What does טָעַם (ṭa‘ămû) mean in the Bible?
טָעַם (ṭa‘ămû): Taste as experiential knowing—literal consumption extends to intimate perception and discernment of reality
Hebrew · H2938
טָעַם
To taste ; figuratively, to perceive
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טָעַם H2938
Pronunciation ṭa‘ămû
What does טָעַם (ṭa‘ămû) mean in the Bible?
טָעַם (ṭa‘ămû): Taste as experiential knowing—literal consumption extends to intimate perception and discernment of reality
Full entry for טָעַם (H2938) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2938?
The BSB source-word alignment has 11 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include taste (3), tastes (2), . . . (1), I only tasted (1), I taste (1).
Where does טָעַם (ṭa‘ămû) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at 1 Samuel 14:24. Its strongest book concentrations include 1 Samuel (4), 2 Samuel (2), Job (2), Jonah (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It taste 3× 2 Samuel 19:35, Psalms 34:8, Jonah 3:7
tastes 2× Job 12:11, Job 34:3
. . . 1× 1 Samuel 14:43
I only tasted 1× 1 Samuel 14:43
I taste 1× 2 Samuel 3:35
I tasted 1× 1 Samuel 14:29
She sees 1× Proverbs 31:18
tasted 1× 1 Samuel 14:24
Show sample aligned rows
1 Samuel 14:24 טָעַ֥ם to tasted Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular 1 Samuel 14:29 טָעַ֔מְתִּי to I tasted Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular 1 Samuel 14:43 טָעֹ֨ם to I only tasted Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute 1 Samuel 14:43 טָעַ֜מְתִּי to . . . Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular 2 Samuel 3:35 אֶטְעַם־ to I taste Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular 2 Samuel 19:35 יִטְעַ֤ם to taste Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Job 12:11 יִטְעַם־ to tastes Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Job 34:3 יִטְעַ֥ם to tastes Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Psalms 34:8 טַעֲמ֣וּ to Taste Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Proverbs 31:18 טָ֭עֲמָה to She sees Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row 1 Samuel 14:24
Aligned rows 11
Books represented 6
1 Samuel 4 2 Samuel 2 Job 2 Psalms 1 Proverbs 1 Jonah 1
Source forms
אֶטְעַם־ 1x ’eṭ·‘am- 2 Samuel 3:35
טָעַ֥ם 1x ṭā·‘am 1 Samuel 14:24
טָעֹ֨ם 1x ṭā·‘ōm 1 Samuel 14:43
טָ֭עֲמָה 1x ṭā·‘ă·māh Proverbs 31:18
טַעֲמ֣וּ 1x ṭa·‘ă·mū Psalms 34:8
טָעַ֔מְתִּי 1x ṭā·‘am·tî 1 Samuel 14:29
טָעַ֜מְתִּי 1x ṭā·‘am·tî 1 Samuel 14:43
יִטְעַ֤ם 1x yiṭ·‘am 2 Samuel 19:35
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 3x 2 Samuel 19:35, Job 12:11, Job 34:3
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular 2x 1 Samuel 14:29, 1 Samuel 14:43
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural 1x Psalms 34:8
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular 1x 2 Samuel 3:35
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural 1x Jonah 3:7
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute 1x 1 Samuel 14:43
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular 1x Proverbs 31:18
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular 1x 1 Samuel 14:24
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Taste as experiential knowing—literal consumption extends to intimate perception and discernment of reality
Strong's H2938
Lexical occurrences 11 verses Word forms 1 form 11 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Psalms 34:8–14 Source Gloss
to taste ; figuratively, to perceive
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Taste as experiential knowing—literal consumption extends to intimate perception and discernment of reality
to taste; figuratively, to perceive BDB: taste Usage: × but, perceive, taste.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 1 Aligned forms 11
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 11×
Imperfect 2Sam 19:36 · Job 12:11 · Job 34:3 · 2Sam 3:35 4×
Perfect 1Sam 14:29 · 1Sam 14:43 · 1Sam 14:24 · Prov 31:18 4×
Infinitive absolute 1Sam 14:43 1×
Jussive Jonah 3:7 1×
Sequential imperfect Ps 34:9 1×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
Taste; perceive; evaluate; to know something by direct, personal experience
Showing 1 selected witness from 11 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
טָעַם is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain