טוֹב
tov
good
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Hebrew word "tov" (Strong's number: H2896B) is a simple term that conveys the concept of "good". At its core, "tov" suggests an affirmative quality that is often associated with what is morally upright, proper, or desirable. This "good" isn't just a positive feeling or pleasure, but rather a sense of alignment with what is right and just. Its frequency in the Bible (90 occurrences) underscores the significance of this concept in ancient Jewish thought. "Tov" is used across various contexts to describe righteous actions, favorable outcomes, and pleasing relationships. Its use in various genres of biblical texts, including poetry, history, and prophecy, also highlights its broad applicability. In essence, "tov" serves as a foundational concept that underpins discussions of morality, ethics, and proper conduct. The semantic domain of "tov" is nestled within the broader categories of Sin & Righteousness, indicating that this concept is deeply intertwined with the biblical narratives of justice, morality, and God's involvement in human affairs. By examining "tov" within its semantic domain, we can gain a deeper understanding of the biblical authors' perspective on what it means to live a virtuous life and the consequences of deviating from it.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
90 total occurrences across the text — showing 50
For Mordecai the Jew was next to King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted by the multitude of his brothers, seeking the good of his people, and speaking peace to all his descendants.
Job 2:10But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job didn’t sin with his lips.
Job 7:7Oh remember that my life is a breath. My eye will no more see good.
Job 21:13They spend their days in prosperity. In an instant they go down to Sheol.
Job 22:18Yet he filled their houses with good things, but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
Job 30:26When I looked for good, then evil came. When I waited for light, darkness came.
Job 36:11If they listen and serve him, they will spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
Psalms 4:6Many say, “Who will show us any good?” Yahweh, let the light of your face shine on us.
Psalms 14:1The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt. They have done abominable deeds. There is no one who does good.
Psalms 14:3They have all gone aside. They have together become corrupt. There is no one who does good, no, not one.
Psalms 21:3For you meet him with the blessings of goodness. You set a crown of fine gold on his head.
Psalms 23:6Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in Yahweh’s house forever.
Psalms 25:13His soul will dwell at ease. His offspring will inherit the land.
Psalms 34:10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek Yahweh shall not lack any good thing.
Psalms 34:12Who is someone who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?
Psalms 34:14Depart from evil, and do good. Seek peace, and pursue it.
Psalms 37:3Trust in Yahweh, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture.
Psalms 37:27Depart from evil, and do good. Live securely forever.
Psalms 39:2I was mute with silence. I held my peace, even from good. My sorrow was stirred.
Psalms 52:3You love evil more than good, lying rather than speaking the truth.
Psalms 53:1The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity. There is no one who does good.
Psalms 53:3Every one of them has gone back. They have become filthy together. There is no one who does good, no, not one.
Psalms 84:11For Yahweh God is a sun and a shield. Yahweh will give grace and glory. He withholds no good thing from those who walk blamelessly.
Psalms 85:12Yes, Yahweh will give that which is good. Our land will yield its increase.
Proverbs 14:22Don’t they go astray who plot evil? But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.
Psalms 103:5who satisfies your desire with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalms 104:28You give to them; they gather. You open your hand; they are satisfied with good.
Psalms 107:9For he satisfies the longing soul. He fills the hungry soul with good.
Psalms 119:65Do good to your servant, according to your word, Yahweh.
Psalms 119:122Ensure your servant’s well-being. Don’t let the proud oppress me.
Psalms 122:9For the sake of the house of Yahweh our God, I will seek your good.
Proverbs 2:9Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.
Proverbs 3:27Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
Proverbs 11:23The desire of the righteous is only good. The expectation of the wicked is wrath.
Proverbs 11:27He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.
Proverbs 12:14A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth. The work of a man’s hands shall be rewarded to him.
Proverbs 13:2By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful crave violence.
Proverbs 13:21Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.
Isaiah 7:15He shall eat butter and honey when he knows to refuse the evil and choose the good.
Isaiah 7:16For before the child knows to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you abhor shall be forsaken.
Proverbs 16:20He who heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in Yahweh is blessed.
Proverbs 17:20One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.
Proverbs 18:22Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh.
Proverbs 19:8He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good.
Proverbs 24:25but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
Proverbs 28:10Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he will fall into his own trap; but the blameless will inherit good.
Proverbs 31:12She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
Ecclesiastes 2:1I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth: therefore enjoy pleasure;” and behold, this also was vanity.
Ecclesiastes 2:24There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.
Ecclesiastes 3:13Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God.