Learn more about Tohu

Introduction to Tohu

The Hebrew word Tohu (תֹּהוּ) is a significant term found in the Hebrew Bible, typically translated as "formless," "void," "chaos," or "waste." It conveys a state of desolation, emptiness, or lack of order and structure. It is a poetic and theologically rich term, used in various contexts to describe physical desolation, moral or spiritual emptiness, or cosmological disorder. The word is most famously used in Genesis 1:2 in the phrase "tohu va-bohu" (formless and void), describing the earth's condition before God's creative activity began.

Tohu Pronunciation

“Tohu” is pronounced as TO-hoo, with emphasis on the first syllable. In Hebrew, it is spelled תֹּהוּ and transliterated as tohū.

Tohu in the Bible

Tohu appears around 20 times in the Hebrew Bible and is used in a variety of theological and poetic contexts. Some of the key usages include:

• Genesis 1:2 – "The earth was without form (tohu) and void (bohu)." This foundational verse illustrates the pre-creation state of the world—chaotic, unformed, and empty—before God's ordering and creative word brought structure and life.
• Deuteronomy 32:10 – God found Israel in a "wasteland" (tohu), a metaphorical description of desolate or uncultivated land, indicating both physical and spiritual emptiness before divine intervention.
• Isaiah 24:10 – The prophet speaks of cities becoming tohu, desolate and broken, reflecting judgment and the reversal of human civilization’s stability.
• Isaiah 45:18 – A powerful theological affirmation: "God did not create the earth to be tohu, but formed it to be inhabited." This verse emphasizes that God is a God of purpose and order, not chaos.
• Job 12:24 – “He makes them wander in a trackless (tohu) waste,” using the term to highlight the disorienting judgment or misdirection of those who oppose God’s wisdom.

Related Themes and Meanings to Tohu

Tohu touches on several important biblical themes:

• Creation and Order: The transition from tohu to structured creation in Genesis reflects the biblical theme of God bringing order from chaos.
• Judgment: In the prophets, tohu is often associated with divine judgment, where land or people are brought to ruin or emptiness due to sin.
• Spiritual Emptiness: Metaphorically, tohu can describe lives or philosophies lacking in truth or purpose, reflecting moral or theological emptiness (Isaiah 29:21; 41:29).
• Anti-Creation: Some scholars suggest that tohu is used to describe states that oppose God’s intent for flourishing creation—a reversion to pre-creation disorder.

Trivia and Interesting Facts about Tohu

• The phrase “tohu va-bohu” (תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ) is unique in its use in Genesis and a few other passages (Jeremiah 4:23), and has become emblematic of primordial chaos or utter desolation in theological and literary discussions.
• Tohu is not just physical emptiness; it conveys a profound theological statement that without God's word and order, existence itself would lapse into chaos.
• In Isaiah 45:19, God declares, "I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to Jacob, ‘Seek me in tohu’," further emphasizing that God's revelation brings clarity and purpose, not obscurity or disorder.
• In Jewish mystical and philosophical traditions, tohu is often associated with the concept of chaos or the raw, undirected potential before creation—a concept explored in Kabbalistic texts.

Conclusion

The word Tohu offers deep theological insight into the nature of the universe as depicted in Scripture. It reminds readers of the contrast between chaos and divine order, emptiness and God’s purpose-filled creation. Whether describing the earth’s primal state, a ruined city, or spiritual confusion, tohu always implies a condition in need of God’s redeeming and organizing word. It is a concept that resonates throughout biblical narrative and prophecy, making it a key term for understanding the biblical worldview.