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טְעַם

𐤈𐤏𐤌

ṭᵉʻam

H2939 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To perceive or ascertain by the sense of taste; to consume food. In causative stems, to cause someone to taste or eat; to provide food, feed.

Semantic Range

to taste, to try food, to eat, to feed, to provide with food, to cause to taste

Root / Etymology

From the root טעם (ṭ-ʻ-m), meaning 'to taste, discern'. This Aramaic form derives directly from the root, maintaining both the literal sense of tasting and the figurative sense of perceiving or discerning. The Semitic root is attested in multiple related languages, showing basic meanings related to taste and judgment.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Biblical Aramaic, טְעַם is restricted almost exclusively to the act of tasting or eating, both literally (to eat, taste) and causatively (to cause to eat, feed). This usage mirrors but is somewhat narrower than the Hebrew טָעַם, which can also have the extended sense of 'discern' or 'perceive'. The causative form, frequent in narrative contexts (especially Daniel and Ezra), refers primarily to courtly or administrative contexts, such as allotting portions or overseeing provision of food. The term does not carry the extended figurative sense of 'discernment' commonly found with the Hebrew form in wisdom literature. Later Aramaic (post-biblical) developed further figurative meanings, but in the Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible, usage is concrete and pertains to consumption of food.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to טָעַם; to taste; causatively to feed; make to eat, feed.

Bantu Hebrew

Language Bantu Word Transliteration Meaning
Kikongo tama to taste (food); to relish, savor
Kimbundu tama to taste, to savor, to try (food)
Kinyarwanda tamu sweet, delicious
Kirundi tamu sweet, tasty
Lingala tama to taste, to relish, enjoy food

See all 9 languages →

Root Family

טעם (ṭâʻam) — to taste, to perceive, to discern

Root טעם to taste, to perceive flavor, to eat
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2938 טָעַם I will taste
H2940 טַעַם according to the taste-of
H2941 טַעַם he tasted
H2942 טְעֵם discernment
H4303 מַטְעַם the seasoned delicacies

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2939-02 יְטַֽעֲמ֗וּן yetaamun AVpi3mp they-will-feed they will feed they will feed 2
H2939-01 בִּ/טְעֵ֣ם biteem AR/Ncmsc in-taste-of in taste of in taste of 1
H2939-03 יְטַ֣עֲמוּנֵּ֔/הּ yetaamuneh AVpi3mp/Sp3ms they fed him they will feed him they fed him 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2939-02 Daniel 4:22 יְטַֽעֲמ֗וּן yetaamun AVpi3mp they-will-feed they will feed they will feed
H2939-02 Daniel 4:29 יְטַעֲמ֔וּן yetaamun AVpi3mp they-will-feed-you they will feed they will feed
H2939-01 Daniel 5:2 בִּ/טְעֵ֣ם biteem AR/Ncmsc in-taste-of in taste of in taste of
H2939-03 Daniel 5:21 יְטַ֣עֲמוּנֵּ֔/הּ yetaamuneh AVpi3mp/Sp3ms they fed him they will feed him they fed him
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