Search / H8604
H8604 H8604
N-fs  |  3× in 1 sense
unseemliness, moral unsavoriness, folly that offends righteousness
This noun denotes moral and intellectual unseemliness—behavior or speech that lacks proper taste, wisdom, or righteousness. In Job 1:22, it describes what Job carefully avoided: he did not ascribe 'unseemliness' to God even in extreme suffering, refusing to charge God with wrongdoing. Jeremiah uses it to condemn the prophets of Samaria for their offensive folly. The term suggests something morally distasteful, unseemly in the eyes of righteousness. It's the opposite of wisdom and propriety, marking speech or conduct that violates divine standards of what is fitting.

Senses
1. sense 1 The multilingual evidence shows diverse interpretation—English gives 'folly,' 'unseemliness,' 'wrong'; Spanish 'insensatez' (foolishness); but interestingly some French and German versions render as 'prayer' (prière, Gebet), apparently confusing this root with a similar form. The proper sense, supported by context in Job and Jeremiah, is moral unsavoriness. Job refused to ascribe moral impropriety to God; the false prophets exhibited it. The word marks the boundary of what is morally seemly.
MENTAL_LIFE Understand Folly and Foolishness
AR["بَلَاهَةً", "جَهالَةً", "حَمَاقَةً"]·ben["অপবাদ", "নিরর্থকতা", "মূর্খতা"]·DE["Gebet"]·EN["folly", "unseemliness", "wrong"]·FR["prière", "תפלה"]·heb["תפלה"]·HI["मूर्खता"]·ID["hal-yang-menjijikkan", "kesalahan"]·IT["preghiera", "sbagliato", "unseemliness"]·jav["bodho", "kamurkan", "panyacad"]·KO["어리석음을", "역겨운-것을", "헛된-것을"]·PT["insensatez", "loucura."]·RU["безумие", "безумия"]·ES["insensatez", "reproche."]·SW["kitu-kibaya", "upumbavu"]·TR["sapkınlık", "saçmalık", "suçlama"]·urd["بیہودہ", "بے-وقوفی", "بےحرمتی"]

Related Senses
H3045 1. Qal: to know, perceive, understand (829×)H5315 1. soul, inner being (647×)H3820a 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (572×)H4672 1. Qal: find, discover (289×)G1492 1. know facts or truths (285×)H3824 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (250×)H1245 1. seek, search for (200×)G1097 1. know, be acquainted with (196×)H2142 1. Qal: remember, recall (173×)G2588 1. heart (inner self, mind, will) (158×)H0977 1. choose, select (Qal active) (145×)G2147 1. find, discover (144×)G5590 1. soul, inner self (100×)H4672 2. Niphal: be found, be discovered (99×)H1875 1. seek, search for (96×)H5315 2. life, vitality (94×)H1847 1. knowledge, discernment (90×)H2450 1. wise, prudent (84×)H7911 1. Qal: to forget (83×)H3684 1. fool, dullard (70×)

BDB / Lexicon Reference
תִּפְלָה n.f. (moral) unsavouriness, unseemliness;—abs. ת׳; unseemliness, of men Je 23:13; Jb 24:12; לֹא נָתַן ת׳ לֵא׳ 1:22 he did not ascribe unseemliness to God; so read also 4:18 (for MT תָּהֳלָה) Hup Me Bu.