What does תָּמִיד (tāmiyd) mean in the Bible?
H8548 describes continuance, regularity, or what is maintained repeatedly, and in some settings names the regular offering. 30, the Bread of the Presence remains before God continually.
Hebrew · H8548
תָּמִיד
Properly, continuance (as indefinite extension ); but used only (attributively as adjective) constant (or adverbially, constantly ); elliptically the regular (daily) sacrifice
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תָּמִידH8548
Pronunciationtāmiyd
What does תָּמִיד (tāmiyd) mean in the Bible?
H8548 describes continuance, regularity, or what is maintained repeatedly, and in some settings names the regular offering. 30, the Bread of the Presence remains before God continually.
Reader summary
Full entry for תָּמִיד (H8548) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H8548?
The BSB source-word alignment has 104 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include The regular (12), continually (11), always (7), regularly (6), will always (6).
Where does תָּמִיד (tāmiyd) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 25:30. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (23), Numbers (20), Exodus (8), Isaiah (8).
What This Word Actually Means
H8548 describes continuance, regularity, or what is maintained repeatedly, and in some settings names the regular offering. In Exod. 25. 30, the Bread of the Presence remains before God continually. In Lev. 6. 13, the altar fire must be kept burning and not extinguished. In Ps. 16. 8, the worshiper sets the Lord always before him and therefore is not shaken.
H8548 opens teaching on sustained worship, dependable service, practiced attention, and institutions that maintain holy responsibilities over time through shared labor, ordered rhythms, and faithful handoffs. It does not demand nonstop activity, abolish Sabbath rest, promise constant emotional intensity, or turn a repeated ritual into automatic faithfulness.
Continuity is a communal stewardship, not permission to exhaust one indispensable person.
How the Bible Uses It
H8548 modifies bread, fire, lamps, offerings, ministry, attention, provision, cruelty, and other continuing realities. Context decides whether it means constant presence, recurring schedule, habitual action, or the regular sacrifice.
- Exod.25.30
And place the Bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times.
The Bread of the Presence is to remain before the Lord continually as part of tabernacle service.
- Lev.6.13
The fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it must not be extinguished.
Priests must maintain the altar fire continually, requiring repeated and responsible service.
- Ps.16.8
I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
The psalmist sets the Lord always before him and finds stability in God's presence at his right hand.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItThe regular12×Numbers 4:7, Numbers 28:10, Numbers 28:15, Numbers 28:31
continually11×Exodus 27:20, Leviticus 6:13, Leviticus 24:2, Leviticus 24:3
always7×2 Samuel 9:13, 1 Chronicles 16:11, Psalms 16:8, Psalms 40:16
regularly6×Exodus 29:38, 2 Kings 25:29, 1 Chronicles 16:6, 1 Chronicles 16:37
will always6×2 Samuel 9:7, Psalms 34:1, Psalms 40:11, Psalms 71:14
. . .3×Leviticus 24:8, Jeremiah 52:34, Ezekiel 46:14
are ever3×Psalms 50:8, Isaiah 49:16, Jeremiah 6:7
as a regular3×Leviticus 6:20, Numbers 28:3, Ezekiel 46:15
is always3×2 Samuel 9:10, Psalms 51:3, Psalms 71:6
and the regular2×Numbers 28:24, Numbers 29:11
are always2×Deuteronomy 11:12, Psalms 25:15
forever2×Psalms 69:23, Proverbs 5:19
-1×Nehemiah 10:33
[and] the daily sacrifice1×Daniel 8:12
am always1×Psalms 73:23
and always1×Hosea 12:6
and continue1×Habakkuk 1:17
and daily1×Numbers 29:6
as a continual1×Exodus 28:29
at all times1×Exodus 25:30
continuously1×2 Chronicles 2:4
Day1×Isaiah 21:8
for the regular1×Nehemiah 10:33
forever around him1×Psalms 109:19
had long1×Ezekiel 38:8
has a continual1×Proverbs 15:15
His daily sacrifice1×Daniel 8:11
I constantly [take]1×Psalms 119:109
I will always1×Psalms 119:44
is ever1×Psalms 38:17
It shall always1×Exodus 28:38
May [their sins] always1×Psalms 109:15
May people ever1×Psalms 72:15
may they always1×Psalms 35:27
of the daily sacrifice1×Daniel 8:13
perpetually1×Exodus 30:8
portion1×2 Kings 25:30
regular1×Numbers 28:23
shall be made regularly1×Exodus 29:42
that I may always1×Psalms 119:117
the daily1×Numbers 4:16
the daily [sacrifice]1×Daniel 12:11
the daily sacrifice1×Daniel 11:31
they presented the regular1×Ezra 3:5
they were to serve regularly1×1 Chronicles 23:31
they will never1×Isaiah 62:6
This is a regular1×Numbers 28:6
to continually1×Ezekiel 39:14
to regularly1×1 Chronicles 16:40
vvv1×Isaiah 51:13
where I can always1×Psalms 71:3
who continually1×Isaiah 65:3
who is always1×Proverbs 28:14
who often1×2 Kings 4:9
will continually1×Exodus 28:30
your constant1×Nahum 3:19
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 25:30תָּמִֽיד׃פtoat all timesAdverbExodus 27:20תָּמִֽיד׃tocontinuallyAdverbExodus 28:29תָּמִֽיד׃toas a continualAdverbExodus 28:30תָּמִֽיד׃סtowill continuallyAdverbExodus 28:38תָּמִ֔ידtoIt shall alwaysAdverbExodus 29:38תָּמִֽיד׃toregularlyAdverbExodus 29:42תָּמִיד֙toshall be made regularlyAdverbExodus 30:8תָּמִ֛ידtoperpetuallyAdverbLeviticus 6:13תָּמִ֛ידtocontinuallyAdverbLeviticus 6:20תָּמִ֑ידtoas a regularAdverb
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 25:30
Aligned rows104
Books represented21
Exodus8Leviticus6Numbers20Deuteronomy12 Samuel31 Kings12 Kings31 Chronicles52 Chronicles3Ezra1Nehemiah2Psalms23Proverbs4Isaiah8Jeremiah3Ezekiel4Daniel5Hosea1Obadiah1Nahum1Habakkuk1
Source forms
הַתָּמִ֔יד12xhat·tā·mîḏNumbers 29:11, Numbers 29:16, Numbers 29:19, Numbers 29:22
תָּמִֽיד׃12xtā·mîḏExodus 27:20, Exodus 28:29, Exodus 29:38, Leviticus 24:2
תָּמִ֑יד9xtā·mîḏLeviticus 6:20, Leviticus 24:3, Leviticus 24:8, Numbers 28:6
תָמִֽיד׃9xṯā·mîḏNumbers 28:3, Psalms 38:17, Psalms 50:8, Psalms 51:3
תָּמִ֖יד7xtā·mîḏ2 Samuel 9:13, 1 Chronicles 16:37, 1 Chronicles 16:40, 1 Chronicles 23:31
תָּמִ֔יד5xtā·mîḏExodus 28:38, 1 Kings 10:8, 1 Chronicles 16:6, 2 Chronicles 9:7
תָּמִ֛יד5xtā·mîḏExodus 30:8, Leviticus 6:13, 2 Samuel 9:10, 2 Kings 25:29
הַתָּמִ֖יד4xhat·tā·mîḏNumbers 4:7, Numbers 4:16, Numbers 28:10, Daniel 8:12
Parsing patterns
Adverb78xExodus 25:30, Exodus 27:20, Exodus 28:29, Exodus 28:30
Article | Adverb24xNumbers 4:7, Numbers 4:16, Numbers 28:10, Numbers 28:15
Conjunctive waw | Adverb2xIsaiah 52:5, Habakkuk 1:17
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Do not use continual-service language to deny sleep, Sabbath, leave, disability accommodation, or healthy limits.
- Do not measure faithfulness only by visible streaks, perfect attendance, or emotional intensity.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that H8548 always means twenty-four-hour activity without interruption.
- Do not claim that the regular offering and every personal habit are interchangeable uses of the word.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Marks perpetual, unbroken continuity—especially God's covenant faithfulness and the daily temple sacrificial system
Source Gloss
properly, continuance (as indefinite extension ); but used only (attributively as adjective) constant (or adverbially, constantly ); elliptically the regular (daily) sacrifice
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Marks perpetual, unbroken continuity—especially God's covenant faithfulness and the daily temple sacrificial system
properly, continuance (as indefinite extension); but used only (attributively as adjective) constant (or adverbially, constantly); elliptically the regular (daily) sacrifice BDB: continuity Usage: alway(-s), continual (employment, -ly), daily, (n-)ever(-more), perpetual.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
H8548 gives biblical faithfulness a durable shape. The Bread of the Presence stays before God, the altar fire is repeatedly tended, and scheduled offerings require people, supplies, and shared responsibility. Continuity is not effortless. It depends on ordinary acts performed at the proper time. Psalm 16 brings that pattern into personal trust: setting the Lord always before oneself describes sustained orientation, not an unbroken feeling.
The same word can also describe continuing violence or cruelty, reminding readers that persistence is not automatically virtuous. What continues must be judged by its object and fruit. Faithful application builds rhythms that can actually be maintained, distributes responsibility, protects rest, and returns attention to God after distraction. Churches should value steady service without making workers indispensable or ashamed of limits.
God's enduring care grounds perseverance; human constancy remains dependent, embodied, and in need of renewal.
Anchor passage
Ps.16.8
Doctrinal connections
- H8548: continual worship is sustained through ordered practices and communal responsibility.
- H8548: holy continuity does not oppose Sabbath but depends on rhythms God gives to finite creatures.
- H8548: setting the Lord always before oneself describes settled allegiance that supports courage and stability.
- H8548: regular offerings and sanctuary service require material provision as well as spiritual intention.
- H8548: persistence receives its moral character from what is being maintained, since evil also can continue.
- H8548: God's faithful presence supports human perseverance without making human attention perfect or self-sufficient.
H8548 functions attributively or adverbially to express continuance and regularity. In cultic contexts an understood noun can make the expression refer to the regular offering, so translation should follow the local construction.
From Old to New Testament
The New Testament portrays the early believers as devoted to teaching, fellowship, prayer, and shared meals, while Hebrews contrasts repeated sacrifices with Christ's sufficient offering and enduring priesthood that secures lasting access to God.