English · KJV
H8382

תָּאַם

tâʼam /taw-am'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto be complete; but used only as denominative from תָּאוֹם,; to be (causatively, make) twinned, i.e. (figuratively) duplicate or (architectural) jointed
KJV usagecoupled (together), bear twins.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of tâʼam — 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 Hebrew word tâʼam, represented by H8382, is a primitive root used to describe being twinned, duplicated, or jointed. It is defined as to be (causatively, make) twinned, i.e. (figuratively) duplicate or (architectural) jointed. This word appears 6 times in 4 unique verses, illustrating its specific and focused meaning.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the Bible, H8382 is used in two distinct contexts: architectural and poetic. In the book of Exodus, it describes the construction of the Tabernacle, where boards were to be coupled together both "beneath" and "above" to form the corners, ensuring a strong, unified structure (Exodus 26:24, Exodus 36:29). In the Song of Solomon, the word shifts to a figurative meaning, used to describe the beauty and perfection of teeth. They are compared to a flock of sheep where "every one bear twins," signifying perfect symmetry with no gaps (Song of Solomon 4:2, Song of Solomon 6:6).

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help illuminate the meaning of H8382 in its specific contexts:

  • H2885 ṭabbaʻath (ring): In the architectural instructions for the Tabernacle, the boards are coupled "unto one ring" Exodus 26:24, identifying the hardware that physically joins the separate pieces into a single unit.
  • H7909 shakkûwl (barren): This word, meaning bereaved or barren, is used as a direct contrast to H8382 in Song of Solomon. The perfection of the subject is highlighted by the fact that every one "beareth twins, and there is not one barren among them" Song of Solomon 6:6.
  • H8127 shên (tooth): This is the subject of the poetic imagery in Song of Solomon. The beloved's teeth are described as a flock where every animal has twins, using H8382 to paint a picture of perfect, unbroken alignment Song of Solomon 4:2.

Theological Significance

The applications of H8382 point to two primary themes:

  • Structural Unity: In the Exodus passages, the act of "coupling" components is essential for the integrity of the Tabernacle. It illustrates the principle of joining individual parts to create a single, stable, and complete structure (Exodus 26:24, Exodus 36:29).
  • Aesthetic Perfection: In Song of Solomon, the idea of being "twinned" is a metaphor for ideal beauty and completeness. The description of teeth where none are missing, but are perfectly paired like a flock where every ewe "beareth twins," conveys a sense of flawless symmetry (Song of Solomon 4:2, Song of Solomon 6:6).

Summary

In summary, H8382 carries a focused meaning of being paired, twinned, or duplicated. Though used sparingly, it powerfully communicates its meaning in both a literal, architectural sense and a figurative, poetic one. Whether describing the joined boards of the Tabernacle or the symmetrical teeth of a beloved, tâʼam signifies wholeness, integrity, and perfection achieved through pairing.

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 and a noun across 5 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.

  • מַתְאִימוֹת
  • תֹאֲמִים
  • תַמִּים

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.

H2885 טַבַּעַת from טָבַע; properly, a seal (as sunk into the wax), i.e. signet (for sealing); hence (generally) a ring of any kind; ri H7909 שַׁכּוּל or שַׁכֻּל; from שָׁכֹל; bereaved; barren, bereaved (robbed) of children (whelps). H8127 שֵׁן from שָׁנַן; compare שֶׁנְהַבִּים; a tooth (as sharp); specifically ivory; figuratively, a cliff; crag, [idiom] forefr

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 4 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Exodus and Song of Solomon (2 verses each); never once in the other 37.

2
Exodus
2
Song of Solomon

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.