טֵבֶ֑ת (te.vet)
te.vet
Tebeth
N:N--TQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--T
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun tevet names the tenth month of the Jewish calendar, a period that typically aligns with December and January in the modern Gregorian system. Its meaning is tied to "goodness," reflecting a positive quality attributed to this time of year within the ancient Israelite context.
This word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in Esther 2:16. The text uses it to mark the precise moment when Esther was brought into King Ahasuerus’s palace. By anchoring her arrival to tevet, the narrative highlights a specific point in the royal court’s timeline during the winter months.
While the month itself is not the focus of theological debate, its singular occurrence serves as a crucial chronological marker in the Book of Esther. It helps readers situate the events of the Persian court within a concrete seasonal framework, reminding us that the story unfolds in real time against the backdrop of the ancient calendar.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word Tebeth appears just once in the Hebrew Bible, anchoring a pivotal moment in the Book of Esther. It names the tenth month of the Jewish calendar, roughly corresponding to December and January. In Esther 2:16, this specific timing marks when Esther entered King Ahasuerus’s palace. This detail grounds the narrative in real history, showing that God’s providence works within the ordinary flow of seasons and royal schedules.
For your faith life, this reminder is comforting. Important moments often arrive quietly during winter months, not always with fanfare but with steady purpose. Tebeth invites us to trust that our own timelines are held in view. Even when circumstances feel cold or uncertain, there is a divine order at work. We can rest in the knowledge that every season has its place in God’s larger story.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Tebeth1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- טֵבֵ֑ת1×
Key Verses
-
Esther 2:16
So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus into his royal house in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
This verse uses Tebeth to precisely date Esther's entrance into the palace, establishing the chronological framework for her rise to queenhood.