תַּחְרָא (ta.cha.ra)
ta.cha.ra
breastplate
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun tachra refers to a corselet, a protective garment worn over the chest. In the biblical text, it appears only twice, both within the detailed instructions for the high priest’s vestments in Exodus 28:32 and 39:23. These passages describe the ephod, the elaborate outer garment, noting that its upper part included this specific piece of armor-like clothing.
Lexical sources suggest the word likely denotes a linen corselet or breastplate, drawing a parallel to the Aramaic term for mail or armor. Its placement in the description of the ephod highlights the intersection of priestly service and martial imagery. The high priest’s attire was not merely decorative; it incorporated elements of protection, symbolizing the weight and seriousness of his role before God.
While the word itself is rare, its context reveals how ancient Israelite worship blended sacred duty with tangible, physical symbols. The tachra served as a structural component of the ephod, ensuring the garment remained secure while emphasizing the dignity and strength required for those who approached the holy place on behalf of the people.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tachra describes a sturdy linen corselet woven into the high priest’s ephod. In Exodus, this piece of clothing had a reinforced opening to prevent tearing under the weight of the garment. It was not just fabric; it was armor-like protection for the chest, the seat of courage and life.
When we read about these details, we see that serving God involves strength and durability. The priest did not approach the holy place in fragile clothing. He wore something built to last, symbolizing the seriousness of standing between God and the people. This imagery reminds us that our spiritual lives require resilience.
Just as the tachra held the ephod securely, faith provides a structure for our daily walk. We are called to be steadfast, not easily broken by the pressures around us. This ancient garment points to a deeper truth: God equips those who serve Him with the strength they need to remain firm in their calling.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a collar2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תַחְרָ֛א1×
- תַחְרָ֑א1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 28:32
It shall have a hole for the head in the middle of it. It shall have a binding of woven work around its hole, as it were the hole of a coat of mail, that it not be torn.
This verse establishes the structural integrity of the garment, using the tachra's reinforced opening to ensure the high priest's vestments remain whole during service.
-
Exodus 39:23
The opening of the robe in the middle of it was like the opening of a coat of mail, with a binding around its opening, that it should not be torn.
Here the finished ephod is described, confirming that the binding around the chest opening was crafted specifically to prevent tearing under stress.