2941. taam
Lexical Summary
taam: Taste, discernment, judgment

Original Word: טַעַם
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: ta`am
Pronunciation: tah-am
Phonetic Spelling: (tah'-am)
KJV: account, X to be commanded, commandment, matter
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) from H293 (אֲחִינוֹעַם - Ahinoam)9]

1. (properly) a taste, i.e. (as in H2940) a judicial sentence

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
account, to be commanded, commandment, matter

(Aramaic) from t'am; properly, a taste, i.e. (as in ta'am) a judicial sentence -- account, X to be commanded, commandment, matter.

see HEBREW t'am

see HEBREW ta'am

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
(Aramaic) the same as teem, q.v.

Topical Lexicon
Basic Concept

טַעַם functions in Biblical Aramaic as a governmental or judicial term that points to an official decision, verdict, or ruling issued by an authorized power. In one instance (Daniel 6:2) it speaks of the prevention of “loss,” showing the word’s broader sense of guarding royal interests. All five occurrences stand in texts written during the Persian period and therefore illuminate how the people of God related to imperial authority while honoring the supreme authority of the Lord.

Occurrences in Scripture

Ezra 4:21 – Artaxerxes commands that work on Jerusalem stop “until a decree is issued by me.”
Ezra 5:5 – Temple work continues until a report can reach Darius and his written decision is returned.
Ezra 6:14 – The Temple is completed “according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes kings of Persia.”
Ezra 7:23 – Artaxerxes insists that “Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven must be done with utmost care for the house of the God of heaven.”
Daniel 6:2 – Satraps answer to administrators “so that the king would not suffer loss.”

Historical Setting

The term appears exclusively within Aramaic correspondence and narrative from the Achaemenid era (sixth–fourth centuries B.C.). Persian monarchs ruled a vast, multilingual empire through written edicts that carried the full force of law (compare Esther 8:8). Jewish leaders rebuilding Jerusalem had to navigate these edicts, demonstrating fidelity to God while exhibiting respect for civil authority (Jeremiah 29:7). The vocabulary of טַעַם therefore provides a linguistic window into the legal environment in which post-exilic faith was practiced.

Usage in Ezra

1. Cessation and resumption of Temple work (Ezra 4–6). Imperial decrees initially halt construction, yet God’s sovereignty ensures that subsequent royal decisions favor completion. The narrative contrasts human obstruction with divine overruling, culminating in, “They finished the Temple according to the command of the God of Israel” (Ezra 6:14).
2. Divine versus human authority (Ezra 7:23). Artaxerxes’ letter elevates the Lord’s command above his own, implicitly acknowledging that earthly power is derivative. This sets a precedent for believers serving under secular governments: loyalty to the king is never at odds with obedience to God when the king himself recognizes the higher throne.

Usage in Daniel

Daniel 6:2 highlights administrative safeguards so that “the king would not suffer loss.” Here טַעַם underscores accountability and stewardship. Daniel’s exemplary service within this system shows that personal integrity and godly wisdom can flourish even inside a pagan bureaucracy, providing a model for believers who labor in secular structures today.

Theological Themes

• Divine Sovereignty over Human Edicts – Although emperors wield legal might, their decrees cannot thwart God’s redemptive purposes (Proverbs 21:1).
• The Harmony of Obedience – Scripture affirms respectful submission to lawful authority (Romans 13:1-7) while reserving ultimate allegiance for God (Acts 5:29).
• Providence in Exile – Post-exilic believers witness God turning imperial policy to their benefit, reinforcing trust in His unseen governance (Ezra 6:22).

Ministry Applications

1. Respect for Governing Authorities: Believers are encouraged to engage governmental processes with honesty and prayer, confident that God can work through official rulings to advance His kingdom purposes.
2. Advocacy for God-Honoring Policies: Like Ezra and Nehemiah, pastors and lay leaders may petition rulers for decisions that promote worship and justice, trusting the Lord to shape outcomes.
3. Accountability in Leadership: Daniel 6:2 reminds Christian administrators and employers to establish structures that prevent “loss,” reflecting faithful stewardship of entrusted resources.

Summary

טַעַם encapsulates the tension and harmony between divine command and human decree in the post-exilic world. Its limited but strategic appearances affirm that while earthly rulers issue binding orders, the covenant God of Israel remains the ultimate Legislator whose purposes will prevail.

Forms and Transliterations
טַ֙עַם֙ טַעְמָ֔א טַעְמָ֖א טַעְמָ֥א טעם טעמא ṭa‘·mā ṭa‘am ṭa‘mā ṭa·‘am taam taMa
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Englishman's Concordance
Ezra 4:21
HEB: עַד־ מִנִּ֖י טַעְמָ֥א יִתְּשָֽׂם׃
KJV: until [another] commandment shall be given
INT: until me commandment is issued

Ezra 5:5
HEB: הִמּ֔וֹ עַד־ טַעְמָ֖א לְדָרְיָ֣וֶשׁ יְהָ֑ךְ
KJV: till the matter came
INT: them until the matter to Darius came

Ezra 6:14
HEB: וְשַׁכְלִ֗לוּ מִן־ טַ֙עַם֙ אֱלָ֣הּ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
KJV: [it], according to the commandment of the God
INT: finished according to the commandment of the God of Israel

Ezra 7:23
HEB: דִּ֗י מִן־ טַ֙עַם֙ אֱלָ֣הּ שְׁמַיָּ֔א
INT: so according account the God of heaven

Daniel 6:2
HEB: יָהֲבִ֤ין לְהוֹן֙ טַעְמָ֔א וּמַלְכָּ֖א לָֽא־
KJV: give accounts unto them, and the king
INT: that give accounts the king no

5 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 2941
5 Occurrences


ṭa·‘am — 2 Occ.
ṭa‘·mā — 3 Occ.

2940
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