תִּרְעָתִי
a Tirathite or inhabitant of an unknown Tirah
Definition
The term תִּרְעָתִי (Tirʻâthîy) is a gentilic noun meaning 'a Tirathite,' referring to an inhabitant of a place called Tirah. This place is otherwise unknown in the biblical record, making the Tirathites a group whose specific location and identity remain obscure. The word appears only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 2:55, where it is listed among the families of scribes who lived at Jabez. As a patrial name, its primary sense is simply to denote origin from a particular locality.
Biblical Usage
This word is used a single time in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 2:55. It occurs within a genealogical list detailing the families of the Kenites who were associated with the town of Jabez and were known as scribes. The context is purely descriptive, identifying one of the clans or professional groups within the complex social structure of ancient Israel's tribal records. No other usage patterns exist.
Etymology
The word derives as a patrial (a noun indicating origin) from an unused Hebrew place name, likely 'Tirah.' The root is connected to the idea of a 'gate' (from שַׁעַר, shaʻar, H8179), suggesting the place name may have meant 'gate' or 'portal,' possibly indicating a fortified or significant entry point. The '-i' suffix is standard for forming gentilics in Hebrew (e.g., 'Yehudi' for a Judahite).
Semantic Range
In the cultural context of 1 Chronicles, genealogies were vital for establishing lineage, tribal identity, land rights, and social roles. The mention of the Tirathites as 'families of scribes' at Jabez places them within the learned, administrative class in ancient Israel. Scribes were crucial for preserving law, history, and religious texts. Their inclusion highlights the diversity of professional groups integrated into Israel's society, even those from otherwise unknown towns.
יְהוּדִי (Yᵉhûwdîy, H3064) — a general term for someone from Judah, illustrating the common gentilic '-i' suffix. כְּנִזִּי (Kᵉnizzîy, H7074) — another patrial name for a member of the Kenizzite people, similar in grammatical form.
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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