8389. toar
Lexical Summary
toar: Form, appearance, shape, beauty

Original Word: תֹּאַר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: to'ar
Pronunciation: TO-ar
Phonetic Spelling: (to'-ar)
KJV: + beautiful, X comely, countenance, + fair, X favoured, form, X goodly, X resemble, visage
NASB: form, appearance, handsome, resembling
Word Origin: [from H8388 (תָּאַר - Razor)]

1. outline, i.e. figure or appearance

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
be drawn, mark out

From ta'ar; outline, i.e. Figure or appearance -- + beautiful, X comely, countenance, + fair, X favoured, form, X goodly, X resemble, visage.

see HEBREW ta'ar

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from taar
Definition
outline, form
NASB Translation
appearance (2), form (7), handsome (1), handsome* (1), resembling (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
תֹּ֫אַר noun masculineLamentations 4:8 outline, form (Phoenician תאר; according to SchwIdioticon 100 proposes something gazed at, from √ תאר = Christian-Palestinian Aramaic gaze at); — ׳ת absolute Genesis 29:17 +; construct Judges 8:18; suffix ˜תֹּאֲרוֺ (Ges§ 93q) Isaiah 52:14, תָּאֳרוֺ 1 Samuel 28:14; — form, of woman, ׳יְפַת תּ Genesis 29:17 (E; + מַרְאֶה, "" later צֶלֶם וּדְמוּת Genesis 1:26, LagOr. ii. 62; BN 149), Esther 2:7 (+ id.), 1 Samuel 25:3; Deuteronomy 21:11; of man, ׳יְפֵהתֿ Genesis 39:11 (J; + מַרְאֶה), compare Isaiah 52:14 ( + id.), Isaiah 53:2 (+ id., הָדָר), Judges 8:18, so also 1 Chronicles 17:17 (for ᵑ0 הור) Klo PerlesAnal. 68; ׳אִישׁ ת 1 Samuel 16:18, ׳טוֺבתֿ 1 Kings 1:6; מַהתָּֿאֳרוֺ 1 Samuel 28:14; see Lamentations 4:8 (where by metonymy = aspect, visage); of cattle, ׳וִיפוֺת ת Genesis 41:18 (E), ׳רָעוֺת ת Genesis 41:19 (E); tree, זַיִת רַעֲנָן יְפֵה ׳פְרִיתֿ Jeremiah 11:16 (Du ׳יְפֵיפֵה ת, see Jeremiah 46:20).

Topical Lexicon
Scope and Sense of תֹּאַר

The term denotes visible form, shape, figure, or appearance. In every passage it focuses on outward contours—whether of people, animals, or objects—so that the observer’s eye is drawn to what can be seen and assessed. Scripture employs it both positively (attractive form) and negatively (marred form), thereby inviting theological reflection on the limits of outward appraisal.

Occurrences and Thematic Groupings

1. Human Beauty and Attractiveness

Genesis 29:17; 39:6; Deuteronomy 21:11; 1 Samuel 25:3; 1 Kings 1:6; Esther 2:7 present תֹּאַר as a mark of physical appeal. “Rachel was shapely and beautiful” (Genesis 29:17), Joseph was “well-built and handsome” (Genesis 39:6), and Esther was “lovely in form and features” (Esther 2:7). Israel’s narrative preserves these details without embarrassment, recognizing beauty as a divine gift while never confusing it with covenant fidelity.

2. Royal and Military Bearing

Judges 8:18 describes slain men whose form was “like the sons of a king.” David is introduced to Saul as “of fine appearance” (1 Samuel 16:18), complementing his valor and skill. These texts associate pleasing form with nobility and leadership potential, yet later accounts (1 Samuel 16:7) warn that “the LORD looks not on outward appearance.”

3. Prophetic Imagery of Flourishing and Ruin

Jeremiah 11:16 pictures Judah as “a thriving olive tree, beautiful in form,” only to be consumed by judgment. Lamentations 4:8 reverses former glory: “their appearance is darker than soot.” The prophets employ תֹּאַר to contrast God-bestowed splendor with the disfigurement that sin and exile bring.

4. Agricultural and Dream Symbolism

Pharaoh’s dream (Genesis 41:18-19) contrasts seven cows “well-formed” with seven “ugly” ones, using bodily form as a parable of plenty and famine. The exterior condition of the animals mirrors the coming economic reality.

5. The Suffering Servant

Isaiah 52:14 testifies, “His appearance was disfigured beyond that of any man, and His form was marred beyond human likeness,” while Isaiah 53:2 says, “He had no form or majesty to attract us to Him.” Here תֹּאַר moves from attractive shape to repulsive distortion, underscoring the Messiah’s humiliation. The New Testament’s passion narratives echo this prophecy, showing that redemption comes through the very One from whom “men hide their faces.”

Historical and Cultural Insights

Ancient Near Eastern societies highly valued physical beauty; yet the Hebrew canon refuses to idolize it. The bridal laws of Deuteronomy 21:11 safeguard even a captured woman’s dignity, indicating that outward allure never nullifies personhood. Royal courts (e.g., Esther) elevated attractive individuals, but God continually subverts purely visual criteria, choosing Leah over Rachel for covenant lineage, David over his taller brothers, and ultimately the crucified Christ over every outwardly impressive savior-figure.

Theological Reflections

1. The Creator’s Goodness

Pleasant form is a gift to be received with gratitude (James 1:17) yet held loosely. Scripture’s positive uses of תֹּאַר affirm the goodness of embodied life and point to the beauty of the coming resurrection body (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).

2. The Danger of Surface Judgment

Saul’s preference for impressive stature led to repeated missteps. Isaiah’s Servant reminds believers that divine wisdom often hides beneath unremarkable exteriors.

3. Redemption of the Marred Form

Christ’s disfigured תֹּאַר becomes the focal point of salvation. By bearing the scars of sin, He secures a glorified body for His people (Philippians 3:21). The contrast between Genesis’ handsome Joseph and Isaiah’s marred Servant previews the gospel paradox: suffering precedes exaltation.

Pastoral and Ministry Applications

• Discernment in Leadership Selection: congregations should prize character over charisma, echoing 1 Samuel 16:7.
• Compassion for the Broken: Isaiah 52–53 calls the church to embrace those whose appearance bears the marks of suffering, reflecting the Servant’s own visage.
• Hope for Restoration: Jeremiah’s ruined olive tree will yet flourish in the Messianic age (Romans 11:24-26). Even the most disfigured life can be reshaped by grace.

Summary

תֹּאַר exposes the tension between what the eye sees and what the Lord values. From Rachel’s beauty to the Servant’s mutilation, outward form both reveals and conceals spiritual reality. Its scriptural trajectory cautions against superficial appraisal, highlights God’s redemptive purposes in the broken, and directs believers toward the final transformation when every redeemed body will reflect the glory of Christ.

Forms and Transliterations
וְתֹאֲר֖וֹ ותארו כְּתֹ֖אַר כתאר תָּֽאֳרָ֔ם תָּאֳר֔וֹ תֹ֔אַר תֹ֖אַר תֹ֥אַר תֹּ֑אַר תֹּ֔אַר תֹּ֖אַר תֹּ֙אַר֙ תֹּ֛אַר תאר תארו תארם kə·ṯō·’ar kəṯō’ar keToar tā’orām tā’orōw tā·’o·rām tā·’o·rōw tō’ar ṯō’ar tō·’ar ṯō·’ar Toar tooRam tooRo vetoaRo wə·ṯō·’ă·rōw wəṯō’ărōw
Links
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Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 29:17
HEB: הָֽיְתָ֔ה יְפַת־ תֹּ֖אַר וִיפַ֥ת מַרְאֶֽה׃
NAS: was beautiful of form and face.
INT: become was beautiful of form was beautiful and face

Genesis 39:6
HEB: יוֹסֵ֔ף יְפֵה־ תֹ֖אַר וִיפֵ֥ה מַרְאֶֽה׃
NAS: was handsome in form and appearance.
KJV: And Joseph was [a] goodly [person], and well
INT: now Joseph was handsome form was handsome and appearance

Genesis 41:18
HEB: בָּשָׂ֖ר וִיפֹ֣ת תֹּ֑אַר וַתִּרְעֶ֖ינָה בָּאָֽחוּ׃
KJV: and well favoured; and they fed
INT: body and sleek favoured grazed the marsh

Genesis 41:19
HEB: דַּלּ֨וֹת וְרָע֥וֹת תֹּ֛אַר מְאֹ֖ד וְרַקּ֣וֹת
KJV: ill favoured and leanfleshed,
INT: poor ugly favoured and very thin

Deuteronomy 21:11
HEB: אֵ֖שֶׁת יְפַת־ תֹּ֑אַר וְחָשַׁקְתָּ֣ בָ֔הּ
INT: woman A beautiful be drawn and have take

Judges 8:18
HEB: כְמוֹהֶ֔ם אֶחָ֕ד כְּתֹ֖אַר בְּנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
NAS: you, each one resembling the son
KJV: [art], so [were] they; each one resembled the children
INT: were like one resembling the son of a king

1 Samuel 16:18
HEB: דָּבָ֖ר וְאִ֣ישׁ תֹּ֑אַר וַיהוָ֖ה עִמּֽוֹ׃
NAS: in speech, and a handsome man;
KJV: in matters, and a comely person,
INT: speech man handsome and the LORD with

1 Samuel 25:3
HEB: שֶׂ֙כֶל֙ וִ֣יפַת תֹּ֔אַר וְהָאִ֥ישׁ קָשֶׁ֛ה
NAS: and beautiful in appearance, but the man
KJV: and of a beautiful countenance: but the man
INT: understanding and beautiful appearance the man was harsh

1 Samuel 28:14
HEB: לָהּ֙ מַֽה־ תָּאֳר֔וֹ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר אִ֤ישׁ
NAS: to her, What is his form? And she said,
KJV: And he said unto her, What form [is] he of? And she said,
INT: said to her What form said man

1 Kings 1:6
HEB: ה֤וּא טֽוֹב־ תֹּ֙אַר֙ מְאֹ֔ד וְאֹת֥וֹ
INT: he man be drawn A very was born

Esther 2:7
HEB: וְהַנַּעֲרָ֤ה יְפַת־ תֹּ֙אַר֙ וְטוֹבַ֣ת מַרְאֶ֔ה
NAS: was beautiful of form and face,
INT: now the young was beautiful of form good and face

Isaiah 52:14
HEB: מֵאִ֖ישׁ מַרְאֵ֑הוּ וְתֹאֲר֖וֹ מִבְּנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃
NAS: any man And His form more than
KJV: more than any man, and his form more than the sons
INT: any his appearance and his form the sons of men

Isaiah 53:2
HEB: צִיָּ֔ה לֹא־ תֹ֥אַר ל֖וֹ וְלֹ֣א
NAS: He has no [stately] form or majesty
KJV: ground: he hath no form nor comeliness;
INT: of parched has no form Nor majesty

Jeremiah 11:16
HEB: יְפֵ֣ה פְרִי־ תֹ֔אַר קָרָ֥א יְהוָ֖ה
NAS: in fruit and form; With the noise
KJV: fair, [and] of goodly fruit:
INT: beautiful fruit and form called the LORD

Lamentations 4:8
HEB: חָשַׁ֤ךְ מִשְּׁחוֹר֙ תָּֽאֳרָ֔ם לֹ֥א נִכְּר֖וּ
NAS: Their appearance is blacker than
KJV: Their visage is blacker than a coal;
INT: is blacker soot their appearance are not recognized

15 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 8389
15 Occurrences


kə·ṯō·’ar — 1 Occ.
tō·’ar — 11 Occ.
tā·’o·rām — 1 Occ.
tā·’o·rōw — 1 Occ.
wə·ṯō·’ă·rōw — 1 Occ.

8388b
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