Bible Word Study
תַּעַר
taʻar · a knife or razor (as making bare); also a scabbard (as being bare, i.e. empty)
תַּעַר
a knife or razor (as making bare); also a scabbard (as being bare, i.e. empty)
Definition
The Hebrew noun תַּעַר (taʻar) primarily refers to a sharp cutting instrument, most commonly a 'razor' or 'knife'. Its core meaning is a blade used for shaving or cutting hair, as seen in regulations for Nazirites (Numbers 6:5) and for Levitical purification (Numbers 8:7). The word can also denote a 'sheath' or 'scabbard' (1 Samuel 17:51), likely because a scabbard is 'bare' or empty when the sword is drawn, connecting to the root meaning. In a few instances, it refers to a general 'knife' used for cutting, such as the scribe's penknife in Jeremiah 36:23.
Biblical Usage
תַּעַר is used 13 times in the Old Testament, appearing in narrative, legal, and prophetic books. Its most frequent use is for a 'razor' in cultic contexts of shaving for purification (Numbers 6:5, 8:7) or as a metaphor for judgment (Isaiah 7:20). As a 'sheath', it appears in battle narratives (1 Samuel 17:51; 2 Samuel 20:8). It is used once for a scribe's cutting knife (Jeremiah 36:23) and metaphorically for a slanderer's tongue (Psalm 52:2).
Etymology
Derived from the root עָרָה (ʻārah, H6168), meaning 'to be bare' or 'to lay bare'. This root connection explains the dual meanings: a razor 'bares' the skin by removing hair, and a scabbard is 'bare' or empty when the weapon is removed.
Semantic Range
תַּעַר carries theological weight in contexts of consecration and judgment. Its use in Nazirite vows (Numbers 6:5) symbolizes the complete dedication of one's life to God, where even hair—a sign of vitality and vow—is shaved off. Prophetically, it becomes an instrument of God's disciplinary judgment, as when Assyria is called the 'razor' hired against Judah (Isaiah 7:20), depicting God's use of foreign powers to enact His purposes. In ancient Israel, a תַּעַר was a common personal tool, typically made of flint or bronze. Its association with ritual shaving (e.g., for Nazirites or Levites) marked significant transitions—ending a vow or preparing for priestly service. The 'penknife' of Jeremiah 36:23 was likely a small blade for trimming reed pens and scraping parchment, highlighting the tangible tools of literacy and record-keeping in that era. חֶרֶב (cherev, H2719) — a sword, a larger weapon for battle, not for shaving. מַאֲכֶלֶת (maʼăkheleth, H3979) — a knife, often a slaughtering knife or sacrificial knife (Genesis 22:6, 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]