תָּאַם
𐤕𐤀𐤌
tâʼam
H8382 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
To be paired, to be a twin, or to be coupled together. In verbal usage, primarily describes the action or state of twinning, i.e., the production or existence of twins (two offspring born at the same time), or the figurative joining of two things as matched, paired, or coupled. Can also be used in the context of architectural or ritual objects fashioned in pairs or joined symmetrically.
Semantic Range
to bear twins, to be a twin, to be paired, to be coupled, to join paired objects (esp. architectural), to duplicate (figuratively)
Root / Etymology
From the root תאם, whose core meaning is 'to pair, twin, couple.' The verb derives from or is denominative of the noun תָּאוֹם (ta'om, 'twin'). While the basic verbal form suggests the action or state of being paired or made a twin, its usage is chiefly confined to describing the bearing of twins or architectural pairing/coupling.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, תָּאַם occurs rarely and is almost always used in relation to bearing twins (e.g., Genesis 38:29; Song of Songs 4:2), emphasizing the biological or figurative production of two matched entities. Occasionally used in contexts describing paired or coupled objects (e.g., in tabernacle architecture, Exodus 26:24), illustrating a design where parts are conjoined or mirror one another. English translations sometimes gloss this as 'bear twins' or 'to be coupled,' but the Hebrew carries a slightly broader sense of matched or paired existents, both in human procreation and in objects. The term should be distinguished from words like יָחַד (to unite, join together) which convey union without the idea of duplication or mirroring that 'twins' or 'paired' implies. The word is not generally used outside these contexts and retains the concrete imagery of two entities being the same and set together.
Translation Consistency
Most occurrences are best rendered with the idea of two things joined or matched (’paired’, ’matched’). “Pair” is a natural, versatile English verb that covers being joined or matched and fits architectural/ritual pairing; it also allows consistent, idiomatic renderings when the sense is twinning or producing a matched two (the rarer “bear twins” sense can be handled contextually).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to be complete; but used only as denominative from תָּאוֹם,; to be (causatively, make) twinned, i.e. (figuratively) duplicate or (architectural) jointed; coupled (together), bear twins.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
תאם (tâʼôwm) — to match, to pair, to be alike
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H8380 | תָּאוֹם | twins of |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8382-01 |
מַתְאִימ֔וֹת | mateimot | HVhrfpa |
bear twins | those causing to twin | bearing twins | 2 |
H8382-03 |
תֹֽאֲמִים֮ | toamim | HNcmpa |
double | twins | paired ones | 2 |
H8382-02 |
תַמִּים֙ | tamim | HAampa |
complete | paired one | paired one | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8382-03 |
Exodus 26:24 | תֹֽאֲמִים֮ | toamim | HNcmpa |
double | twins | paired ones |
H8382-03 |
Exodus 36:29 | תוֹאֲמִם֮ | toamim | HNcmpa |
matched | twins | paired ones |
H8382-02 |
Exodus 36:29 | תַמִּים֙ | tamim | HAampa |
complete | paired one | paired one |
H8382-01 |
Song of Songs 4:2 | מַתְאִימ֔וֹת | mateimot | HVhrfpa |
bear twins | those causing to twin | twin-bearing |
H8382-01 |
Song of Songs 6:6 | מַתְאִימ֔וֹת | mateimot | HVhrfpa |
bear twins | those causing to twin | bearing twins |