טֶבַח

𐤈𐤁𐤇

Tevach

H2875 noun

SILEX Entry

Root טבח to slaughter, to kill, to butcher

Definition

Personal name used for distinct individuals in the Hebrew Bible: a) A descendant of Nahor, Abraham's brother, and b) A leader among the subjugated groups defeated by Kedorlaomer. As a proper noun, refers specifically to these individuals and not to the act of killing. The semantic range for the personal name is limited to its identification of these figures; the common noun form from the same root (טֶבַח) means 'slaughter' or 'butchery,' distinct from the proper noun usage.

Semantic Range

personal name, proper noun; (as common noun: slaughter, massacre, butchery)

Root / Etymology

Derived from the Hebrew root טבח (ṭ-b-ḥ), meaning 'to slaughter, kill, butcher.' The personal name טֶבַח (Ṭebach/Tebah) is morphologically identical to the common noun, but used as a proper noun for persons, not for the act itself. Etymologically, the root conveys violence or killing, but the name functions as a distinct designation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The name טֶבַח appears twice in the Tanakh: Genesis 22:24 (as a son of Nahor) and 1 Chronicles 5:13 (one of the heads of the half-tribe of Manasseh). In both occurrences, it is a name, not an act. The common noun form, meaning 'slaughter' or 'massacre,' differs contextually and functionally. English translations typically render the name as 'Tebah' or 'Tebach,' and KJV sometimes follows Septuagint tradition, but does not use 'massacre' in the name-context. Despite sharing the spelling and vocalization with the noun meaning 'slaughter,' there is no textual evidence that the personal name should be interpreted with the full connotation of the act, though in ancient naming practices, such names may have referenced attributes or events. Modern translations more accurately separate the two senses, though older glosses may conflate them.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

the same as טֶבַח; massacre; Tebach, the name of a Mesopotamian and of an Israelite; Tebah.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

טבח (ṭ-b-ḥ) — to slaughter, to kill, to butcher

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2873 טָבַח to slaughter
H2874 טֶבַח to the slaughter
H2876 טַבָּח the slaughterer
H2877 טַבָּח the slaughter-executioners
H2878 טִבְחָה for slaughtered meat

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2875-01 טֶ֣בַח tevach HNp Tebah Tebach 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2875-01 Genesis 22:24 טֶ֣בַח tevach HNp Tebah Tebach