טְעֵם (ta.am)
ta.am
account
A:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-M
Word Overview
The Aramaic noun ta’am appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Ezra 7:25. It derives from the root meaning “to taste,” but here it has shifted into the abstract realm of discernment. The word denotes a judgment, command, or matter of discretion that requires careful consideration before action.
In its single occurrence, the text refers to matters requiring legal or administrative judgment. This usage reflects a semantic extension where the physical act of tasting—evaluating flavor—is applied to evaluating situations or decisions. It captures the idea of weighing options and determining the correct course, much like a judge assessing evidence or an official interpreting regulations.
Understanding this word highlights how biblical languages often use sensory metaphors for intellectual processes. Just as taste tests food, discernment tests truth or policy. The term underscores the importance of careful evaluation in leadership and governance within the post-exilic community described in Ezra.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ta’am appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, found in Ezra 7:25. It comes from a root meaning “to taste,” but here it describes a matter of judgment or administrative decision. In this context, it refers to laws and regulations that officials needed to carefully evaluate before implementing them. The imagery suggests that wise leadership requires more than just issuing orders; it demands discernment.
For your daily life, this word reminds us that God values thoughtful consideration. Whether you are making a personal choice or navigating a complex situation at work, the principle remains the same: pause to weigh the facts. Just as a judge examines evidence before ruling, we can seek God’s wisdom to understand the right path forward.
This single occurrence highlights how biblical language often uses sensory experiences to explain intellectual processes. We are invited to “taste” and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8), applying that same careful attention to our decisions. May you find peace in knowing that God provides the discernment needed for every step of your journey.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- report/ the1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- טַעְמָ֖/א1×
Key Verses
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Ezra 5:5
But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they didn’t make them cease until the matter should come to Darius, and an answer should be returned by letter concerning it.
This verse sets the historical context where administrative matters were being reviewed by authority figures, illustrating the kind of 'judgment' or 'account' that ta’am describes in Ezra 7:25.