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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טָעַםH2938
Pronunciationṭa‘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 Ittaste3×2 Samuel 19:35, Psalms 34:8, Jonah 3:7
tastes2×Job 12:11, Job 34:3
. . .1×1 Samuel 14:43
I only tasted1×1 Samuel 14:43
I taste1×2 Samuel 3:35
I tasted1×1 Samuel 14:29
She sees1×Proverbs 31:18
tasted1×1 Samuel 14:24
Show sample aligned rows
1 Samuel 14:24טָעַ֥םtotastedVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular1 Samuel 14:29טָעַ֔מְתִּיtoI tastedVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular1 Samuel 14:43טָעֹ֨םtoI only tastedVerb - Qal - Infinitive absolute1 Samuel 14:43טָעַ֜מְתִּיto. . .Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular2 Samuel 3:35אֶטְעַם־toI tasteVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular2 Samuel 19:35יִטְעַ֤םtotasteVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularJob 12:11יִטְעַם־totastesVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularJob 34:3יִטְעַ֥םtotastesVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularPsalms 34:8טַעֲמ֣וּtoTasteVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralProverbs 31:18טָ֭עֲמָהtoShe seesVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row1 Samuel 14:24
Aligned rows11
Books represented6
1 Samuel42 Samuel2Job2Psalms1Proverbs1Jonah1
Source forms
אֶטְעַם־1x’eṭ·‘am-2 Samuel 3:35
טָעַ֥ם1xṭā·‘am1 Samuel 14:24
טָעֹ֨ם1xṭā·‘ōm1 Samuel 14:43
טָ֭עֲמָה1xṭā·‘ă·māhProverbs 31:18
טַעֲמ֣וּ1xṭa·‘ă·mūPsalms 34:8
טָעַ֔מְתִּי1xṭā·‘am·tî1 Samuel 14:29
טָעַ֜מְתִּי1xṭā·‘am·tî1 Samuel 14:43
יִטְעַ֤ם1xyiṭ·‘am2 Samuel 19:35
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular3x2 Samuel 19:35, Job 12:11, Job 34:3
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular2x1 Samuel 14:29, 1 Samuel 14:43
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural1xPsalms 34:8
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular1x2 Samuel 3:35
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural1xJonah 3:7
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute1x1 Samuel 14:43
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular1xProverbs 31:18
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular1x1 Samuel 14:24
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Taste as experiential knowing—literal consumption extends to intimate perception and discernment of reality
Strong'sH2938
Lexical occurrences11 versesWord forms1 form11 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkPsalms 34:8–14Source Gloss
to taste ; figuratively, to perceive
Extended definitionSource: 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 groups1Aligned forms11
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense11×
Imperfect2Sam 19:36 · Job 12:11 · Job 34:3 · 2Sam 3:354×
Perfect1Sam 14:29 · 1Sam 14:43 · 1Sam 14:24 · Prov 31:184×
Infinitive absolute1Sam 14:431×
JussiveJonah 3:71×
Sequential imperfectPs 34:91×
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.