Difference between revisions of "Dictionary:תַּנִּין/0"

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(Original Author: Yehuda Novetsky, Neima Novetsky)
(Original Author: Yehuda Novetsky, Neima Novetsky)
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<p>The noun "תַּנִּין" appears 14 times in Tanakh,<fn>In two places, <aht source="Yechezkel29-3">Yechezkel 29:3</aht> and <aht source="Yechezkel32-2">32:2</aht>, it is spelled "תַּנִּים".</fn> always referring to some type of living creature, although its exact identification is unclear.  In about half of the verses it is associated explicitly with the water,<fn>See <aht source="Bereshit1-21">Bereshit 1:21</aht>, <aht source="Yeshayahu27-1">Yeshayahu 27:1</aht>, <aht source="Yeshayahu51-9">51:9-10</aht>, <aht source="Yechezkel29-3">Yechezkel 29:3</aht>, <aht source="Yechezkel32-2">32:2</aht>, <aht source="Tehillim74-13">Tehillim 74:13</aht> and <aht source="Iyyov7-12">Iyyov 7:12</aht></fn> while in others it parallels a פתן, commonly understood to be a venomous snake.<fn>See <aht source="Devarim32-33">Devarim 32:33</aht> and <aht source="Tehillim91-13">Tehillim 91:13</aht>.</fn> It is variously described as big, mighty, primeval, and capable of eating others, leading to several suggested identifications:</p>
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<p>The noun "תַּנִּין" appears 14 times in Tanakh,<fn>In two places, <a href="Yechezkel29-3" data-aht="source">Yechezkel 29:3</a> and <a href="Yechezkel32-2" data-aht="source">32:2</a>, it is spelled "תַּנִּים".</fn> always referring to some type of living creature, although its exact identification is unclear.  In about half of the verses it is associated explicitly with the water,<fn>See <a href="Bereshit1-21" data-aht="source">Bereshit 1:21</a>, <a href="Yeshayahu27-1" data-aht="source">Yeshayahu 27:1</a>, <a href="Yeshayahu51-9" data-aht="source">51:9-10</a>, <a href="Yechezkel29-3" data-aht="source">Yechezkel 29:3</a>, <a href="Yechezkel32-2" data-aht="source">32:2</a>, <a href="Tehillim74-13" data-aht="source">Tehillim 74:13</a> and <a href="Iyyov7-12" data-aht="source">Iyyov 7:12</a></fn> while in others it parallels a פתן, commonly understood to be a venomous snake.<fn>See <a href="Devarim32-33" data-aht="source">Devarim 32:33</a> and <a href="Tehillim91-13" data-aht="source">Tehillim 91:13</a>.</fn> It is variously described as big, mighty, primeval, and capable of eating others, leading to several suggested identifications:</p>
  
 
<subcategory name="Sea monster">1. Sea creature or monster, perhaps a crocodile
 
<subcategory name="Sea monster">1. Sea creature or monster, perhaps a crocodile
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<subcategory name="Serpent">2. Serpent
 
<subcategory name="Serpent">2. Serpent
 
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<li>Biblical verses – <aht source="Devarim32-33">Devarim 32:33</aht> and <aht source="Tehillim91-13">Tehillim 91:13</aht> may support this interpretation.</li>
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<li>Biblical verses – <a href="Devarim32-33" data-aht="source">Devarim 32:33</a> and <a href="Tehillim91-13" data-aht="source">Tehillim 91:13</a> may support this interpretation.</li>
 
<li>Additional data – </li>
 
<li>Additional data – </li>
 
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<category>Disputed Cases
 
<category>Disputed Cases
<subcategory><aht source="Shemot7-9">Shemot 7:9-12</aht>
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<subcategory><a href="Shemot7-9" data-aht="source">Shemot 7:9-12</a>
 
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<li><b>Serpent</b> – Targum Yonatan Shemot 7:9, <multilink><aht source="RashiShemot7-9">Rashi</aht><aht source="RashiShemot7-9">Shemot 7:9</aht><aht parshan="Rashi">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</aht></multilink>, Lekach Tov Shemot 7:9, Seforno Shemot 4:3 and others.  This explanation is motivated by the parallel between the sign described here and that described in Shemot 4:3 where the staff is transformed into a snake ("נָחָשׁ").  Hashem's words to Paroh "וְהַמַּטֶּה אֲשֶׁר נֶהְפַּךְ לְנָחָשׁ תִּקַּח בְּיָדֶךָ" in 7:15, which appear immediately after the wonder of the "תַּנִּין", might further suggest that the "תַּנִּין" and "נָחָשׁ" are one and the same.<fn>However, commentators dispute whether Shemot 7:15 refers to the staff of Moshe mentioned in 4:3 or the staff of Aharon used in 7:9-12.</fn>  According to this understanding, it is possible that Hashem chose this sign in particular to mock Paroh, as the snake was the symbol of Egypt, often adorning the king's crown.  Snakes were also used by Egyptian magicians, and the sign of the "תַּנִּין" thus was an apt demonstration of Moshe and Aharon's superiority.</li>
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<li><b>Serpent</b> – Targum Yonatan Shemot 7:9, <multilink><a href="RashiShemot7-9" data-aht="source">Rashi</a><a href="RashiShemot7-9" data-aht="source">Shemot 7:9</a><a href="Rashi" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink>, Lekach Tov Shemot 7:9, Seforno Shemot 4:3 and others.  This explanation is motivated by the parallel between the sign described here and that described in Shemot 4:3 where the staff is transformed into a snake ("נָחָשׁ").  Hashem's words to Paroh "וְהַמַּטֶּה אֲשֶׁר נֶהְפַּךְ לְנָחָשׁ תִּקַּח בְּיָדֶךָ" in 7:15, which appear immediately after the wonder of the "תַּנִּין", might further suggest that the "תַּנִּין" and "נָחָשׁ" are one and the same.<fn>However, commentators dispute whether Shemot 7:15 refers to the staff of Moshe mentioned in 4:3 or the staff of Aharon used in 7:9-12.</fn>  According to this understanding, it is possible that Hashem chose this sign in particular to mock Paroh, as the snake was the symbol of Egypt, often adorning the king's crown.  Snakes were also used by Egyptian magicians, and the sign of the "תַּנִּין" thus was an apt demonstration of Moshe and Aharon's superiority.</li>
<li><b>Sea creature or crocodile</b> – R. S"R Hirsch, <multilink><aht source="RDZHoffmannShemot7-9">R. D"Z Hoffmann</aht><aht source="RDZHoffmannShemot7-9">Shemot 7:9</aht><aht parshan="R. D&quot;Z Hoffmann" /></multilink>, U. Cassuto.<fn>These commentators all understand "צְפַרְדֵּעַ" to be a frog.  The minorities of commentators who identify "צְפַרְדֵּעַ" as a crocodile (see <aht page="Dictionary:צְפַרְדֵּעַ">צפרדעים – Frogs or Crocs</aht>) would be unlikely to adopt a similar identification for "תַּנִּין".</fn>  This approach might be motivated by the description of Paroh in <aht source="Yechezkel29-3">Yechezkel 29:3</aht> as the "הַתַּנִּים הַגָּדוֹל הָרֹבֵץ בְּתוֹךְ יְאֹרָיו", a water creature which symbolized the power of Egypt.  The sign of the "תַּנִּין" is thus mocking Paroh's self-perceived power.<fn>Cassuto explains the change between the wonders of Shemot 4 and Shemot 7, by pointing out that in the desert setting of Shemot 4, a snake was most fitting, while the shores of the Nile lent themselves to a crocodile.  R. D"Z Hoffmann simply suggests that a more impressive sign was needed when Moshe approached Paroh.</fn></li>
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<li><b>Sea creature or crocodile</b> – R. S"R Hirsch, <multilink><a href="RDZHoffmannShemot7-9" data-aht="source">R. D"Z Hoffmann</a><a href="RDZHoffmannShemot7-9" data-aht="source">Shemot 7:9</a><a href="R. D&quot;Z Hoffmann" data-aht="parshan">About R. D"Z Hoffmann</a></multilink>, U. Cassuto.<fn>These commentators all understand "צְפַרְדֵּעַ" to be a frog.  The minorities of commentators who identify "צְפַרְדֵּעַ" as a crocodile (see <a href="Dictionary:צְפַרְדֵּעַ" data-aht="page">צפרדעים – Frogs or Crocs</a>) would be unlikely to adopt a similar identification for "תַּנִּין".</fn>  This approach might be motivated by the description of Paroh in <a href="Yechezkel29-3" data-aht="source">Yechezkel 29:3</a> as the "הַתַּנִּים הַגָּדוֹל הָרֹבֵץ בְּתוֹךְ יְאֹרָיו", a water creature which symbolized the power of Egypt.  The sign of the "תַּנִּין" is thus mocking Paroh's self-perceived power.<fn>Cassuto explains the change between the wonders of Shemot 4 and Shemot 7, by pointing out that in the desert setting of Shemot 4, a snake was most fitting, while the shores of the Nile lent themselves to a crocodile.  R. D"Z Hoffmann simply suggests that a more impressive sign was needed when Moshe approached Paroh.</fn></li>
 
<li><b>A dragon</b> – The LXX Shemot 7:9-12 renders "תַּנִּין" as a "δράκων" (drakon), only in these verses but not in the rest of Tanakh.</li>
 
<li><b>A dragon</b> – The LXX Shemot 7:9-12 renders "תַּנִּין" as a "δράκων" (drakon), only in these verses but not in the rest of Tanakh.</li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>

Version as of 18:38, 11 August 2014

תַּנִּין

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תַּנִּין
Part of SpeechNoun
Occurrences14
Possible Meanings
  1. Sea creature or monster
  2. Serpent
  3. Dragon
Related Wordsתַּן
Tanin - Poussin
ImageClick for תַּנִּין in Art

Possible Meanings

The noun "תַּנִּין" appears 14 times in Tanakh,1 always referring to some type of living creature, although its exact identification is unclear. In about half of the verses it is associated explicitly with the water,2 while in others it parallels a פתן, commonly understood to be a venomous snake.3 It is variously described as big, mighty, primeval, and capable of eating others, leading to several suggested identifications:

1. Sea creature or monster, perhaps a crocodile

  • Biblical verses – Most of the verses can sustain this meaning.
  • Additional data –

2. Serpent

3. Dragon

  • Biblical verses – see LXX Shemot 7:9-12.
  • Additional data –

Disputed Cases

Shemot 7:9-12

  • Serpent – Targum Yonatan Shemot 7:9, RashiShemot 7:9About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki, Lekach Tov Shemot 7:9, Seforno Shemot 4:3 and others. This explanation is motivated by the parallel between the sign described here and that described in Shemot 4:3 where the staff is transformed into a snake ("נָחָשׁ"). Hashem's words to Paroh "וְהַמַּטֶּה אֲשֶׁר נֶהְפַּךְ לְנָחָשׁ תִּקַּח בְּיָדֶךָ" in 7:15, which appear immediately after the wonder of the "תַּנִּין", might further suggest that the "תַּנִּין" and "נָחָשׁ" are one and the same.4 According to this understanding, it is possible that Hashem chose this sign in particular to mock Paroh, as the snake was the symbol of Egypt, often adorning the king's crown. Snakes were also used by Egyptian magicians, and the sign of the "תַּנִּין" thus was an apt demonstration of Moshe and Aharon's superiority.
  • Sea creature or crocodile – R. S"R Hirsch, R. D"Z HoffmannShemot 7:9About R. D"Z Hoffmann, U. Cassuto.5 This approach might be motivated by the description of Paroh in Yechezkel 29:3 as the "הַתַּנִּים הַגָּדוֹל הָרֹבֵץ בְּתוֹךְ יְאֹרָיו", a water creature which symbolized the power of Egypt. The sign of the "תַּנִּין" is thus mocking Paroh's self-perceived power.6
  • A dragon – The LXX Shemot 7:9-12 renders "תַּנִּין" as a "δράκων" (drakon), only in these verses but not in the rest of Tanakh.

Relationship to Synonyms

Semantic Evolution

Intra-Biblical

Rabbinic Hebrew

Modern Hebrew