### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **taphḗ**, represented by `{{G5027}}`, defines the act of **burial**. According to the base definition, it is a feminine noun derived from θάπτω. It is a rare term, appearing only **2 times** within **1 unique verse** in the biblical text.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single instance of `{{G5027}}` occurs in the narrative following Judas's betrayal of Jesus. After the chief priests took counsel, they decided to use the returned money to purchase a plot of land. The specific purpose of this transaction was for the **burial** of strangers, as detailed in [[Matthew 27:7]], where the priests "bought with them the potter's field, to **bury** strangers in." This context establishes the word's practical and civic application.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words are used in the same verse, providing a fuller picture of the events surrounding the act of burial:
* `{{G2983}}` **lambánō** (to take): This verb describes the action of the priests as they "took counsel," initiating the process that would lead to acquiring a burial site.
* `{{G4824}}` **symboúlion** (consultation, counsel, council): This term refers to the advisement or deliberation the priests held to determine how to use the money, with the outcome being the purchase of the field.
* `{{G59}}` **agorázō** (buy, redeem): This word signifies the act of purchasing the potter's field, a necessary step to secure the land for its intended purpose of burial.
* `{{G68}}` **agrós** (country, farm, piece of ground, land): This noun identifies the object of the purchase, the field which was set aside as a place for burial.
### Theological Significance
While the term itself is functional, its context in [[Matthew 27:7]] carries some weight. The use of `{{G5027}}` is framed by the deliberate actions of the religious leaders.
* **Conscious Deliberation:** The decision to provide a place for **burial** was not accidental; it was the result of the chief priests taking **counsel** `{{G4824}}` and making a specific plan.
* **A Financial Transaction:** The act of securing a site for **burial** is presented as a purchase. They **bought** `{{G59}}` the potter's **field** `{{G68}}`, highlighting the practical and economic aspects involved in this provision for the dead.
* **Provision for Strangers:** The stated purpose of the land was for the **burial** of strangers, indicating a recognized need to provide a final resting place for foreigners and the unaffiliated.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G5027}}` **taphḗ** is a precise term for the act of **burial**. Its sole biblical appearance roots it not in abstract theology but in a concrete historical event. The word functions as the purpose for which the chief priests took counsel, spent money, and acquired a piece of land, demonstrating how a simple act of **burial** can be the outcome of formal deliberation and transaction.
TRV