תּוֹדָה
Todah
Thanks, thanksgiving, praise
Todah (תּוֹדָה) is a Hebrew word meaning “thanks, thanksgiving, praise,” pronounced “to-DAH.” Derived from the root י-ד-ה, todah appears 32 times in the Hebrew Bible (Strong's H8426).
| Hebrew | תּוֹדָה |
|---|---|
| Transliteration | Todah |
| Pronunciation | to-DAH |
| Meaning | Thanks, thanksgiving, praise |
| Root Letters | י-ד-ה |
| Occurrences in Hebrew Bible | 32× |
| Key Verse | Psalm 100:4 |
| Strong's Number | H8426 |
| Category | Greetings & Blessings |
Want to know how to say 'thank you' in Hebrew? The word is todah (תּוֹדָה) — and it's one of the first words every visitor to Israel learns. But todah carries a depth that 'thank you' doesn't. Its root (י-ד-ה) means 'to throw, to cast' — thanksgiving in Hebrew is literally casting your gratitude toward God like an offering. Psalm 100:4 commands us to 'enter His gates with todah,' making gratitude the doorway to God's presence. In the Temple, the todah offering was the most common voluntary sacrifice — more frequent than sin offerings. The Hebrew Bible teaches that gratitude isn't just polite; it's the primary posture of faith.
Key Bible Verse: Psalm 100:4
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving (todah), and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!”
What Is the Root of Todah in Hebrew?
Todah comes from the root י-ד-ה (yod-dalet-he), meaning 'to throw, cast, confess.' Thanksgiving in Hebrew is literally 'casting' your gratitude toward God — an active, public declaration.
What Does Todah Mean in the Bible?
Todah appears 32 times in the Hebrew Bible. It's used for both thanksgiving offerings (Leviticus 7:12) and verbal expressions of gratitude (Psalm 100:4). In modern Hebrew, 'todah' is the standard way to say 'thank you.'
How Is Todah Used in Modern Hebrew?
In modern Israel, 'todah' is used constantly — 'todah rabah' means 'thank you very much.' The thanksgiving offering (korban todah) was the most common voluntary sacrifice in the Temple.
How to Use Todah in Prayer & Worship
Begin prayer with todah — thanksgiving. Psalm 100:4 says to enter God's gates with todah. Gratitude is the doorway to God's presence and the antidote to anxiety (Philippians 4:6).
Frequently Asked Questions About Todah
How do you say “Thanks” in Hebrew?
“Thanks” in Hebrew is Todah (תּוֹדָה), pronounced “to-DAH.” Todah comes from the root י-ד-ה (yod-dalet-he), meaning 'to throw, cast, confess.' Thanksgiving in Hebrew is literally 'casting' your gratitude toward God — an active, public declaration.
What does Todah mean in the Bible?
Todah (תּוֹדָה) means “Thanks, thanksgiving, praise” in Biblical Hebrew. Todah appears 32 times in the Hebrew Bible. It's used for both thanksgiving offerings (Leviticus 7:12) and verbal expressions of gratitude (Psalm 100:4). In modern Hebrew, 'todah' is the standard way to say 'thank you.'
How do you pronounce Todah?
Todah is pronounced “to-DAH.” The word comes from the Hebrew root י-ד-ה.
How do you say 'thank you very much' in Hebrew?
'Thank you very much' in Hebrew is 'todah rabah' (תודה רבה), pronounced 'to-DAH ra-BAH.' It's used constantly in modern Israel. You can also say 'todah lecha' (to a male) or 'todah lach' (to a female) for a more personal 'thank you.'
What was the todah offering in the Temple?
The todah (thanksgiving) offering described in Leviticus 7:12 was a voluntary peace offering brought to express gratitude to God for deliverance or blessing. It included bread (both leavened and unleavened) and was eaten in community. Some scholars see the Last Supper as a todah meal — Jesus giving thanks (todah) with bread and wine.
Sources & Further Study
- Blue Letter Bible — H8426: Todah
- Bible Gateway — Psalm 100:4 (ESV)
- Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB) — entry for י-ד-ה
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