תָּו
𐤕𐤅
tâv
H8420 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A visible sign or mark, often inscribed, painted, or otherwise placed as a distinguishing indicator; used particularly for a sign placed on individuals or objects, frequently for the purpose of differentiation, protection, or identification. In some contexts, the term can refer to a written sign or a personal signature. The semantic range encompasses physical marks, distinguishing symbols, and sometimes metaphorical or written tokens of identification.
Semantic Range
physical mark, inscribed or painted symbol, distinguishing sign given for protection, written mark (rare), signature (post-biblical), symbol, distinguishing feature
Root / Etymology
From the root תוה (t-w-h), which in its verb form means 'to mark, inscribe, make a sign.' The noun תָּו derives from this verb and refers to the result of the action — a mark or distinguishable sign. The root's core meaning is 'to mark' rather than simply 'to desire.' The later Hebrew letter 'tav' may be named after this ancient sign or mark, reflecting the original pictorial concepts of script.
Historical & Contextual Notes
תָּו appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, most notably in Ezekiel 9:4–6, where it is a specific mark set on the foreheads of those to be spared in Jerusalem. In this context, the mark serves as a sign of divine selection and protection, echoing the use of marks for protection in earlier ancient Near Eastern contexts. The term may also denote a written signature or a distinguishing emblem (such as the shape of a letter or symbol), but these uses are predominantly post-biblical or reflected in later Hebrew (including Mishnah and Medieval Hebrew usage, where the term sometimes means 'signature'). The association with the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet developed in the Second Temple period and later. English translations often render תָּו simply as 'mark,' but this does not always capture the protective or identity-designating nuance present in ancient contexts. Contrast with other Hebrew words for 'sign' (אות, מופת), which can refer to miraculous signs or public signals rather than protective markings.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from תָּוָה; a mark; by implication, a signature; desire, mark.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
תוה (t-w-h) — to mark, inscribe, make a sign
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H8427 | תָּוָה | and he inscribed |
| H8428 | תָּוָה | they marked out |
| H8429 | תְּוַהּ | he was astonished |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8420-03 |
תָּ֭וִ/י | tavi | HNcmsc/Sp1cs |
my signature | you will bring in | 1 |
H8420-02 |
תָּ֜ו | tav | HNcmsa |
a mark | distinguishing mark | 1 |
H8420-01 |
הַ/תָּו֙ | hatav | HTd/Ncmsa |
the mark | the distinguishing mark | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8420-02 |
Ezekiel 9:4 | תָּ֜ו | tav | HNcmsa |
a mark | distinguishing mark |
H8420-01 |
Ezekiel 9:6 | הַ/תָּו֙ | hatav | HTd/Ncmsa |
the mark | the distinguishing mark |
H8420-03 |
Job 31:35 | תָּ֭וִ/י | tavi | HNcmsc/Sp1cs |
my signature | you will bring in |