טַבָּח
𐤈𐤁𐤇
ṭabbâch
H2877 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A court official serving as an executioner, guard, or butcher, especially one responsible for carrying out royal commands relating to the custody or execution of prisoners. In Aramaic usage, also a bodyguard or member of the royal guard, with responsibilities that could include the execution of royal orders, including capital punishment or protection duties. The term can denote both literal butchers (of meat) and, by metonymy, those who 'slaughter' or 'execute' on behalf of the king.
Semantic Range
butcher, slaughterer, royal executioner, chief of guards, officer responsible for execution of prisoners, royal bodyguard
Root / Etymology
From the root טבח, meaning 'to slaughter' or 'to butcher.' The noun טַבָּח in Hebrew originally designated a butcher or one who slaughters animals. In Aramaic, the term is borrowed into a specialized context of royal service, where it develops a wider semantic range to include executioners and royal guards responsible for both slaughter of animals and transfer or execution of prisoners. The root meaning is 'to slaughter,' but the noun's function extends on the basis of this root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, טַבָּח (ṭabbāḥ) most commonly refers to an official responsible for the execution or custody of prisoners, often in the service of the king (e.g., Genesis 37:36; 39:1; 40:3). The term may also be used for individuals whose occupation is the slaughter of animals (i.e., butchers), but this sense is rare compared to its use for royal officers. In the Aramaic section of the Hebrew Bible (notably Daniel 2:14, 2:24), the term is applied to Nebuchadnezzar's royal guard or executioners, emphasizing their role as enforcers of the king's command, including carrying out executions or protecting the king. In later translations and traditions, the term has sometimes been rendered as 'guard,' 'soldier,' or misleadingly as 'cook.' English translations often obscure the original range by using 'guard' or 'officer,' but the primary reference in biblical contexts is a royal official with authority over life and death. The semantic shift from 'butcher' to 'executioner/guard' is seen in Mesopotamian and Persian royal courts as well, reflecting the professionalization of such roles in the royal hierarchy. The KJV and similar translations use varying English renderings; these do not always capture the potential threat or power associated with the original term.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) the same as טַבָּח; a lifeguardsman; guard.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
טבח (ṭ-b-ḥ) — to slaughter, to butcher
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2873 | טָבַח | to slaughter |
| H2874 | טֶבַח | to the slaughter |
| H2875 | טֶבַח | Tebach |
| H2876 | טַבָּח | the slaughterer |
| H2878 | טִבְחָה | for slaughtered meat |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2877-01 |
טַבָּחַיָּ֖/א | tabachaya | ANcmpd/Td |
of the guard | the slaughter-executioners | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2877-01 |
Daniel 2:14 | טַבָּחַיָּ֖/א | tabachaya | ANcmpd/Td |
of the guard | the slaughter-executioners |