Hebrew word · H8388

תָּאַר

veta'ar

to border

A rare verb found only in the boundary descriptions of Joshua (15:9, 11; 18:14, 17). Its sense comes from context: 'bend, turn, be drawn or marked out' (of a boundary line). Some connect it with the noun toʾar, 'form, outline', which would give the picture of the line being traced or outlined.

Appears 8 times in 6 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) (Qal) to be drawn, incline, delineate, extend

1a) meaning uncertain

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 Joshua 15:11

Range of meaning

A rare verb found only in the boundary descriptions of Joshua (15:9, 11; 18:14, 17). Its sense comes from context: 'bend, turn, be drawn or marked out' (of a boundary line). Some connect it with the noun toʾar, 'form, outline', which would give the picture of the line being traced or outlined.

Against the English

KJV and WEB have 'was drawn' or 'extended'; YLT 'hath been marked out'; BSB 'curved'. Modern versions mostly choose 'turned', 'curved' or 'bent'. All are reasonable guesses at a technical survey term.

Used elsewhere in the period

No usage outside Joshua. Lexicons (BDB, HALOT) list it as a separate root and explain it from its boundary contexts.

From the study of Joshua 18:17

Range of meaning

A rare verb. In the simple form (Qal) it is used only of boundaries (Josh 15:9, 11; 18:14, 17), meaning "bend, turn, curve" or "be traced". In the intensive form (Piel) it means "mark out, trace an outline": in Isa 44:13 a craftsman "marks out" an idol with a line and marker. The related noun to'ar means "form, outline, shape", as in "beautiful in form".

Against the English

The KJV's "was drawn" and the YLT's "hath been marked out" follow the tracing or outline sense. The BSB's "curved", the WEB's "extended" and most modern versions follow the turning sense. Both fit the context.

Used elsewhere in the period

BDB lists the Qal as "incline, turn" and the Piel as "trace, mark out". HALOT gives "turn, bend" for the boundary verses. The sense is decided by these few contexts and the related noun to'ar.

Where it appears

Joshua · 6

  1. Joshua 15:9 וְתָאַ֨ר וְתָאַ֤ר and it turns

    From the hilltop the border curved to the spring of the Waters of Nephtoah, proceeded to the cities of Mount Ephron, and then bent around toward Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim).

  2. Joshua 15:11 וְתָאַ֤ר and it turns

    Then it went out to the northern slope of Ekron, curved toward Shikkeron, proceeded to Mount Baalah, went on to Jabneel, and ended at the Sea.

    Here: A rare verb found only in Joshua's boundary descriptions. It means the line bends or is traced on toward the next point. KJV has 'was drawn'; modern versions have 'curved' or 'turned'.

  3. Joshua 18:14 וְתָאַ֣ר and it turns

    On the west side the border curved southward from the hill facing Beth-horon on the south and came out at Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), a city of the sons of Judah. This was the western side.

  4. Joshua 18:17 וְתָאַ֣ר and it turns

    From there it curved northward and proceeded to En-shemesh and on to Geliloth facing the Ascent of Adummim, and continued down to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben.

    Here: The subject is still "the border" (ha-gevul) from verse 16. It says the line changes direction. The verb is rare and used for boundaries (Josh 15:9, 11; 18:14, 17). It means either "turn, bend" or "be traced out" (see study).

  5. Joshua 19:13 הַמְּתֹאָ֖ר which is turned

    From there it crossed eastward to Gath-hepher and to Eth-kazin; it extended to Rimmon and curved around toward Neah.

Isaiah · 2

  1. Isaiah 44:13 יְתָאֲרֵ֣הוּ יְתָאֳרֵ֑הוּ he outlines it

    The woodworker extends a measuring line; he marks it out with a stylus; he shapes it with chisels and outlines it with a compass. He fashions it in the likeness of man, like man in all his glory, that it may dwell in a shrine.

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