Word Study for H2942 (טְעֵם) | Strong's Concordance

ṭᵉʻêm /teh-ame'/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) from טְעַם, and equivalent to טַעַם

Meaningproperly, flavor; figuratively, judgment (both subjective and objective); hence, account (both subjectively and objectively)

KJV usagecommandment, decree, taste, wisdom.

Idioms & phrasesphrase chancellor · phrase command · phrase regard

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ṭᵉʻêm — 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 ṭᵉʻêm, represented by H2942, has a rich range of meanings centered on taste, judgment, and authority. It appears 25 times in 25 unique verses, primarily in the books of Ezra and Daniel. While its proper meaning is flavor or taste, it is used figuratively to denote judgment, an official decree or commandment, and personal wisdom or regard.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H2942 is most frequently used to signify an official royal order. Kings like Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes issue a decree to authorize the rebuilding of the house of God Ezra 6:3 or to command specific actions from their subjects Daniel 3:10. The word also extends to the subjective sense of judgment or regard, as when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not regard King Nebuchadnezzar's command to worship the golden image Daniel 3:12. In rare instances, its literal meaning of taste is used, such as when Belshazzar tasted wine before issuing a command Daniel 5:2. It can also denote personal prudence or wisdom, as when Daniel responded to the king's captain Daniel 2:14.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Aramaic words clarify and expand upon the themes of authority and command associated with H2942:

H2941 ṭaʻam (commandment, matter): This word is nearly identical and is used for both a judicial sentence and a commandment. It appears alongside H2942 to distinguish between the commandment of God and the commandment of earthly kings Ezra 6:14.
H633 'ĕçâr (decree): This term refers specifically to a legal interdict or decree. It is used to describe the unchangeable royal order that Daniel chose not to regard, preferring instead to petition God Daniel 6:13.
H7761 sûwm (make, set, command): This verb is often paired with H2942 to form the phrase "to make a decree," signifying the act of putting a command into effect (Ezra 6:1, Daniel 6:26).

Theological Significance

The conceptual weight of H2942 is significant, particularly in its portrayal of authority.

Human Authority: The word is overwhelmingly used for the decrees and commandments of Gentile kings. These commands carry the force of law, dictating everything from construction projects Ezra 5:13 to matters of worship Daniel 3:10 and even who should be hindered Ezra 4:21. It is also used in the title of a royal official, the chancellor Ezra 4:8.
Divine Authority: The authority expressed by H2942 is placed in direct comparison with God's authority. The building of the temple is finished according to the commandment of God as well as the decree of kings, showing divine will working through human instruments Ezra 6:14.
Personal Judgment: The word's use as "regard" or "wisdom" highlights the theme of personal conviction in the face of absolute power. Daniel and his companions' refusal to regard the king's decree demonstrates a higher allegiance and a different kind of judgment (Daniel 3:12, Daniel 6:13).

Summary

In summary, H2942 is a multifaceted Aramaic term that connects the physical sense of taste to the abstract concepts of judgment and authority. While its most common application is for a royal decree or commandment, it also conveys the crucial ideas of personal regard and wisdom. The word serves to frame the central conflict in Ezra and Daniel between the decrees of earthly kings and the unwritten, higher commands of God.

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 noun across 30 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — 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.

טְעֵם
טַעַם
טַעְמָ

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

Appears in 25 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Ezra (17 verses); never once in the other 37.

Ezra

Daniel

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.