Lexical Summary tab: Good, pleasing Original Word: טָב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fine, good (Aramaic) from t'eb; the same as towb; good -- fine, good. see HEBREW t'eb see HEBREW towb NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) from teeb Definition good NASB Translation fine (1), pleases (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs טָב adjective good; — absolute ׳ט Daniel 2:32 pure gold; = pleasing to (עַל person) Ezra 5:17 (compare Ezra 6:18, Biblical Hebrew טוֺב 5). Topical Lexicon Overview טָב appears twice in the inspired Aramaic sections of the Old Testament and consistently carries the nuance of what is pleasing, choice, or excellent. In each setting the word accents the quality of something presented before an earthly monarch, yet by implication it reflects the ultimate standard of goodness established by the Lord Himself. Occurrences and Contexts 1. Ezra 5:17 – The returned exiles write to King Darius asking that a search “be made in the royal archives there in Babylon to determine if a decree was issued by King Cyrus”. By using טָב in the phrase “if it seem good to the king,” the petitioners express deference, recognizing the king’s authority while appealing to what is fitting and beneficial for the rebuilding of the temple. The term underscores the appropriateness of restoring true worship at Jerusalem—what is ‘good’ in the eyes of both king and God (compare Ezra 6:12). 2. Daniel 2:32 – In the description of Nebuchadnezzar’s statue, “The head of the statue was pure gold”. The word טָב modifies the gold, stressing its superior quality. The vision symbolizes successive kingdoms, beginning with Babylon, yet even the finest earthly empire is destined to be shattered by the everlasting kingdom “that will never be destroyed” (Daniel 2:44). The excellence signified by טָב ultimately pales before the surpassing glory of God’s rule. Historical Setting Both passages arise during the Persian period. Ezra 5 speaks to post-exilic Judah seeking imperial authorization; Daniel 2 occurs earlier, during the Babylonian dominance represented by the golden head. In each era the people of God live under foreign rule, and טָב marks what is judged excellent in the court of kings. Scripture thereby reminds readers that worldly assessments of ‘good’ must yield to divine purposes. Theological Threads Goodness derives from God’s own character (Psalm 25:8; Nahum 1:7). When humans discern and pursue what is good, they mirror their Creator (Micah 6:8). In Ezra, the quest for the “good” decision aligns with covenant restoration. In Daniel, the “good” gold introduces a schema revealing that every kingdom, however splendid, is subject to God’s sovereign timeline. Thus טָב joins the broader biblical witness in which all goodness is measured by God’s righteous standard (James 1:17). Prophetic and Christological Horizon Daniel’s vision moves from gold to iron and clay before culminating in the stone “cut without hands” (Daniel 2:34-35). The excellence hinted at by טָב anticipates the unsurpassed excellence of Christ, the King of kings, whose kingdom fulfills the promise of ultimate goodness (Hebrews 1:4; Revelation 21:24-27). Ministry and Discipleship Application • Discernment – Believers are called to “approve what is excellent” (Philippians 1:10), echoing the respectful yet courageous appeal of Ezra’s leaders. Related Biblical Themes and References Genesis 1:31; Psalm 34:8; Proverbs 3:27; Romans 12:2; Galatians 6:9; 3 John 11. Forms and Transliterations טָ֔ב טָ֗ב טב ṭāḇ TavLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 5:17 HEB: עַל־ מַלְכָּ֣א טָ֗ב יִ֠תְבַּקַּר בְּבֵ֨ית NAS: if it pleases the king, KJV: therefore, if [it seem] good to INT: concerning the king pleases A search house Daniel 2:32 |
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