H8544 H8544
Form, visible shape, outward appearance; likeness, image, semblance -- used of divine theophanies, idol prohibitions, and visionary apparitions.
A feminine noun denoting the visible form or outward appearance of something, prominent in two charged theological contexts. In the theophanic traditions, it describes the 'form of YHWH' that Moses alone beheld (Num 12:8) and the shape Israel heard but did not see at Horeb (Deut 4:12, 15). In the prohibitions against idolatry, it pairs with pesel ('carved image') to forbid any representation in the likeness of created things (Exod 20:4; Deut 4:16, 23, 25). The Psalmist's hope to behold God's likeness upon waking (Ps 17:15) and Job's ghostly apparition (Job 4:16) round out its range. French 'forme' and Spanish 'figura/forma' track the shape-sense, while 'ressemblance' and 'imagen' reflect the likeness-sense.
Senses
1. form, shape (visible appearance) — The visible form, shape, or outward appearance of something perceived -- the contour or figure as actually seen or potentially seeable. Central to theophanic and anti-idol legislation: Moses beholds the 'form of YHWH' (Num 12:8), Israel heard a voice but saw no form at Horeb (Deut 4:12, 15), and no carved image in any form is to be made (Deut 4:16, 23, 25). Job 4:16 extends this to a nocturnal apparition whose form the speaker could not discern. Spanish 'forma/figura' and French 'forme' consistently render this concrete visual sense. 8×
AR["شَكْلٍ","صورَةٌ","صُورَةٍ","صُورَةَ","وَ-صُورَةَ","وَشَكْلًا"]·ben["আকার","এবং-রূপ","কিন্তু-রূপ","রূপ"]·DE["[תמונה]","form","form-von","und-ein-form","und-form-von"]·EN["a-form","and-a-form","and-form-of","form","form-of"]·FR["et-forme-de","et-un-forme","forme","forme-de","תמונה"]·heb["ו-תמונה","ו-תמנת","תמונה","תמונת"]·HI["आकृति","और-रूप","कोई-","रूप"]·ID["dan-rupa","rupa","suatu-wujud","tetapi-rupa"]·IT["e-form-di","e-un-form","form","form-di","un-form"]·jav["lan-wujud","nanging-wujud","wangun","wujud","wujuding"]·KO["그리고-형상을","형상을","형상이"]·PT["e-forma","e-forma-de","forma","forma-de"]·RU["-образа","а-образа","и-образ","образ"]·ES["figura","figura-de","forma","pero-figura","y-forma-de"]·SW["chochote","lakini-umbo","mfano-wa","na-umbo-la","umbo","umbo-la"]·TR["görünüm","görünümünde-","suret","ve-görünüm","ve-şeklini","şekil"]·urd["اور-شکل","شکل","صورت"]
2. likeness, image (resemblance) — Likeness, resemblance, or representation -- emphasizing similarity to a model rather than mere physical shape. In the Decalogue's prohibition (Exod 20:4), temunah stands alongside pesel as a 'likeness' of anything in heaven, earth, or sea, stressing representational correspondence. The Psalmist's declaration 'I shall behold your likeness' (Ps 17:15) uses the word for the hope of seeing God's own reflected image. French 'ressemblance' and Spanish 'imagen' capture this representational nuance, distinct from the raw visual-form sense. 2×
AR["بِصُورَتِكَ","صُورَةٍ"]·ben["আপনার-রূপে","প্রতিমূর্তি"]·DE["likeness","mit-dein-likeness"]·EN["likeness","with-your-likeness"]·FR["figure","ressemblance"]·heb["תמונה","תמונתך"]·HI["आकृति","तेरे-स्वरूप-में"]·ID["dengan-rupa-Mu","rupa"]·IT["[תמונתך]","likeness"]·jav["wujud","wujud-Panjenengan"]·KO["형상-으로","형상을"]·PT["com-tua-imagem","semelhança"]·RU["изображения","образом-Твоим"]·ES["de-tu-forma","imagen"]·SW["mfano","sura-yako"]·TR["suret","suretinle"]·urd["تیری-شکل-سے","شبیہ"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† תְּמוּנָה n.f. likeness, form;—ת׳ Ex 20:4 + 4 times; cstr. תְּמוּנַת (תְּמֻנַת) Dt 4:16 + 3 times; sf. תְּמוּנָתֶ֑ךָ ψ 17:15;—likeness, representation (‖ פֶּסֶל) Ex 20:4 = Dt 5:8, cf. 4:16, 23, 25; form, semblance of י׳ Nu 12:8 ψ 17:15, cf. Dt 4:12 (vid. Dr), v 15; of nocturnal apparition Jb 4:16.