Original Word: תָּרְמָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: tormah
Pronunciation: tor-MAH
Phonetic Spelling: (tor-maw')
KJV: deceit(-ful), privily
Word Origin: [from H7411 (רָמָה - To betray)]

1. fraud

deceitful, privily

And tarmuwth {tar-mooth'}; or tarmiyth {tar-meeth'}; from ramah; fraud -- deceit(-ful), privily.

see HEBREW ramah

תָּרְמָה in ׳בְּת Judges 9:31 si vera lectio in treachery, treacherously, but form strange and meaning unsuitable; read possibly אֲרוּמָה (בַּ) proper name, of a location (q. v.), compare Judges 9:41 and GFM.

תרמות Jeremiah 14:14 Kt, see following

תַּרְמִית noun feminine deceitfulness; — absolute ׳לְשׁוֺן תּ Zephaniah 3:13 ("" עַוְלָה, כָּזָב), תַּרְמִת Jeremiah 8:5; construct תַּרְמִית לִכָּם Jeremiah 14:14 Qr (>Kt תרבות), תַּרְבִּת לִבָּם Jeremiah 23:26 ("" שֶׁקֶר); suffix שֶׁקֶר תַּרְמִיתָם Psalm 119:118 (where ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9 and others תַּדְעִיתָם Aramaic their thought).

III. רמה (√ of following; connection With II. ׳ר dubious; compare As ramû grow loose; II. loosen).

Overview

תָּרְמָה (tormah) describes deliberate, calculated deception. It is never used positively; every occurrence exposes or condemns the practice of treachery that sets itself against covenant faithfulness, truth, and the character of God.

Canonical Occurrences

1. Judges 9:31 – Covert intrigue in the days of Abimelech.
2. Psalm 119:118 – The treachery of those who forsake God’s statutes.
3. Jeremiah 8:5 – Judah’s stubborn clinging to deceit.
4. Jeremiah 14:14 – False prophets offering lying visions.
5. Jeremiah 23:26 – Continued prophetic falsehood springing from deceitful hearts.
6. Zephaniah 3:13 – A future remnant purified from deceit.

Usage in Narrative History

Judges 9:31 positions tormah within political subterfuge. Zebul covertly informs Abimelech of Gaal’s uprising “in secret”, revealing how deception corrodes leadership, breeds distrust, and ultimately contributes to the civil bloodshed that follows. By highlighting tormah at this juncture, Scripture underlines that human schemes, however hidden, remain fully exposed to the Judge of all the earth.

Usage in Wisdom and Worship

Psalm 119:118 elevates tormah from political intrigue to a moral absolute:

“You reject all who stray from Your statutes, for their deceitfulness is in vain.”

Divine rejection is linked directly to deceitful living. The psalmist contrasts untruth with wholehearted obedience; thus tormah serves as a foil that magnifies the blessedness of walking in God’s law (Psalm 119:1).

Prophetic Denunciations

Jeremiah employs tormah three times, making deceit a central charge in his covenant lawsuit against Judah.
• Jeremiah 8:5 – The nation “clings to deceit” and refuses repentance, so judgment is inevitable.
• Jeremiah 14:14 & 23:26 – False prophets traffic in “the deceit of their own minds/hearts,” presenting a counterfeit word that lulls the people into false security. The prophets’ tormah not only violates the ninth commandment but also misrepresents God, provoking His wrath (Jeremiah 23:30-32).

Zephaniah 3:13 closes the prophetic use by forecasting a remnant “nor will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths.” Eschatological hope, therefore, includes the extinction of tormah from God’s people.

Theological Themes

1. Truth versus Treachery – Tormah is antithetical to the God who “cannot lie” (Titus 1:2). By labeling deception with this term, Scripture exposes it as a personal affront to the Divine nature.
2. Covenant Integrity – Because Israel’s calling is to reflect God’s character, deceit within the community defiles the covenant relationship.
3. Prophetic Authenticity – The repeated pairing of tormah with false prophecy underscores that authoritative ministry must be grounded in revealed truth rather than self-generated visions.
4. Eschatological Purity – The eradication of deceit in Zephaniah anticipates the New Covenant reality of transformed hearts (Jeremiah 31:33), ultimately realized in the sinless reign of Messiah.

Historical Significance

The presence of tormah in Israel’s darkest moments—civil strife (Judges 9), apostasy (Jeremiah 8), and prophetic corruption (Jeremiah 14, 23)—marks deceit as a recurring catalyst for national decline. Conversely, its prophesied removal highlights the restoration God intends. Understanding this pattern helps interpreters trace a consistent biblical motif: deception leads to judgment; truth leads to blessing.

Ministry Implications

• Preaching and Teaching – Faithful proclamation must expose modern forms of tormah (false gospels, manipulative leadership, dishonest practices) and point hearers to the truth embodied in Jesus Christ (John 14:6).
• Pastoral Care – Shepherds guard flocks from deceptive voices by measuring every message against the written Word (Acts 17:11).
• Personal Holiness – Believers are called to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15), repudiate hidden motives, and cultivate transparent relationships, knowing that the Lord “desires truth in the inmost being” (Psalm 51:6).
• Mission – The Church’s credibility before a watching world hinges on integrity; a life free from tormah adorns the gospel (Titus 2:10).

Christological Reflection

While tormah characterizes fallen humanity, Jesus “committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:22, citing Isaiah 53:9). His flawless truthfulness secures atonement for deceivers and empowers His people to walk in the light (1 John 1:7).

Summary

תָּרְמָה exposes the ugliness of deliberate deceit and its devastating communal effects. Scripture consistently condemns it, warns of divine judgment upon it, and promises a future purged of it. The term therefore functions as a moral beacon, directing God’s people toward authenticity, fidelity, and unwavering commitment to the truth revealed in His Word.

בְּתָרְמָ֣ה בַּתַּרְמִ֔ית בתרמה בתרמית וְתַרְמִ֣ית ותרמית תַּרְמִ֑ית תַּרְמִ֥ת תַּרְמִיתָֽם׃ תרמית תרמיתם׃ תרמת bat·tar·mîṯ battarMit battarmîṯ bə·ṯā·rə·māh betareMah bəṯārəmāh tar·mî·ṯām tar·miṯ tar·mîṯ tarMit tarmiṯ tarmîṯ tarmiTam tarmîṯām vetarMit wə·ṯar·mîṯ wəṯarmîṯInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts