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טַעַם

𐤈𐤏𐤌

ṭaʻam

H2941 noun

SILEX Entry

Root טעם to taste, to discern, to judge, to decide

Definition

A judgment, decree, or command; an official pronouncement or decision, particularly given by an authority. In Aramaic biblical texts (notably Daniel and Ezra), the term most often refers to the formal instruction, verdict, or command of a ruler or official, extending in some contexts to the notion of an injunction or authoritative matter. Connected semantically to the concept of discernment or evaluation, thus also implying the process or result of making a decision or rendering a judgment.

Semantic Range

judicial sentence, decree, command, official matter, prescribed rule, decision, account

Root / Etymology

Root: טעם in Aramaic, with the core meaning 'to taste, try, discern, judge.' The noun טַעַם derives from the verbal root, shifting from the experiential sense of 'taste' or 'apprehension' to the judicial or intellectual sense of 'judgment' or 'decision.' The Hebrew equivalent noun טַעַם (ṭa‘am, taste, discernment) is cognate but is rarer outside the poetic or wisdom literature in Hebrew. In Biblical Aramaic, the noun primarily denotes an official decree or command.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Aramaic portions of Daniel and Ezra, טַעַם is repeatedly used in the context of royal edicts, public commands, or legal decrees (e.g., Daniel 4:6[3]). While the root meaning relates to 'taste' or 'discernment,' the noun as used in these texts never refers to culinary taste but to intellectual or administrative decisions—especially those binding upon a court or community. English translations often render טַעַם as 'matter,' 'decree,' 'sentence,' or 'commandment' depending on context, but such renderings may obscure the nuance of an authoritative judgment or decision. The term is distinct from דָּת (Aramaic 'law,' Ezra 6:14) and גְּזֵרָה (Aramaic 'decree,' Daniel 4:14[11]), though sometimes overlapping in practical usage. In later Jewish Aramaic, the judicial and administrative senses continue, especially in legal contexts. The translation 'commandment' in some English versions should not be equated anachronistically with later religious commandments ('mitzvot'). Use of this term reflects the administrative and imperial context of the post-exilic Persian period.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) from טְעַם; compare טַעַם); properly, a taste, i.e. ajudicial sentence; account, [idiom] to be commanded, commandment, matter.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

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

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2938 טָעַם I will taste
H2939 טְעַם in taste of
H2940 טַעַם according to the taste-of
H2942 טְעֵם discernment
H4303 מַטְעַם the seasoned delicacies

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2941-02 טַעְמָ֔/א taema ANcmsd/Td a decree the decree 3
H2941-01 טַ֨עַם֙ taam ANcmsc decree he tasted 2

Occurrences in Scripture

5 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2941-02 Daniel 6:3 טַעְמָ֔/א taema ANcmsd/Td the counsel the decree
H2941-02 Ezra 4:21 טַעְמָ֥/א taema ANcmsd/Td a decree the decree
H2941-02 Ezra 5:5 טַעְמָ֖/א taema ANcmsd/Td report the decree
H2941-01 Ezra 6:14 טַ֨עַם֙ taam ANcmsc the command he tasted
H2941-01 Ezra 7:23 טַ֨עַם֙ taam ANcmsc decree he tasted
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