טוֹב
𐤈𐤅𐤁
ṭôwb
H2895 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To be good, pleasant, beneficial, or desirable—referring to quality, moral value, suitability, or positive state. The term is used broadly for physical, moral, or aesthetic goodness, welfare, well-being, or prosperity. In various contexts, it can describe what is proper, right, pleasing, advantageous, or beautiful.
Semantic Range
to be good, to be well, to be pleasant, to be desirable, to be fruitful, to do good, to act beneficially, to be right, to be beautiful, to be favorable, to be prosperous, to please, to make glad
Root / Etymology
Root: ט-ו-ב (טוב). The basic verbal meaning is 'to be good' or 'perform well'. From this root, the word developed a broad use describing goodness in terms of quality, value, utility, or ethical standard. Nominal forms (goodness, good thing, well-being) and adjectival forms (good, virtuous, pleasant) all derive from the core root meaning.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In early biblical usage (patriarchal and monarchic periods), טוֹב typically describes objective quality (a good land, good fruit), moral or ethical value (right conduct), or pleasing appearance (a good-looking person). Its usage is very broad, covering material, aesthetic, relational, and ethical senses. During later periods and in Second Temple literature, the moral and ethical nuances of טוֹב become more prominent. In contrast to רַע (raˁ, 'bad, evil'), טוֹב often marks what is appropriate or beneficial. While English 'good' typically captures the general sense, טוֹב in biblical Hebrew can also convey 'pleasant', 'beautiful', or 'prosperous', extending beyond simple moral quality. The idiomatic uses (e.g., 'be well with someone', 'do good') likewise reflect a wide semantic field. Occasionally, translations introduce theological or evaluative connotations (such as 'righteous') not always present in the original context. 'Jew' or 'Jewish' associations are absent in early usage, as the term functions in a pre-sectarian context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root,; to be (transitively, do or make) good (or well) in the widest sense; be (do) better, cheer, be (do, seem) good, (make) goodly, [idiom] please, (be, do, go, play) well.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
טוב (ṭ-w-b) — to be good, to be pleasant, to be beneficial, to be appropriate
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2869 | טָב | good |
| H2896 | טוֹב | in the good |
| H2897 | טוֹב | good |
| H2898 | טוּב | in goodness |
| H2899 | טוֹב אֲדֹנִיָּהוּ | and good |
Word Forms
8 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2895-04 |
ט֥וֹב | tov | HVqp3ms |
good | good | 11 |
H2895-08 |
וְ/ט֣וֹב | vetov | HC/Vqq3ms |
and good | and good | 3 |
H2895-01 |
הֱטִיבֹ֔תָ | hetivota | HVhp2ms |
you did well | you did good | 3 |
H2895-05 |
טֹּ֥בוּ | tovu | HVqp3cp |
goodly are | you will be good | 2 |
H2895-06 |
וּ/מֵטִ֣ב | umetiv | HC/Vhrmsa |
and do good | and making good | 2 |
H2895-02 |
הֵיטִ֣יבָ/ה | heytivah | HVhv2ms/Sh |
Do good | Do good | 1 |
H2895-03 |
לְ/הֵטִ֣יב | lehetiv | HR/Vhc |
to-do-good | to cause to be good | 1 |
H2895-07 |
וְ/הֵטִֽבֹתִי֙ | vehetivoti | HC/Vhq1cs |
and I will do good | and I will make good | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
24 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2895-04 |
Numbers 11:18 | ט֥וֹב | tov | HVqp3ms |
it was good | good |
H2895-04 |
Numbers 24:1 | ט֞וֹב | tov | HVqp3ms |
good | good |
H2895-05 |
Numbers 24:5 | טֹּ֥בוּ | tovu | HVqp3cp |
goodly are | you will be good |
H2895-08 |
Deuteronomy 5:33 | וְ/ט֣וֹב | vetov | HC/Vqq3ms |
and good | and good |
H2895-04 |
Deuteronomy 15:16 | ט֥וֹב | tov | HVqp3ms |
it is good | good |
H2895-08 |
1 Samuel 16:16 | וְ/ט֥וֹב | vetov | HC/Vqq3ms |
and good | and good |
H2895-08 |
1 Samuel 16:23 | וְ/ט֣וֹב | vetov | HC/Vqp3ms |
and was well | and good |
H2895-01 |
1 Kings 8:18 | הֱטִיבֹ֔תָ | hetivota | HVhp2ms |
you did well | you did good |
H2895-01 |
2 Kings 10:30 | הֱטִיבֹ֨תָ֙ | hetivota | HVhp2ms |
you have done well | you did good |
H2895-03 |
Jeremiah 32:41 | לְ/הֵטִ֣יב | lehetiv | HR/Vhc |
to-do-good | to cause to be good |