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תָּא

𐤕𐤀

tâʼ

H8372 noun

SILEX Entry

Root תאה to mark off, enclose, divide, fence in

Definition

A compartment or small chamber, particularly one forming part of a larger architectural structure such as a gateway or temple complex. The term denotes a defined, individual space separated from others, often used for functional purposes such as guardrooms, storage, or subsidiary rooms within monumental buildings.

Semantic Range

compartment, small chamber, room within a gate or temple, cell, storage or guardroom; space separated within a structure

Root / Etymology

From the root תאה (taʾâ), meaning 'to mark off, enclose, fence in'; the noun תָּא reflects a space that is delimited or circumscribed, hence a compartment or room. The term may be connected to the idea of designation or demarcation, but is most directly used for small chambers architecturally demarcated within a larger structure.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The word תָּא appears primarily in the architectural descriptions in Ezekiel (notably Ezekiel 40), describing the individual chambers flanking gate complexes of the envisioned temple. These תָּאִים were likely small, enclosed rooms used for specific temple-related purposes (such as guardrooms for gatekeepers or storage for offerings or tools). The word is rare and mostly limited to cultic or administrative architecture. It is distinct from more common words for 'house' (בַּיִת) or generic 'room' (חֶדֶר), indicating its specialized, compartmentalized nature. Later post-biblical Hebrew may broaden or shift its semantic scope to other types of compartments, but in biblical contexts it remains a technical term. English translations usually render it as 'chamber' or 'cell,' which captures the small, restricted sense but may lose sight of its specifically architectural usage and technical nature in the Hebrew text.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

and (feminine) תָּאָה; (Ezekiel 40:12), from (the base of) תָּאָה; a room (as circumscribed); (little) chamber.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

תאה (t-ʾ-h) — mark off, enclose, divide, fence in

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H8377 תְּאוֹ like a roaming wild-ox
H8379 תַּאֲוָה uttermost boundary of

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8372-10 ו/תא/ו vtv HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms and-its-chamber and his enclosed chamber 3
H8372-08 וְ/תָאָ֗י/ו vetaayv HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms and-its-chambers and its enclosed-compartments 3
H8372-04 תָּ֥א ta HNcmsc guardroom enclosed chamber 2
H8372-02 הַ/תָּאִ֖ים hataim HTd/Ncmpa the little chambers the enclosed chambers 2
H8372-07 וְ/הַ/תָּ֗א vehata HC/Td/Ncmsa and-the guardroom and the enclosed chamber 2
H8372-06 תא/ו tv HNcmsc/Sp3ms its chamber his marked-off chamber 1
H8372-09 וְ/תָאֵ֨י vetaey HC/Ncmpc and-the-side-rooms and enclosed compartments of 1
H8372-03 הַ/תָּאוֹת֙ hataot HTd/Ncmpa the guardrooms the enclosed chambers 1
H8372-01 הַ/תָּא֙ hata HTd/Ncmsa of the cell the enclosed chamber 1
H8372-05 תָּאָי/ו֙ taayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms its chambers his enclosed chambers 1

Occurrences in Scripture

17 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8372-04 1 Kings 14:28 תָּ֥א ta HNcmsc guardroom enclosed chamber
H8372-07 Ezekiel 40:7 וְ/הַ/תָּ֗א vehata HC/Td/Ncmsa and the little chamber and the enclosed chamber
H8372-02 Ezekiel 40:7 הַ/תָּאִ֖ים hataim HTd/Ncmpa the little chambers the enclosed chambers
H8372-09 Ezekiel 40:10 וְ/תָאֵ֨י vetaey HC/Ncmpc and-the-side-rooms and enclosed compartments of
H8372-03 Ezekiel 40:12 הַ/תָּאוֹת֙ hataot HTd/Ncmpa the guardrooms the enclosed chambers
H8372-07 Ezekiel 40:12 וְ/הַ/תָּ֕א vehata HC/Td/Ncmsa and-the guardroom and the enclosed chamber
H8372-01 Ezekiel 40:13 הַ/תָּא֙ hata HTd/Ncmsa of the cell the enclosed chamber
H8372-02 Ezekiel 40:16 הַ/תָּאִ֡ים hataim HTd/Ncmpa the-cells the enclosed chambers
H8372-10 Ezekiel 40:21 ו/תא/ו vtv HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms and-its-chamber and his enclosed chamber
H8372-08 Ezekiel 40:21 וְ/תָאָ֗י/ו vetaayv HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms and-its-chambers and its enclosed-compartments
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