַּ֤חַת תַּ֥חַת תַּ֧חַת תַּ֨חַת תַּ֭חְתָּיו תַּ֭חַת תַּֽחַת־ תַּחְתֵּ֑ינוּ תַּחְתֵּ֑נִי תַּחְתֵּֽנִי׃ תַּחְתֵּיהֶ֑ם תַּחְתֵּיהֶ֔ם תַּחְתֵּיהֶֽם׃ תַּחְתֵּיכֶ֑ם תַּחְתֶּ֑יהָ תַּחְתֶּ֔יהָ תַּחְתֶּ֔יךָ תַּחְתֶּ֖יהָ תַּחְתֶּ֖יךָ תַּחְתֶּ֗יהָ תַּחְתֶּ֙יהָ֙ תַּחְתֶּ֙יךָ֙ תַּחְתֶּ֜יהָ תַּחְתֶּ֣יךָ תַּחְתֶּֽיהָ׃ תַּחְתֶּֽיךָ׃ תַּחְתֶּֽנָּה׃ תַּחְתֶּיהָ֩ תַּחְתָּ֑י תַּחְתָּ֑יו תַּחְתָּ֑ם תַּחְתָּ֔יו תַּחְתָּ֔ם תַּחְתָּ֖יו תַּחְתָּ֗יו תַּחְתָּ֛יו תַּחְתָּ֜יו תַּחְתָּ֣יו תַּחְתָּֽי׃ תַּחְתָּֽיו׃ תַּחְתָּֽם׃ תַּחְתָּיו֙ תַּחַת֩ תַּחַת־ תַֽחַת־ תַחְתֵּ֔ינוּ תַחְתֵּיהֶ֖ם תַחְתֵּיהֶ֖ן תַחְתֵּיכֶם֙ תַחְתֶּ֔יךָ תַחְתֶּ֜יהָ תַחְתָּ֑י תַחְתָּ֔יו תַחְתָּ֔ם תַחְתָּ֖יו תַחְתָּ֗יו תַחְתָּ֛ם תַחְתָּֽי׃ תַחְתָּֽם׃ תַחְתָּיו֙ תָּ֑חַת תָּֽחַת׃ תַּחְתָּ֑יו תַּחְתָּ֔יו תַּחְתָּ֥יו תחת תחת־ תחת׃ תחתי תחתי׃ תחתיה תחתיה׃ תחתיהם תחתיהם׃ תחתיהן תחתיו תחתיו׃ תחתיך תחתיך׃ תחתיכם תחתינו תחתם תחתם׃ תחתנה׃ תחתני תחתני׃ hă·ṯa·ḥaṯ haTachat hăṯaḥaṯ lə·mit·ta·ḥaṯ lemitTachat ləmittaḥaṯ mit·ta·ḥaṯ mit·tā·ḥaṯ mit·taḥ·tāw mit·taḥ·te·ḵā mitTachat mittachTav mittachTeicha mittaḥaṯ mittāḥaṯ mittaḥtāw mittaḥteḵā ta·ḥaṯ tā·ḥaṯ ṯa·ḥaṯ ta·ḥaṯ- ṯa·ḥaṯ- Tachat tachTai tachTam tachTav tachTeicha tachteiChem tachTeiha tachteiHem tachteiHen tachTeinu tachTeni tachTennah taḥ·tām ṯaḥ·tām taḥ·tāw ṯaḥ·tāw taḥ·tāy ṯaḥ·tāy taḥ·te·hā ṯaḥ·te·hā taḥ·tê·hem ṯaḥ·tê·hem ṯaḥ·tê·hen taḥ·te·ḵā ṯaḥ·te·ḵā taḥ·tê·ḵem ṯaḥ·tê·ḵem taḥ·tê·nî taḥ·tê·nū ṯaḥ·tê·nū taḥ·ten·nāh taḥaṯ tāḥaṯ ṯaḥaṯ taḥaṯ- ṯaḥaṯ- taḥtām ṯaḥtām taḥtāw ṯaḥtāw taḥtāy ṯaḥtāy taḥtehā ṯaḥtehā taḥtêhem ṯaḥtêhem ṯaḥtêhen taḥteḵā ṯaḥteḵā taḥtêḵem ṯaḥtêḵem taḥtênî taḥtennāh taḥtênū ṯaḥtênū ū·mit·ta·ḥaṯ ū·mit·taḥ·tāw umitTachat umittachTav ūmittaḥaṯ ūmittaḥtāw veTachat vetachTai vetachTeiha wə·ṯa·ḥaṯ wə·ṯa·ḥaṯ- wə·ṯaḥ·tay wə·ṯaḥ·te·hā wəṯaḥaṯ wəṯaḥaṯ- wəṯaḥtay wəṯaḥtehāInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts