תַּ֫חַן (ta.chan)
ta.chan
Tahan
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Tahan refers to two distinct individuals in the Hebrew Bible, both belonging to the tribe of Ephraim. The earlier figure appears in Numbers 26:35 as a son of Ephraim and brother to Shuthelah and Becher, marking him within the family lines recorded during the wilderness period.
A second man named Tahan is listed in 1 Chronicles 7:25 as the son of Telah and father of Ladan. While the sources note a possible connection between this lineage and the earlier Ephraimite branch, they are treated as separate entries in genealogical records. The name itself carries the meaning "camp," reflecting a common theme in Israelite tribal nomenclature.
These brief mentions serve primarily to preserve family heritage rather than to convey theological narrative. Their inclusion highlights the importance of lineage in biblical history, ensuring that each clan within Ephraim is accounted for in the broader story of Israel’s tribes.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Tahan appears in the Bible as a marker of family lineage rather than a character with a spoken story. It means "camp" or "encampment," pointing to the stability and identity of the tribe of Ephraim. In Numbers, Tahan is listed among the sons of Ephraim, helping to define the structure of Israel’s families during their journey through the wilderness.
Seeing these names reminds us that God keeps careful track of every person. Even when a name appears only once or twice in a genealogy, it signifies that this individual was part of God’s larger plan for His people. Their inclusion shows that heritage matters and that no one is forgotten in the record of faith.
For your own life, this can be a comfort. You are known by name, just as Tahan was recorded in the census. Your place in the family of God is secure, whether your story is widely told or quietly preserved in Scripture.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of/ Tahan1×
- and/ Tahan1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/תַ֕חַן1×
- וְ/תַ֥חַן1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 26:35
These are the sons of Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthelahites; of Becher, the family of the Becherites; of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.
This verse lists Tahan as a son of Ephraim, establishing the family line that would later become the Tahanites within the tribal structure.
-
I Chronicles 7:25
Rephah was his son, Resheph his son, Telah his son, Tahan his son,
Here Tahan is listed as the son of Telah, continuing the genealogical record of Ephraim’s descendants in a later historical context.