Hebrew word · H2876

טַבָּח

tabachim

guard

From the root ṭ-b-ḥ, 'to slaughter (animals), butcher'. A ṭabbāḥ is a butcher or cook: Samuel's cook who serves the reserved portion of meat is a ṭabbāḥ (1 Sam 9:23–24). Lexicons (BDB, HALOT) give 'cook/butcher' as the root sense and 'bodyguard' or 'executioner' as derived senses for the title.

Appears 32 times in 32 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) executioner, cook, bodyguard, guardsman

1a) cook (who also killed the animal for food)

1b) guardsmen, bodyguard

Aramaic equivalent: tab.bach (טַבָּח "guardsman" H2877)

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Jeremiah 39:11

Range of meaning

From the root ṭ-b-ḥ, 'to slaughter (animals), butcher'. A ṭabbāḥ is a butcher or cook: Samuel's cook who serves the reserved portion of meat is a ṭabbāḥ (1 Sam 9:23–24). As a royal title, 'chief of the ṭabbāḥîm' names a high officer at a foreign court: Potiphar in Egypt (Gen 37:36; 39:1; 40:3–4, where he also oversees a prison) and Nebuzaradan in Babylon (2 Kgs 25; Jer 39–41, 52). Lexicons (BDB, HALOT) give 'cook/butcher' as the root sense and 'bodyguard' or 'executioner' as derived senses for the title.

Against the English

KJV, ESV and BSB: 'captain of the guard'. NASB: 'captain of the bodyguard'. NIV: 'commander of the imperial guard'. YLT: 'chief of the executioners'. All of these translate what the man did, not what the title literally said.

How it drifted

Translators since antiquity have rendered the title by function. The Septuagint uses archimageiros, 'chief cook', in Genesis but elsewhere treats it as a military officer. The literal 'chief cook' sounded absurd for a general, so English settled on 'captain of the guard'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Nebuchadnezzar's own court list (the 'Istanbul Prism', ANET 307–308) names a Nabû-zēr-iddinam as rab nuḫatimmi, 'chief cook (or baker)', among the top officials of the realm. Most scholars identify him with the biblical Nebuzaradan. The Hebrew 'chief of the slaughterers/cooks' looks like a fairly exact match for the Babylonian title. Ancient courts were full of household titles held by powerful officers (cupbearer, chamberlain, chief cook), and the Assyrian rab šāqê 'chief cupbearer' (biblical Rabshakeh, 2 Kgs 18) led an army to Jerusalem.

From the study of Jeremiah 43:6

Range of meaning

'Ṭabbāḥ' means one who slaughters animals, a butcher or cook (1 Sam 9:23–24). 'Chief of the ṭabbāḥîm' became a court title for a senior officer in charge of royal security and punishments. It is used for Potiphar in Egypt (Gen 37:36) and for Nebuzaradan in Babylon (2 Kgs 25:8–20; Jer 39–52).

Against the English

'Captain of the guard' (BSB, KJV, WEB, ESV), 'captain of the bodyguard' (NASB), 'commander of the imperial guard' (NIV) all give the function. YLT's 'chief of the executioners' keeps the root idea of slaughter but makes it sound like an executioner's job, which is too narrow.

Used elsewhere in the period

A Babylonian court list of Nebuchadnezzar's officials (the 'Istanbul Prism') names a Nabû-zēr-iddin as 'rab nuḫatimmi,' 'chief cook.' This is widely taken to be the same man and the Akkadian title behind the Hebrew one. Old kitchen and household offices commonly turned into high state ranks.

From the study of Jeremiah 52:30

Range of meaning

Tabbach is related to tavach, 'to slaughter (animals)'. Its range runs from 'butcher' and 'cook' (1 Samuel 9:23–24, the cook who serves Saul meat) to a royal guard or executioner. The title 'chief of the tabbachim' is used for Potiphar in Egypt (Genesis 37:36, with śar for 'chief') and for Nebuzaradan (2 Kings 25; Jeremiah 39–41, 52).

Against the English

'Captain of the guard' (KJV, BSB, WEB) or 'commander of the imperial guard' (NIV) gives his function. YLT's 'chief of the guard' does the same. All of them lose the literal picture of 'chief butcher/cook', and the modest English 'captain' undersells his rank.

How it drifted

Titles that began in the royal kitchen or table service often became high offices (compare 'cupbearer', or the medieval 'steward' and 'marshal'). English translators gave the function rather than the literal title.

Used elsewhere in the period

A building inscription of Nebuchadnezzar listing his court (the 'Court List' or Istanbul prism) names a Nabû-zēr-iddinam as rab nuḫatimmi, 'chief cook'. This matches the Hebrew name and title closely, and most scholars identify him with the biblical Nebuzaradan.

Where it appears

Genesis · 6

  1. Genesis 37:36 הַטַּבָּחִֽים׃ פ the bodyguards

    Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.

  2. Genesis 39:1 הַטַּבָּחִים֙ the bodyguards

    Meanwhile, Joseph had been taken down to Egypt, where an Egyptian named Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.

  3. Genesis 40:3 הַטַבָּחִ֖ים the bodyguards

    and imprisoned them in the house of the captain of the guard, the same prison where Joseph was confined.

  4. Genesis 40:4 הַטַּבָּחִ֧ים the bodyguards

    The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he became their personal attendant. After they had been in custody for some time,

  5. Genesis 41:10 הַטַּבָּחִ֔ים the bodyguards

    Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the captain of the guard.

  6. Genesis 41:12 הַטַּבָּחִ֔ים the bodyguards

    Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams and he interpreted them for us individually.

1 Samuel · 2

  1. 1 Samuel 9:23 לַטַּבָּ֔ח to the cook

    And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you and told you to set aside.”

  2. 1 Samuel 9:24 הַ֠טַּבָּח the cook

    So the cook picked up the leg and what was attached to it and set it before Saul. Then Samuel said, “Here is what was kept back. It was set apart for you. Eat, for it has been kept for you for this occasion, from the time I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” So Saul dined with Samuel that day.

2 Kings · 7

  1. 2 Kings 25:8 טַבָּחִ֛ים [the] bodyguards

    On the seventh day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign over Babylon, Nebuzaradan captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem.

  2. 2 Kings 25:10 טַבָּחִֽים׃ [the] bodyguards

    And the whole army of the Chaldeans under the captain of the guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem.

  3. 2 Kings 25:11 טַבָּחִֽים׃ [the] bodyguards

    Then Nebuzaradan captain of the guard carried into exile the people who remained in the city, along with the deserters who had defected to the king of Babylon and the rest of the population.

  4. 2 Kings 25:12 טַבָּחִ֑ים [the] bodyguards

    But the captain of the guard left behind some of the poorest of the land to tend the vineyards and fields.

  5. 2 Kings 25:15 טַבָּחִֽים׃ [the] bodyguards

    The captain of the guard also took away the censers and sprinkling bowls—anything made of pure gold or fine silver.

  6. 2 Kings 25:18 טַבָּחִ֗ים [the] bodyguards

    The captain of the guard also took away Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest of second rank, and the three doorkeepers.

    Here: Literally 'slaughterers' or 'cooks'. Together with rav it makes a high court and military title, 'captain of the guard'. Nebuzaradan is the officer carrying out the king's orders.

  7. 2 Kings 25:20 טַבָּחִ֑ים [the] bodyguards

    Nebuzaradan captain of the guard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.

Jeremiah · 17

  1. Jeremiah 39:9 טַבָּחִ֖ים [the] bodyguards

    Then Nebuzaradan captain of the guard carried away to Babylon the remnant of the people who had remained in the city, along with the deserters who had defected to him.

  2. Jeremiah 39:10 טַבָּחִ֖ים [the] bodyguards

    But Nebuzaradan left behind in the land of Judah some of the poor people who had no property, and at that time he gave them vineyards and fields.

  3. Jeremiah 39:11 טַבָּחִ֖ים [the] bodyguards

    Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had given orders about Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan captain of the guard, saying,

    Here: Literally 'slaughterers', the men who butchered meat for the royal table. In time it became the title of a senior court officer who also commanded troops. In practice it means the king's chief of staff and commander here.

  4. Jeremiah 39:13 טַבָּחִ֗ים [the] bodyguards

    So Nebuzaradan captain of the guard, Nebushazban the Rabsaris, Nergal-sharezer the Rabmag, and all the captains of the king of Babylon

  5. Jeremiah 40:1 טַבָּחִ֖ים [the] bodyguards

    This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Nebuzaradan captain of the guard had released him at Ramah, having found him bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon.

  6. Jeremiah 40:2 טַבָּחִ֖ים [the] bodyguards

    The captain of the guard found Jeremiah and said to him, “The LORD your God decreed this disaster on this place,

  7. Jeremiah 40:5 טַבָּחִ֛ים [the] bodyguards

    But before Jeremiah turned to go, Nebuzaradan added, “Return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and stay with him among the people, or go anywhere else that seems right.” Then the captain of the guard gave him a ration and a gift and released him.

  8. Jeremiah 41:10 טַבָּחִ֔ים [the] bodyguards

    Then Ishmael took captive all the remnant of the people of Mizpah—the daughters of the king along with all the others who remained in Mizpah—over whom Nebuzaradan captain of the guard had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam. Ishmael son of Nethaniah took them captive and set off to cross over to the Ammonites.

  9. Jeremiah 43:6 טַבָּחִ֔ים [the] bodyguards

    the men, the women, the children, the king’s daughters, and everyone whom Nebuzaradan captain of the guard had allowed to remain with Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, as well as Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch son of Neriah.

    Here: Literally 'butchers' or 'cooks' (compare 1 Sam 9:23). By this time 'chief of the cooks' was an old palace title for a top military and security officer, much as 'marshal' once meant a stable-keeper. In practice it means commander of the king's guard.

  10. Jeremiah 52:12 טַבָּחִ֔ים [the] bodyguards

    On the tenth day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign over Babylon, Nebuzaradan captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem.

  11. Jeremiah 52:14 טַבָּחִֽים׃ [the] bodyguards

    And the whole army of the Chaldeans under the captain of the guard broke down all the walls around Jerusalem.

  12. Jeremiah 52:15 טַבָּחִֽים׃ [the] bodyguards

    Then Nebuzaradan captain of the guard carried into exile some of the poorest people and those who remained in the city, along with the deserters who had defected to the king of Babylon and the rest of the craftsmen.

  13. Jeremiah 52:16 טַבָּחִ֑ים [the] bodyguards

    But Nebuzaradan captain of the guard left behind some of the poorest of the land to tend the vineyards and fields.

  14. Jeremiah 52:19 טַבָּחִֽים׃ [the] bodyguards

    The captain of the guard also took away the basins, censers, sprinkling bowls, pots, lampstands, pans, and drink offering bowls—anything made of pure gold or fine silver.

  15. Jeremiah 52:24 טַבָּחִ֗ים [the] bodyguards

    The captain of the guard also took away Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest of second rank, and the three doorkeepers.

    Here: Literally 'slaughterers' or 'butchers/cooks', from the verb 'to slaughter'. By this time it was a high court title for the king's commander of guards. The man meant is Nebuzaradan (52:12). The word's root in killing gives grim colour to what follows.

  16. Jeremiah 52:26 טַבָּחִ֑ים [the] bodyguards

    Nebuzaradan captain of the guard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.

  17. Jeremiah 52:30 טַבָּחִ֔ים [the] bodyguards

    in Nebuchadnezzar’s twenty-third year, Nebuzaradan captain of the guard carried away 745 Jews. So in all, 4,600 people were taken away.

    Here: Literally 'butchers' or 'cooks'. Together with the word before, it is a court title that English renders 'captain of the guard'. Babylonian records list the same man as 'chief cook' of the court, yet he acts as a top military commander.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.