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טָעַם

𐤈𐤏𐤌

ṭâʻam

H2938 verb

SILEX Entry

Root טעם to taste, to perceive, to discern

Definition

To taste by eating; by extension, to perceive, discern, or experience (with the senses or understanding). In more literal contexts, refers to the physical act of tasting or sampling food or drink. In figurative or extended uses, describes perceiving, discerning, or assessing through intellectual, emotional, or spiritual faculties.

Semantic Range

to sample or taste food/drink, to test or try by tasting, to perceive, to discern, to experience (physically or mentally), to judge between things by sense or understanding

Root / Etymology

From the root טעם, which at the base level means 'to taste' or 'to try by tasting.' The verb form refers to the act of sampling or making sensory evaluation, which is metaphorically extended to the notion of discernment, understanding, or experiencing more generally.

Historical & Contextual Notes

טָעַם is used both for direct, physical tasting (e.g., sampling food or drink, as in 1 Samuel 14:24, 29, 43; Psalm 34:9) and for figurative sensing or discerning (e.g., 1 Samuel 21:14, where changed behavior is perceived; Job 12:11, 'the ear tries words as the palate tastes food'). Its metaphorical extension underscores a common Hebrew conceptual link between physical sensation and cognitive or evaluative processes. Within the biblical period, this word's figurative sense of discernment or perception is often paired or contrasted with other sensory language, especially in wisdom literature. Later translation traditions sometimes obscure the distinction between physical and mental tasting, choosing English "perceive" or "discern" in places where a physical action is also possible. The root underlies nouns meaning 'taste' (טַעַם), 'judgment,' and 'sense,' highlighting the semantic bridge between sense perception and intellectual insight in ancient Hebrew thought.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to taste; figuratively, to perceive; [idiom] but, perceive, taste.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

טעם (ṭ-ʿ-m) — to taste, to perceive, to discern

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2939 טְעַם in taste of
H2940 טַעַם according to the taste-of
H2941 טַעַם he tasted
H2942 טְעֵם discernment
H4303 מַטְעַם the seasoned delicacies

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2938-07 יִטְעַ֤ם yiteam HVqi3ms taste he will taste 3
H2938-04 טָעַ֔מְתִּי taameti HVqp1cs I tasted I tasted 2
H2938-08 יִטְעֲמוּ֙ yiteamu HVqj3mp taste let them taste 1
H2938-01 אֶטְעַם eteam HVqi1cs I taste I will taste 1
H2938-03 טָ֭עֲמָה taamah HVqp3fs She perceives she tasted 1
H2938-06 טָעֹ֨ם taom HVqa Taste to taste 1
H2938-02 טָעַ֥ם taam HVqp3ms tasted he tasted 1
H2938-05 טַעֲמ֣וּ taamu HVqv2mp taste Taste, you all 1

Occurrences in Scripture

11 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2938-02 1 Samuel 14:24 טָעַ֥ם taam HVqp3ms tasted he tasted
H2938-04 1 Samuel 14:29 טָעַ֔מְתִּי taameti HVqp1cs I tasted I tasted
H2938-06 1 Samuel 14:43 טָעֹ֨ם taom HVqa Taste to taste
H2938-04 1 Samuel 14:43 טָעַ֜מְתִּי taameti HVqp1cs I tasted I tasted
H2938-01 2 Samuel 3:35 אֶטְעַם eteam HVqi1cs I taste I will taste
H2938-07 2 Samuel 19:36 יִטְעַ֤ם yiteam HVqi3ms taste he will taste
H2938-08 Jonah 3:7 יִטְעֲמוּ֙ yiteamu HVqj3mp taste let them taste
H2938-05 Psalms 34:9 טַעֲמ֣וּ taamu HVqv2mp taste Taste, you all
H2938-03 Proverbs 31:18 טָ֭עֲמָה taamah HVqp3fs She perceives she tasted
H2938-07 Job 12:11 יִטְעַם yiteam HVqi3ms taste he will taste
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