תָּמָר (ta.mar)
ta.mar
palm
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun tamār refers specifically to the palm tree, particularly the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera). In the ancient Near East, this plant was far more than a decorative element; it represented a vital source of food, shade, and economic stability in arid landscapes. Its presence signaled fertility and sustenance where water was scarce.
Scripture uses tamār to ground narratives in specific geography. Judges 4:5 places Deborah’s court "under the palm of Deborah," marking a recognizable landmark for legal disputes. Similarly, 2 Samuel 5:17 mentions the "valley of the Refaim" near Bethlehem, where David’s forces fought, an area historically associated with date groves. These references help readers visualize the physical setting of biblical events.
The word appears five times in the Hebrew Bible, primarily in historical and legal texts like Numbers and Leviticus. Its usage underscores the practical importance of agriculture in Israelite life. The palm tree’s resilience in dry conditions made it a fitting symbol for endurance and provision within the land.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tamar refers to the date palm, a tree that thrived in the arid landscapes of the ancient Near East. It was not merely decorative but provided essential food, shade, and economic stability. When Scripture mentions these trees, it often grounds us in specific, tangible realities where God’s people lived and worshipped.
For your faith, this word reminds you that God provides sustenance even in dry places. The palm tree’s resilience in harsh conditions mirrors the endurance required in a life of trust. It points to a faith that remains rooted and fruitful, drawing strength from deep sources of water when the surface appears barren.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- palm trees4×
- [the] palm tree1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תָּמָ֣ר1×
- תְּמָרִ֖ים1×
- תְּמָרִ֔ים1×
- תְּמָרִ֑ים1×
- תְמָרִ֔ים1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 15:27
They came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees. They encamped there by the waters.
This verse marks the first mention of palms in Israel's journey, showing God providing immediate relief and stability at Elim after the hardship of Marah.
-
Leviticus 23:40
You shall take on the first day the fruit of majestic trees, branches of palm trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before Yahweh your God seven days.
Here, palm branches are commanded for the Feast of Tabernacles, linking the tree directly to communal joy and obedience before God.
-
Joel 1:12
The vine has dried up, and the fig tree withered— the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all of the trees of the field are withered; for joy has withered away from the sons of men.
The withering of the palm tree here signals a profound national tragedy, showing how deeply the loss of this vital resource affected the people's spiritual and physical well-being.