תַּחְכְּמֹנִי (tach.ke.mo.ni)
tach.ke.mo.ni
Tahchemonite
N:N--PGQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--PG
Word Overview
תַּחְכְּמֹנִי (tachkemoni) is a rare Hebrew adjective appearing only once in the Old Testament, in 2 Samuel 23:8. It functions as a gentilic, identifying Josheb-basshebeth as a "Tahchemonite." The term denotes descent from an ancestor named Hachmon or Tahchemon, linking this mighty warrior to his family lineage.
Lexical sources note a descriptive interpretation of the root, suggesting the meaning "thou will make me wise." However, its primary usage here is genealogical. By attaching this specific title to Josheb-basshebeth, the text preserves his tribal or familial identity within the list of King David’s elite warriors, distinguishing him among the heroes who supported the monarchy.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Names in Scripture often carry more weight than we realize. In 2 Samuel 23:8, Josheb-basshebeth is identified as a "Tahchemonite." This title does not describe his military skill or his character; it simply marks his lineage. It tells us he belonged to a specific family, rooted in history and community.
This small detail reminds us that God values identity. Your background, your family story, and your place in the world are seen. Even within a list of elite warriors, every name matters. You are not anonymous. You belong to something larger than yourself, woven into a narrative that God is writing.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a Tahkemonite1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תַּחְכְּמֹנִ֣י\׀1×
Key Verses
-
II Samuel 23:8
These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb Basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains; he was called Adino the Eznite, who killed eight hundred at one time.
This verse uses the term as a gentilic identifier for Josheb-basshebeth, anchoring his identity in his family lineage rather than his deeds.