תַּחַן
𐤕𐤇𐤍
Tachan
H8465 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name referring to at least two individuals of Israelite lineage listed in genealogical records. The primary lexical function of the term is as a proper noun, designating distinct members of different tribal lineages. The semantic range is limited to the use of the term as a given name and does not function as a common noun in biblical texts.
Semantic Range
(personal name) Tachan—Israelite individual in Ephraimite genealogies; variant spelling Tahan; occasionally associated with the notion of encampment or station (by etymology), but not used as a common noun in the biblical text
Root / Etymology
From the root חָנָה (ḥ-n-h), meaning 'to rest, encamp, settle.' The form תַּחַן (Tachan) appears to be a derivative or possible variant of this root, likely conveying the sense 'station' or 'one who encamps.' However, as a personal name, the etymology may be symbolic or traditional and is not necessarily a transparent application of the root meaning. Alternative forms such as תָּחַן (Tahan) are attested, possibly due to dialectal variation or differing transcription traditions.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name תַּחַן appears in the genealogies, specifically as a descendant within the tribe of Ephraim (Numbers 26:35; 1 Chronicles 7:25). In some traditions or textual witnesses, the name appears as תָּחַן (Tahan), reflecting minor orthographic variation with no substantive difference in referent. The standard English practice of rendering this name as 'Tahan' or occasionally 'Tachan' owes to the tradition of transliterating biblical names rather than translating them. The identification of the individuals named תַּחַן with post-exilic or later social identities (such as 'Jew') would be anachronistic; these individuals should be properly understood as Israelites, specifically Ephraimites. There is no clear evidence that the name served a wider semantic function beyond personal identification in ancient Israelite society. Although Strong’s suggested connection to 'station' is philologically plausible, there is no evidence it referred to a physical location or military encampment in biblical texts, nor was it used as a common noun in the Tanakh.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably from חָנָה; station; Tachan, the name of two Israelites; Tahan.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חנה (ḥ-n-h) — to rest, encamp, settle
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2583 | חָנָה | to set up camp |
| H2588 | חָנוּת | the vaulted cells |
| H2595 | חֲנִית | spear |
| H4264 | מַחֲנֶה | in the encampment |
| H4265 | מַחֲנֵה־דָן | encampment of |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8465-02 |
וְ/תַ֥חַן | vetachan | HC/Np |
and Tahan | and Tachan | 1 |
H8465-01 |
לְ/תַ֕חַן | letachan | HR/Np |
of Tahan | to Tachan | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8465-01 |
Numbers 26:35 | לְ/תַ֕חַן | letachan | HR/Np |
of Tahan | to Tachan |
H8465-02 |
1 Chronicles 7:25 | וְ/תַ֥חַן | vetachan | HC/Np |
and Tahan | and Tachan |