טָעַן
𐤈𐤏𐤍
ṭâʻan
H2943 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To load, especially to put a burden, cargo, or load onto an animal, person, or container; to pack or place something upon something else for transport. The word can be used in reference to both literal physical loading and to the act of carrying or bearing a load. In context, it often refers to loading beasts of burden (such as donkeys or camels), or sometimes loading a person or object with goods, materials, or responsibilities. Derived senses include to burden, to be laden, and in some rare passages, to figuratively place an obligation or burden.
Semantic Range
to load (an animal or object), to place a burden (on someone or something), to pack, to burden, to be laden, to charge with goods
Root / Etymology
Root טען (ṭ-ʻ-n), meaning at core 'to load, to bear a load.' The verb form טָעַן arises directly from this root, characteristically found in physical contexts of loading or bearing weight.
Historical & Contextual Notes
טָעַן occurs primarily in narrative, legal, and poetic contexts describing direct action: loading animals with goods for travel or transport (e.g., Genesis 44:13), or the action of loading supplies for a journey. Its usage is most frequent in reference to pastoral and mercantile activities, where beasts of burden form a central means of moving goods. In some texts, the object is not specified, but the connotation of imposed weight or obligation remains. There is little evidence for a strong figurative usage in biblical Hebrew, although in post-biblical Hebrew, derivative meanings become more pronounced. English translations such as 'load,' 'lade,' or 'to burden' capture the primary sense, but more archaic translations (e.g., 'lade') may obscure the everyday physicality of this verb in biblical usage. Distinguished from נָשָׂא (nasa’), which can mean 'to carry, lift' more generally (including both physical and abstract senses), טָעַן typically emphasizes the act of placing a load upon another entity. The term does not carry religious or cultic connotations, nor does it convey ritual or sacrificial meaning.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to load a beast; lade.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
טען (ṭ-ʿ-n) — to load, place a burden, bear a load
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2944 | טָעַן | impaled ones of |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2943-01 |
טַֽעֲנוּ֙ | taanu | HVqv2mp |
load | Load up! | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2943-01 |
Genesis 45:17 | טַֽעֲנוּ֙ | taanu | HVqv2mp |
load | Load up! |