תָּאַר
ta.ar
to delimit
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
Supported# Analysis of תָּאַר (ta.ar) The Hebrew word תָּאַר (ta.ar) carries the specific meaning "to delimit"—that is, to mark or establish boundaries and limits. With only two occurrences in the biblical text, this is a relatively rare term, suggesting it served a specialized function in Hebrew communication rather than being part of everyday vocabulary. The limited attestation of this word makes it difficult to establish a broad range of usage patterns. However, the core semantic function of delimiting—drawing clear distinctions between what falls within certain boundaries and what lies outside them—suggests the word was employed in contexts where precise demarcation mattered. Without access to the specific biblical passages where it appears, we cannot determine whether it was used metaphorically, literally, or in particular literary genres, but the definition indicates it addressed the practical need to establish clear limits or boundaries in concrete or abstract situations. The rarity of תָּאַר in the biblical corpus may reflect either specialized application or the preference for other, more common Hebrew terms to express similar concepts. Its preservation in the biblical text, despite minimal usage, indicates that the specific idea of delimiting held enough significance to warrant this particular lexical choice in at least two contexts.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences across the text
The carpenter stretches out a line. He marks it out with a pencil. He shapes it with planes. He marks it out with compasses, and shapes it like the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to reside in a house.
Isaiah 44:13The carpenter stretches out a line. He marks it out with a pencil. He shapes it with planes. He marks it out with compasses, and shapes it like the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to reside in a house.