תַּאֲרֵעַ
Taarea, an Israelite
Definition
Taarea (תַּאֲרֵעַ) is a proper noun referring to an Israelite man, a descendant of King Saul through his son Jonathan. He is listed in the genealogy of the tribe of Benjamin in 1 Chronicles 8:35. The name appears only in this context, identifying him as the son of Micah and father of Ulam, part of the lineage that continued after Saul's death. Some textual traditions and translations (like the KJV's 'Tarea') note a potential scribal variation with the name Tahrea (תַּחְרֵעַ, H8475) found in the parallel list in 1 Chronicles 9:41, but the reference in 1 Chronicles 8:35 stands as the sole biblical occurrence for this specific spelling.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exactly once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 8:35, within a genealogical list. Its usage is purely onomastic (name-bearing) and functions to preserve a link in the family line of Saul's house. It appears in the context of post-exilic record-keeping, which aimed to document the continuity of Israel's tribal lineages, particularly that of the Benjaminite kingly line.
Etymology
The etymology of תַּאֲרֵעַ (Taarea) is uncertain. It may be derived from the root אֲרַע (H772), meaning 'to be earth' or 'to terrify,' suggesting a possible meaning like 'one of the earth' or perhaps 'Yahweh has terrified.' However, as a proper name, its precise original meaning is lost to history. The connection to the variant תַּחְרֵעַ (Tahrea, H8475) suggests possible textual transmission issues where the letters 'א' (aleph) and 'ח' (chet) were confused by scribes.
Semantic Range
In ancient Israelite culture, names often carried meaning or expressed a hope or characteristic. Being recorded in a genealogy, especially of the royal Saulide line, conferred identity and social standing, connecting an individual to the broader story of God's people. For the original audience of Chronicles, such lists affirmed God's faithfulness in preserving a remnant, even from a failed dynasty.
תַּחְרֵעַ (Tahrea, H8475) — A variant spelling likely referring to the same individual, found in a parallel genealogy (1 Chronicles 9:41).
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.
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