תָּאוֹם
𐤕𐤀𐤅𐤌
tâʼôwm
H8380 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A paired offspring in a multiple birth event, specifically 'twin' or 'twins,' referring to one or both of two children born of the same pregnancy; can also denote a figurative or symbolic pair, especially when used more abstractly. In biblical usage almost always denotes biological twins, but context can suggest a pair or double in a more general sense.
Semantic Range
twin, twins, a pair born of the same pregnancy, closely matched pair (figurative)
Root / Etymology
Derived from the triliteral Hebrew root תאם (t-ʼ-m), which fundamentally conveys the idea of matching, pairing, or being alike. The noun form תָּאוֹם develops from this root to denote specifically a member of a set of twins, with plural usage indicating both individuals or the condition of 'twinning.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical texts, תָּאוֹם appears most notably in narratives involving twins (e.g., Jacob and Esau in Genesis 25) and is used in the plural (תְּאוֹמִים) to refer to both children. The word can appear with variant pointing (תָּאֹם), but there is no distinction in meaning. The singular is rare and generally theoretical; the plural is used idiomatically for a twin pair. Figurative uses are rare but possible in poetic texts to denote things that are closely matched, doubled, or paired. The term is distinct from other words for siblings or relatives and is reserved for describing twins rather than general siblings. Later Jewish, Greek, and English translations often render the term as 'twins,' but such translations sometimes obscure possible metaphorical uses. In the First Temple period, the concept is biological; only in later Hebrew or post-biblical literature does the metaphorical usage broaden.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or תָּאֹם; from תָּאַם; a twin (in plural only), literally or figuratively; twins.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
תאם (t-ʾ-m) — to match, to pair, to be alike
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H8382 | תָּאַם | those causing to twin |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8380-01 |
תָּאֳמֵ֥י | taomey | HNcmpc |
gazelles | twins of | 1 |
H8380-03 |
תְאוֹמִ֖ים | teomim | HNcmpa |
twins | matched twins | 1 |
H8380-04 |
תוֹמִ֖ם | tomim | HNcmpa |
twins | twins | 1 |
H8380-02 |
תְּאוֹמֵ֣י | teomey | HNcmpc |
twins | twins of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8380-04 |
Genesis 25:24 | תוֹמִ֖ם | tomim | HNcmpa |
twins | twins |
H8380-03 |
Genesis 38:27 | תְאוֹמִ֖ים | teomim | HNcmpa |
twins | matched twins |
H8380-02 |
Song of Songs 4:5 | תְּאוֹמֵ֣י | teomey | HNcmpc |
twins | twins of |
H8380-01 |
Song of Songs 7:4 | תָּאֳמֵ֥י | taomey | HNcmpc |
gazelles | twins of |