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טַעַם

𐤈𐤏𐤌

ṭaʻam

H2940 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Taste, sensation, or perception as experienced physically (especially taste of food); by extension, discernment, judgment, or intelligence, often referring to the capacity to perceive, understand, or make wise decisions. In some contexts, refers to a specific mandate or decree issued by an authority figure (e.g., a command or instruction).

Semantic Range

taste (literal, of food); perception; discernment; understanding; intelligence; judgment; mandate or decree (official order); prudent behavior; advice or counsel; reason

Root / Etymology

From the root טעם meaning 'to taste, to perceive,' indicating an original sensory meaning (taste) which develops metaphorically into mental perception or discernment. The derived noun טַעַם primarily carries both the literal sensory and the figurative cognitive sense.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In early Israelite texts, טַעַם often denotes literal taste (e.g., taste of food), but more frequently it appears in wisdom literature and later writings to convey concepts of discernment, understanding, or intelligent judgment, highlighting an intellectual capacity or prudent behavior. In Aramaic-influenced Persian-period books such as Daniel and Ezra, it also refers to decrees or official orders (reflecting the influence of Persian administrative language), a sense less common in earlier Hebrew. English translations typically oscillate between 'taste,' 'reason,' 'understanding,' and 'decree,' but none captures the full semantic range. The figurative extension from physical taste to mental discrimination is paralleled in other Semitic languages. טַעַם should not be conflated with the unrelated root חכם ('to be wise') — wisdom and discernment overlap conceptually, but טַעַם emphasizes perceptual acuity and prudence rather than acquired wisdom. In later Jewish tradition, טַעַם also acquires specific technical meanings (such as in Masoretic cantillation marks, 'ṭe'amim'), but this is post-biblical.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from טָעַם; properly, a taste, i.e. (figuratively) perception; by implication, intelligence; transitively, a mandate; advice, behaviour, decree, discretion, judgment, reason, taste, understanding.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

טעם (ṭ-ʿ-m) — to taste, to perceive, to judge

Root טעם to taste, to perceive, to judge
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2938 טָעַם I will taste
H2939 טְעַם in taste of
H2941 טַעַם he tasted
H2942 טְעֵם discernment
H4303 מַטְעַם the seasoned delicacies

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2940-05 טַעְמ֔/וֹ taemo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his taste his perception his perception 4
H2940-03 טַ֣עַם taam HNcmsa a discreet answer he tasted discernment 4
H2940-02 מִ/טַּ֧עַם mitaam HR/Ncmsc by decree from discernment of by decree of 1
H2940-04 טַעְמֵ֖/ךְ taemekhe HNcmsc/Sp2fs be your discretion your discernment your discernment 1
H2940-06 וְ/טַ֖עַם vetaam HC/Ncmsc and-taste discernment-of and discernment 1
H2940-07 וְ/טַעְמ֖/וֹ vetaemo HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms and its taste and his taste and its taste 1
H2940-01 כְּ/טַ֖עַם ketaam HR/Ncmsc like-the-taste-of according to the taste-of like the taste of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

13 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2940-07 Exodus 16:31 וְ/טַעְמ֖/וֹ vetaemo HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms and its taste and his taste and its taste
H2940-05 Numbers 11:8 טַעְמ֔/וֹ taemo HNcmsc/Sp3ms taste-of-it his perception its taste
H2940-01 Numbers 11:8 כְּ/טַ֖עַם ketaam HR/Ncmsc like-the-taste-of according to the taste-of like the taste of
H2940-05 1 Samuel 21:14 טַעְמ/וֹ֙ taemo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his taste his perception his perception
H2940-04 1 Samuel 25:33 טַעְמֵ֖/ךְ taemekhe HNcmsc/Sp2fs be your discretion your discernment your discernment
H2940-05 Jeremiah 48:11 טַעְמ/וֹ֙ taemo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his taste his perception his taste
H2940-02 Jonah 3:7 מִ/טַּ֧עַם mitaam HR/Ncmsc by decree from discernment of by decree of
H2940-05 Psalms 34:1 טַ֭עְמ/וֹ taemo HNcmsc/Sp3ms taste his perception his perception
H2940-03 Psalms 119:66 טַ֣עַם taam HNcmsa discernment he tasted discernment
H2940-03 Proverbs 11:22 טָֽעַם taam HNcmsa discretion he tasted discretion
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