Bible Word Study
טָעַן
ṭâʻan · to stab
טָעַן
to stab
Definition
The Hebrew verb טָעַן (ṭâʻan) means 'to stab' or 'to thrust through,' specifically with a piercing weapon. It describes a violent, penetrating action that results in a fatal wound. In its sole biblical occurrence in Isaiah 14:19, it is used metaphorically to describe the fallen king of Babylon being 'thrust through' like a rejected corpse, emphasizing complete destruction and disgrace. The word conveys a sense of decisive, forceful penetration.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 14:19. It appears in a taunt song against the king of Babylon, describing his ignominious end. The context is poetic and prophetic, using vivid imagery of a slain, unburied corpse being pierced, contrasting his former glory with his ultimate humiliation. No other patterns of usage exist due to its single occurrence.
Etymology
טָעַן is a primitive root. Its core meaning relates to piercing or stabbing. Cognates in other Semitic languages, such as Arabic and Aramaic, support the sense of thrusting or piercing. The development of its meaning appears straightforward, maintaining the concept of a forceful, penetrating strike.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word carries theological weight in its context. In Isaiah 14:19, it underscores the theme of divine judgment against human pride and tyranny. The king's being 'thrust through' symbolizes God's decisive reversal of power, turning a mighty oppressor into a desecrated corpse. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading by highlighting the completeness and violence of the judgment, reinforcing the biblical truth that God humbles the exalted. In the ancient Near East, proper burial was crucial for honor and rest in the afterlife. To be 'thrust through' and left unburied, as described in Isaiah 14:19, was a profound cultural disgrace, signifying utter rejection and curse. This imagery would have been powerfully understood by Isaiah's audience as the ultimate fate for a tyrant who opposed God. דָּקַר (dāqar, H1856) — to pierce, stab, often used for lethal piercing (e.g., Zechariah 12:10).
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]