Lexical Summary tav: Mark, sign Original Word: תָּו Strong's Exhaustive Concordance very froward thing, perverse thing From tavah; a mark; by implication, a signature -- desire, mark. see HEBREW tavah Brown-Driver-Briggs תָּו noun masculine mark; — absolute ׳ת, mark on forehead, sign of exemption from judgment Ezekiel 9:4,6 suffix תָּוֺוי Job 31:35 = my (written) mark (in attestation). Topical Lexicon Meaning and Symbolismתָּו (tav) functions in Scripture as a “mark” or “sign” that publicly identifies a person or matter before God and humankind. Its ancient pictograph shape resembled a cross-shaped or X-shaped mark impressed on tablets, walls, or flesh, conveying ownership, authenticity, protection, or accusation. Occurrences 1. Job 31:35 Though rare, these three passages reveal a remarkably consistent theology: the righteous appeal for, receive, and live under a divine mark that sets them apart in judgment. The Mark in Job Job’s climactic plea—“Oh, that I had someone to hear me! Behold my signature is here!” (Job 31:35)—presents תָּו as a self-attested seal of innocence. Job longs for a heavenly hearing; his “signature” pre-figures the need for mediation and foreshadows the New Testament assurance that the believer’s testimony is validated by God Himself (Romans 8:16). The Protective Seal in Ezekiel In Ezekiel 9 the Lord commands the man clothed in linen to “put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations” (Ezekiel 9:4). Those bearing the תָּו are spared when judgment sweeps Jerusalem (Ezekiel 9:6). Several themes emerge: • Divine ownership: The forehead mark openly displays who belongs to the Lord (compare Revelation 7:3). Historically, rabbis noted that the letter taw was the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, hinting at completion; early Christian writers saw in its ancient cross-shaped form a type of the crucifixion, where ultimate deliverance is achieved. Canonical Echoes 1. Genesis 4:15 – The protective mark on Cain shows mercy in judgment. These parallels trace an unbroken biblical thread: God distinguishes His people by a visible or spiritual sign, preserving them amid wrath. Theological Themes • Assurance of Innocence – The believer’s conscience finds rest when God affixes His own testimony (Job 31, Romans 8). Practical Ministry Applications 1. Pastoral Care – Help believers seek God’s affirmation rather than human vindication, echoing Job’s desire for a divine signature. Conclusion תָּו encapsulates the Bible’s promise that God knows, marks, and preserves His faithful ones. Whether on parchment, stone, or the human heart, the sign endures as a declaration: “The Lord knows those who are His” (2 Timothy 2:19). Forms and Transliterations הַתָּו֙ התו תָּ֜ו תָּ֭וִי תו תוי hat·tāw hatTav hattāw tā·wî tav Tavi tāw tāwîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 31:35 HEB: לִ֗י הֶן־ תָּ֭וִי שַׁדַּ֣י יַעֲנֵ֑נִי NAS: me! Behold, here is my signature; Let the Almighty KJV: one would hear me! behold, my desire [is, that] the Almighty INT: to hear Behold is my signature the Almighty answer Ezekiel 9:4 Ezekiel 9:6 3 Occurrences |
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