טַעַם
properly, a taste, i.e. ajudicial sentence
Definition
The Hebrew noun טַעַם (ṭaʻam) primarily means 'a command' or 'a decree,' especially one issued by a king or high authority. In its biblical usage, it refers to an official, authoritative order that carries the full weight of the issuer's power, as seen in the decrees of Persian kings in Ezra (e.g., Ezra 4:21, 7:23). The word can also denote the 'reason' or 'account' behind such a command, implying a thoughtful, reasoned decision. All its occurrences are in Aramaic portions of the Old Testament (Ezra and Daniel), reflecting its use in imperial administrative language.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the Aramaic sections of Ezra and Daniel, always in the context of royal or divine decrees. In Ezra, it refers to the official commands of Persian kings like Artaxerxes and Darius regarding the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple (Ezra 5:5, 6:14). In Daniel 6:2, it describes the 'decree' of King Darius. The usage consistently emphasizes formal, binding orders from the highest levels of authority.
Etymology
Derived from the Aramaic root טְעַם (ṭəʻam), meaning 'to taste' or 'to perceive.' This root evolved to signify 'to give an order' or 'to decree,' as a command is an expression of a ruler's discerned will. It is cognate with Hebrew טַעַם (H2940), which means 'taste' or 'judgment,' showing a semantic development from physical perception to authoritative decision-making.
Semantic Range
טַעַם highlights the theme of God's sovereignty working through human authority. The decrees of Persian kings, though human, ultimately serve God's providential plan for Israel's restoration, as seen in Ezra's narrative. Understanding this term enriches reading by showing how divine purposes are accomplished through official, worldly commands, emphasizing that even pagan rulers' edicts can fulfill God's will (e.g., Ezra 6:14).
In the ancient Near Eastern context, טַעַם reflects the formal language of imperial administration, particularly in the Persian Empire. A royal decree was an irrevocable, binding order, central to maintaining imperial control. This cultural understanding underscores the seriousness of the commands in Ezra and Daniel, where such decrees directly impact Jewish life and worship under foreign rule.
דָּת (dāṯ, H1882) — A Persian loanword also meaning 'law' or 'decree,' often used alongside טַעַם in Ezra for royal commands. פִּתְגָּם (pitgām, H6599) — Another Aramaic term for 'word' or 'decree,' used in Esther and Ezra for official messages.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →