תָּאַב
𐤕𐤀𐤁
tâʼab
H8374 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To strongly desire, to long for or crave; in negative contexts, to feel a passionate aversion, to loathe or abhor. The verb fundamentally signifies a powerful orientation of the will—either yearning intensely for something or, in contexts of disgust, showing repulsion revulsion or a strong urge to reject.
Semantic Range
to long for, to crave, to desire intensely, to feel a strong urge for something, to yearn for, to loathe, to abhor
Root / Etymology
Root: תאב. The core root meaning is 'to passionately desire, to crave.' The verb תָּאַב develops this sense of internal drive—either positive longing or negative rejection, depending on context. The idea of 'puffing at' (to show disdain) is a late and debated suggestion and not widely favored in modern lexicography. This root is unrelated to אָיַב ('to be enemy'), despite the similarity in sound.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In most biblical contexts, תָּאַב denotes deep emotional engagement: a person's spirit or soul 'longs for' (craves) or, in some cases, is 'repulsed by' an object or action. In poetic literature (notably in the Psalms and Proverbs), it often expresses healthy or unhealthy craving (e.g., for food, water, wisdom, presence of the divine). The verb's negative meaning ('to loathe, abhor') is generally context-driven, derived from a strong aversion rather than a separate semantic root. Later Hebrew tends to use more specialized terms for outright abomination or loathing (e.g., תּוֹעֵבָה, שָׁקַץ). English translations sometimes obscure the emotional range of תָּאַב, rendering it as simple 'desire' or 'abhor' and losing nuance. No distinct theological or specifically Israelite meaning is present; the term is used in general anthropological contexts of appetite, longing, or aversion.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root (probably identical with תָּאַב through the idea of puffing disdainfully at; compare אָיַב); to loathe (morally); abhor.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
תאב (t-ʾ-b) — to desire, to crave, to long for intensely
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8374-01 |
מְתָאֵ֤ב | metaev | HVprmsa |
I abhor | intensely craving one | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8374-01 |
Amos 6:8 | מְתָאֵ֤ב | metaev | HVprmsa |
I abhor | intensely craving one |