Tĕhôm (תהום) in Hebrew and Ugaritic Sources

Abstract

This study examines the etymological origin, semantic evolution and mythological functionality of the term Tĕhôm (תהום) within the framework of Ancient Near Eastern cosmology and Hebrew theology. Tĕhôm was used in Semitic languages to mean ‘primordial ocean’, ‘underground water’ and ‘chaotic depth’. This term, which appears in texts in forms such as tehom or tehomot, was used both as an element of nature, an inanimate term, and in a mythological sense. It appears in the sources in plural and dual forms, reflecting a multi-layered cosmogony. The fact that water is both the carrier of chaos and the starting point of order in creation reinforces the multi-layered function of Tĕhôm. Initially describing an element of nature, the word has acquired a cosmic place in the culture in which it appears over time. This research analyses how this term has been transformed and given meaning in different cultural contexts. Primary sources such as cuneiform texts, Ugaritic texts and Hebrew literature are analysed. In Hebrew texts, Tĕhôm is positioned as a passive element subordinate to God; in Ugaritic texts, he is understood as an active figure of chaos at the centre of the cosmic order. Moreover, Tĕhôm appears to be functionalised in areas such as political authority, ritual purity and divine sovereignty. In this context, Tĕhôm is not only a cosmological motif, but also a multifaceted notion at the centre of cultural memory and theological imagination.

Keywords

• History of Religions
• Mythology
• Hebrew
• Ugaritic
• Tĕhôm

Ethical Statement

This study does not require ethical committee approval as the data were obtained from existing literature and published sources. The author hereby declare that the research was conducted in accordance with scientific and ethical principles, and all sources utilized in the study have been duly acknowledged in the references.

İbrani ve Ugarit Kaynaklarında Tĕhôm (תהום)

Abstract

Bu çalışma, Eski Yakındoğu kozmolojisi ve İbrani teolojisi çerçevesinde Tĕhôm (תהום) kavramının etimolojik kökenini, semantik evrimini ve mitolojik işlevini incelemektedir. Tĕhôm, Semitik dillerde ilksel okyanus, yeraltı suyu ve kaotik derinlik anlamlarında kullanılmıştır. Tĕhôm ya da tehomot gibi biçimlerle metinlerde görülen bu kavram hem bir doğa unsuru hem cansız bir nesne hem de mitolojik bir öge olarak kullanılmıştır. Kaynaklarda çoğul ve ikil formlarda yer alarak çok katmanlı bir kozmogoniyi yansıtmıştır. Suyun yaratılışta hem kaosun taşıyıcısı hem de düzenin başlangıç noktası olması, Tĕhôm’un çok katmanlı işlevini pekiştirir. Başlangıçta bir doğa unsurunu tanımlayan kelime zaman içerisinde yer aldığı kültürde kozmik bir yer edinmiştir. Araştırma, bu kavramın farklı kültürel bağlamlarda nasıl dönüştüğünü ve anlam yüklendiğini ele almaktadır. Çivi yazılı belgeler, Ugarit metinleri ve İbrani literatürü gibi birincil kaynaklar taranmıştır. İbrani metinlerinde Tĕhôm’un Tanrı’ya tâbi, edilgin bir unsur olarak konumlandığı; Ugarit kaynaklarında ise kozmik düzenin merkezinde yer alan aktif bir kaos figürü olduğu görülmektedir. Ayrıca, Tĕhôm’un siyasal otorite, ritüel temizlik ve ilahi egemenlik gibi alanlarda işlevsel hale geldiği görülmektedir. Bu bağlamda Tĕhôm, yalnızca kozmolojik bir motif değil, aynı zamanda kültürel hafızanın ve teolojik tahayyülün merkezinde yer alan çok yönlü bir kavram olarak değerlendirilmiştir.

Keywords

• Dinler Tarihi
• Mitoloji
• İbrani
• Ugarit
• Tĕhôm

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışma, etik kurul izni gerektirmeyen nitelikte olup kullanılan veriler literatür taraması/yayınlanmış kaynaklar üzerinden elde edilmiştir. Çalışmanın hazırlanma sürecinde bilimsel ve etik ilkeleri uyulduğu ve yararlanılan tüm çalışmaların kaynakçada belirtildiği yazar tarafından beyan olunur.

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