English · KJV
H2868

טְאֵב

ṭᵉʼêb /teh-abe'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto rejoice
KJV usagebe glad

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ṭᵉʼêb — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Aramaic word ṭᵉʼêb, represented by H2868, is a primitive root meaning to rejoice; be glad. This specific term is quite rare, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse within the entire biblical text.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The sole appearance of H2868 is in the book of Daniel, capturing a moment of profound relief and joy. After Daniel survives the night in the lion's den, the scripture states, "Then was the king exceeding glad for him" Daniel 6:23. This gladness prompts the king to command that Daniel be taken up out of the den. The narrative highlights that Daniel was found completely unharmed because he had believed in his God.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words from the surrounding text provide a fuller picture of this event:

  • H4430 melek (a king): This Aramaic word identifies the person experiencing the gladness. The king is central to the narrative, first commanding Daniel to be cast into the den and later rejoicing at his deliverance Daniel 6:16.
  • H1358 gôb (a pit (for wild animals); den): This term specifies the location of peril from which Daniel was saved. The decree was that those who disobeyed the king would be cast into the den of lions Daniel 6:7.
  • H540 'ăman (to render (or be) firm or faithful, to trust or believe): Daniel's deliverance and the king's subsequent gladness are explicitly linked to the fact that Daniel believed in his God Daniel 6:23. This same root word is used to describe Daniel as faithful when his enemies could find no fault in him Daniel 6:4.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H2868 is derived entirely from its unique context.

  • Joy in Divine Deliverance: The king's gladness is a direct response to a miraculous act of God. It demonstrates how God's power to save can evoke powerful, positive emotions even in a pagan ruler.
  • Vindication of Faith: The joy expressed by the king serves as a public vindication of Daniel's unwavering faith. Daniel's survival, which caused the king's gladness, was because he "believed in his God" Daniel 6:23.
  • Emotional Turning Point: The king's gladness marks a dramatic shift. He had approached the den with a "lamentable voice" Daniel 6:20, but upon seeing Daniel safe, his sorrow turns to exceeding joy, leading him to issue a decree honoring the God of Daniel Daniel 6:26.

Summary

In summary, while H2868 is used only once, it marks the emotional climax of a significant biblical story. It encapsulates the king's reaction not just to his servant's survival, but to the undeniable power of God. The word ṭᵉʼêb captures the moment where despair turns to joy, acknowledging that faithfulness to God can lead to miraculous deliverance and profoundly impact even the highest earthly authorities.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 1 occurrence, inflected in 1 grammatical form — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • טְאֵב

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H4430 מֶלֶךְ (Aramaic) corresponding to מֶלֶךְ; a king; king, royal. H1358 גֹּב (Aramaic) from a root corresponding to גּוּב; a pit (for wild animals) (as cut out); den. H540 אֲמַן (Aramaic) corresponding to אָמַן; {properly, to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to ren

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

1 verse, all in Daniel — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.