a primitive root; to slaughter (animals or men); kill, (make) slaughter, slay.
Transliteration:ṭâbach
Pronunciation:taw-bakh'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root *ṭâbach* (`{{H2873}}`) is a primitive verb whose core meaning is "to slaughter." This fundamental sense primarily refers to the killing of animals, whether for food, as seen in the preparation of a meal, or in a broader sense that includes sacrificial acts. Beyond the animal realm, its semantic range extends powerfully to the killing of humans, often with connotations of mass killing, indiscriminate slaying, or brutal execution, akin to butchery. It implies a decisive and often violent act of taking life, focusing on the physical termination rather than the intent or legality of the act. The term can also denote the resulting state of "slaughter" or "carnage."
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The usage of *ṭâbach* (`{{H2873}}`) in the Hebrew Bible reveals its dual application:
1. **Slaughter of Animals:**
* Frequently, *ṭâbach* describes the preparation of animals for consumption, emphasizing the act of killing for sustenance. For instance, in [[1 Samuel 25:11]], Nabal dismisses David's request by questioning if he should take his "bread and water and meat that I have slaughtered for my shearers." Similarly, [[Proverbs 7:22]] uses the term for a fool going "like an ox to the slaughter," and [[Proverbs 9:2]] speaks of Wisdom having "slaughtered her beasts" for a feast. While less common than `{{H2076}}` (*zâbach*) for ritual sacrifice, *ṭâbach* can appear in contexts involving sacrificial animals, highlighting the physical act of killing the animal rather than the cultic offering itself.
2. **Slaughter of Humans:**
* More strikingly, *ṭâbach* is often employed to depict the violent killing of people, frequently in contexts of warfare, divine judgment, or indiscriminate violence.
* In [[Genesis 43:16]], Joseph's steward is commanded to "slay" (prepare) animals for a meal, but the brothers' fear is that they are being brought into the house to be "slaughtered" (implying violent death) for past wrongs.
* Prophetic books frequently use *ṭâbach* to describe God's judgment, where nations or individuals face utter destruction. [[Isaiah 34:2]] speaks of the Lord's "fury against all the nations... He has devoted them to destruction, He has given them over to slaughter."
* [[Jeremiah 50:27]] warns Babylon: "Slaughter all her bulls; let them go down to the slaughter!" This portrays the complete and violent destruction of a powerful nation.
* The phrase "day of slaughter" appears in [[Jeremiah 12:3]], referring to a time of divine retribution and catastrophic loss of life.
* In these human contexts, *ṭâbach* often suggests a large-scale, brutal, and decisive act of killing, akin to a butcher's work, rather than a single, premeditated murder (`{{H7523}}` *râtsach*) or judicial execution.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of "killing" in Hebrew is rich, and *ṭâbach* (`{{H2873}}`) interacts with several other terms:
* **`{{H2076}}` (zâbach):** To sacrifice, to slaughter for sacrifice. While *ṭâbach* can describe the physical act of killing a sacrificial animal, *zâbach* specifically denotes the ritual act of offering.
* **`{{H7523}}` (râtsach):** To murder, slay (unlawfully, often with premeditation). This term carries strong moral and legal implications of illicit killing, unlike *ṭâbach*, which is more descriptive of the act itself.
* **`{{H5221}}` (nâkâh):** To strike, smite, kill. A very broad term that can encompass killing as a result of a blow.
* **`{{H2491}}` (châlal):** To pierce, wound, slay. Often used for those slain in battle or by violence.
* **`{{H6991}}` (qâṭal):** To kill, slay (Aramaic equivalent, found in Daniel and Ezra).
* **`{{H4294}}` (maṭbêach):** A noun derived from *ṭâbach*, meaning "slaughter" or "place of slaughter."
* **`{{H2874}}` (ṭebbâch):** An agent noun from *ṭâbach*, meaning "butcher" or "executioner."
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of *ṭâbach* (`{{H2873}}`) is multifaceted:
* **Divine Judgment and Wrath:** Perhaps its most prominent theological use is in depicting God's judgment. The "slaughter" of nations or individuals signifies the severity and totality of divine wrath against sin and rebellion. It underscores God's sovereignty and His capacity to bring about complete destruction as a consequence of unrighteousness, as seen in the prophetic pronouncements against various nations (e.g., [[Isaiah 34:2]], [[Jeremiah 50:27]]). The "day of slaughter" (e.g., [[Jeremiah 12:3]]) serves as a stark reminder of the ultimate accountability before God.
* **Consequences of Sin:** The frequent association of *ṭâbach* with the violent end of the wicked or the unfaithful highlights the dire and often catastrophic consequences of turning away from God's covenant and commandments. It serves as a powerful warning.
* **Provision and Sustenance:** In its more benign application to the slaughter of animals for food, *ṭâbach* points to God's provision for humanity's physical sustenance. It implicitly acknowledges the divinely ordained order where animal life can be lawfully taken to sustain human life, a concept rooted in the post-Flood covenant (cf. [[Genesis 9:3]]).
* **Sacrifice and Atonement:** While not the primary term for ritual sacrifice, its occasional use in this context (e.g., [[1 Kings 19:21]]) underscores the violent, life-ending nature of the sacrificial act. It reminds the worshiper that atonement requires the shedding of blood and the termination of a life, pointing forward to the ultimate sacrifice.
### Summary
The Hebrew root *ṭâbach* (`{{H2873}}`) fundamentally means "to slaughter," a term that carries significant weight in the biblical narrative. While it describes the practical act of killing animals for food or sacrifice, its more profound usage lies in depicting the violent, often indiscriminate, slaying of humans. This dual application reveals its semantic breadth, from mundane provision to the terrifying reality of divine judgment. Theologically, *ṭâbach* serves as a powerful descriptor of God's righteous wrath against sin, leading to catastrophic consequences for the unrepentant. It underscores the fragility of life and the ultimate sovereignty of God, who both provides for His creation and executes justice upon it. The term's emphasis on the decisive and often brutal termination of life distinguishes it from other Hebrew words for killing, highlighting a complete and often large-scale destruction.
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