Hebrew word · H8544

תְּמוּנָה

temunah

likeness

Form, outward shape, visible likeness: what something looks like. It occurs only about ten times. In Numbers 12:8 Moses alone 'beholds the temunah of the LORD'. In Job 4:16 a form passes before the eyes in a night vision.

Appears 10 times in 10 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

form, image, likeness, representation, semblance

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Deuteronomy 5:8

Range of meaning

Form, outward shape, visible likeness: what something looks like. It occurs only about ten times. In Numbers 12:8 Moses alone 'beholds the temunah of the LORD'. In Job 4:16 a form passes before the eyes in a night vision. In Psalm 17:15 the psalmist hopes to be satisfied with God's temunah on waking.

Against the English

'Likeness' (KJV, WEB), 'similitude' (YLT), 'form' (BSB) are all fair. The key point is not the English word but the link back to Deuteronomy 4, which English readers seldom notice.

Used elsewhere in the period

Deuteronomy 4:12: 'you heard the sound of words, but saw no temunah; there was only a voice.' 4:15–18: 'Since you saw no temunah on the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb… do not act corruptly and make for yourselves a pesel, the temunah of any figure, the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any beast on the earth, any winged bird that flies in the heavens, anything that creeps on the ground, any fish in the waters under the earth.' 4:19 adds the sun, moon and stars. Deuteronomy 4 is in effect the sermon explaining 5:8.

From the study of Psalm 17:15

Range of meaning

The outward form or shape of something: a visible appearance (Job 4:16, "a form was before my eyes"), or a fashioned image or representation of something (Exodus 20:4; Deuteronomy 4:16–25, "the form of any figure"). Applied to God it means the visible appearance under which God can be perceived.

Against the English

KJV/ESV/NASB "likeness" is defensible, but in modern English "likeness" suggests resemblance, as in "in his likeness." Readers can take it to mean the psalmist will become like God. WEB "your form" is closer. BSB "in Your presence" turns it into a general idea of presence and drops the startling claim of seeing God's form.

How it drifted

"Likeness" in 1611 English could mean a visible shape or image. In modern usage it leans toward "similarity," and Christian readers connect it with "we shall be like him" (1 John 3:2) and with being conformed to God's image.

Used elsewhere in the period

Numbers 12:8: Moses "beholds the təmûnâ of the LORD." Deuteronomy 4:12, 15: at Horeb "you saw no təmûnâ, only a voice." Job 4:16: a spirit's "form" at night. The Greek Septuagint here avoids the word and substitutes "your glory" (doxa). Jerome, translating from the Hebrew, kept it: "similitudine tua."

From the study of Deuteronomy 4:23

Range of meaning

Form, shape, outward likeness: what can be seen of something. Used of the visible shape a being presents (Num 12:8; Job 4:16; Ps 17:15).

Against the English

'Form' (WEB, BSB) is good. 'Likeness' (KJV) works but sounds more abstract. What matters is that English translations rarely make clear that this same word ties together 4:12, 15, 16, 23 and 25.

Used elsewhere in the period

Deut 4:12 ('you heard the sound of words but saw no təmûnāh, only a voice'), 4:15–16, 4:25, and the Decalogue (5:8). Num 12:8 says Moses beholds the təmûnāh of Yahweh, a striking exception that shows the word means a visible appearance.

Where it appears

Exodus · 1

  1. Exodus 20:4 תְּמוּנָ֡֔ה form

    You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath.

    Here: Visible shape or outline. It closes the loophole: no shaped representation of any creature, whatever material or technique is used.

Numbers · 1

  1. Numbers 12:8 וּתְמֻנַ֥ת and [the] form of

    I speak with him face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you unafraid to speak against My servant Moses?”

    Here: A visible shape or outline. It is the very word Deuteronomy 4 uses when it says Israel saw 'no form' at Sinai, which makes the claim for Moses striking.

Deuteronomy · 6

  1. Deuteronomy 4:12 וּתְמוּנָ֛ה and a form

    And the LORD spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of the words but saw no form; there was only a voice.

    Here: A visible shape or figure, the kind of thing an image could copy. It is placed first in its clause for emphasis: "but a form—you saw none."

  2. Deuteronomy 4:15 תְּמוּנָ֔ה form

    So since you saw no form of any kind on the day the LORD spoke to you out of the fire at Horeb, be careful

    Here: A visible shape or appearance, the kind of thing an image-maker could copy. It is the same word as in 'any form' in the image prohibition (Deut 4:16, 23, 25; 5:8). The verse sets up a direct logic: no form was seen, so no form may be made.

  3. Deuteronomy 4:16 תְּמוּנַ֣ת a form of

    that you do not act corruptly and make an idol for yourselves of any form or shape, whether in the likeness of a male or female,

  4. Deuteronomy 4:23 תְּמ֣וּנַת a form of

    Be careful that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God that He made with you; do not make an idol for yourselves in the form of anything He has forbidden you.

    Here: The key word of the chapter. At Horeb Israel 'saw no form (təmûnāh), only a voice' (4:12, 15). Because God gave no visible form, they must make none.

  5. Deuteronomy 4:25 תְּמ֣וּנַת a form of

    After you have children and grandchildren and you have been in the land a long time, if you then act corruptly and make an idol of any form—doing evil in the sight of the LORD your God and provoking Him to anger—

    Here: 'A form of': the key word of the chapter. At Horeb Israel saw no temunah (vv. 12, 15), so to make one is to supply what God deliberately withheld.

  6. Deuteronomy 5:8 תְּמוּנָ֔֡ה form

    You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath.

    Here: The visible shape of something. In Deuteronomy it points straight back to 4:12, 15: at Horeb Israel 'saw no form' (temunah), only heard a voice. Without an 'and' before it here, it describes the carved image: a statue in the shape of anything at all.

Job · 1

  1. Job 4:16 תְּ֭מוּנָה a form

    It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance; a form loomed before my eyes, and I heard a whispering voice:

Psalms · 1

  1. Psalm 17:15 תְּמוּנָתֶֽךָ׃ likeness your

    As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied in Your presence.

    Here: God's visible form, the thing the psalmist will be filled with. It is a daring word: Israel "saw no form" at Sinai (Deuteronomy 4:12, 15), and Moses alone "beholds the form of the LORD" (Numbers 12:8).

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.