Definition and Composition:
Tar is a thick, sticky substance derived from the distillation of organic materials such as wood or coal. In ancient times, it was commonly used as a waterproofing agent and adhesive. The Bible refers to tar in various contexts, often highlighting its practical applications in construction and sealing.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 6:14 · The first mention of tar in the Bible is in the account of Noah's Ark. God instructed Noah, "Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark and coat it with pitch inside and out." . The term "pitch" here is understood to be a form of tar, used to waterproof the ark and ensure its buoyancy during the flood.

2. Genesis 11:3 · The construction of the Tower of Babel also involved the use of tar. The people said, "Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar." . This indicates that tar was a common building material in the ancient Near East, valued for its adhesive and sealing properties.

3. Exodus 2:3 · In the account of Moses' infancy, his mother used tar to waterproof the basket in which she placed him. "But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch." . This ensured the basket's ability to float and protect the baby Moses as he was placed in the Nile River.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In the ancient world, tar was a valuable resource due to its versatility and effectiveness. It was used not only in construction and waterproofing but also in various other applications, such as medicine and embalming. The availability of natural tar pits, such as those found in the region of the Dead Sea, made it accessible to the peoples of the Bible.

Symbolic and Theological Implications:

While tar itself is a practical material, its use in biblical narratives often carries deeper symbolic meanings. For instance, the use of tar in Noah's Ark can be seen as a symbol of God's provision and protection, ensuring the safety of Noah and his family. Similarly, the tar-sealed basket of Moses represents divine care and deliverance.

Archaeological Insights:

Archaeological findings have confirmed the use of tar in ancient construction and daily life. Excavations in Mesopotamia and the Levant have uncovered evidence of tar used in building projects, supporting the biblical accounts of its widespread use. These findings provide a tangible connection to the historical and cultural context of the biblical narratives.

Conclusion:

The use of tar in the Bible highlights its importance as a practical resource in the ancient world. Its applications in construction, waterproofing, and protection are evident in key biblical accounts, underscoring its role in God's providential care and the ingenuity of ancient peoples.1. (n.) A sailor; a seaman.

2. (n.) A thick, black, viscous liquid obtained by the distillation of wood, coal, etc., and having a varied composition according to the temperature and material employed in obtaining it.

3. (v. t.) To smear with tar, or as with tar; as, to tar ropes; to tar cloth.

1543. hekatontarches -- a centurion, a captain of one hundred men
... a captain of one hundred men. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
hekatontarches or hekatontarchos Phonetic Spelling: (hek-at-on-tar'-khace) Short ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1543.htm - 7k

5020. tartaroo -- to cast into hell
... to cast into hell. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: tartaroo Phonetic Spelling:
(tar-tar-o'-o) Short Definition: I thrust down to Tartarus Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5020.htm - 7k

1613. ektarasso -- to throw into great trouble
... to throw into great trouble. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ektarasso Phonetic
Spelling: (ek-tar-as'-so) Short Definition: I disturb greatly Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1613.htm - 6k

5018. Tarseus -- of Tarsus
... of Tarsus. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Tarseus Phonetic Spelling:
(tar-syoos') Short Definition: belonging to Tarsus Definition: belonging ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5018.htm - 7k

5017. tarachos -- disturbance, trouble
... disturbance, trouble. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: tarachos
Phonetic Spelling: (tar'-akh-os) Short Definition: a disturbance, commotion ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5017.htm - 6k

5019. Tarsos -- Tarsus, a city of Cilicia
... Tarsus, a city of Cilicia. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: Tarsos
Phonetic Spelling: (tar-sos') Short Definition: Tarsus Definition: Tarsus, the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5019.htm - 6k

842. autarkes -- self-sufficient, sufficient
... self-sufficient, sufficient. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: autarkes
Phonetic Spelling: (ow-tar'-kace) Short Definition: self-sufficient, contented ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/842.htm - 7k

708. Aristarchos -- "best leader," Aristarchus, a Christian of ...
... "best leader," Aristarchus, a Christian of Thessalonica. Part of Speech: Noun,
Masculine Transliteration: Aristarchos Phonetic Spelling: (ar-is'-tar-khos) Short ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/708.htm - 6k

5015. tarasso -- to stir up, to trouble
... to stir up, to trouble. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: tarasso Phonetic Spelling:
(tar-as'-so) Short Definition: I agitate, stir up, trouble Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5015.htm - 7k

5016. tarache -- a disturbance, stirring up
... a disturbance, stirring up. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: tarache
Phonetic Spelling: (tar-akh-ay') Short Definition: a disturbance, tumult ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5016.htm - 6k

2564. chemar -- bitumen, asphalt
... 2563c, 2564. chemar. 2565 . bitumen, asphalt. Transliteration: chemar
Phonetic Spelling: (khay-mawr') Short Definition: tar. Word ...
/hebrew/2564.htm - 6k

8634. Taralah -- a city in Benjamin
... Taralah. 8635 . a city in Benjamin. Transliteration: Taralah Phonetic Spelling:
(tar-al-aw') Short Definition: Taralah. ... see HEBREW tar'elah. 8633, 8634. ...
/hebrew/8634.htm - 6k

8649. tormah -- perhaps treachery
... deceitful, privily And tarmuwth {tar-mooth'}; or tarmiyth {tar-meeth'}; from ramah;
fraud -- deceit(-ful), privily. see HEBREW ramah. 8648, 8649. ...
/hebrew/8649.htm - 5k

332. atar -- to shut up, close, bind
... 331, 332. atar. 333 . to shut up, close, bind. Transliteration: atar Phonetic
Spelling: (aw-tar') Short Definition: shut. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/332.htm - 5k

8635. tarbuth -- an increase, brood
... 8634, 8635. tarbuth. 8636 . an increase, brood. Transliteration: tarbuth
Phonetic Spelling: (tar-booth') Short Definition: brood. ...
/hebrew/8635.htm - 6k

4305. matar -- to rain
... 4304, 4305. matar. 4306 . to rain. Transliteration: matar Phonetic Spelling:
(maw-tar') Short Definition: rain. Word Origin denominative ...
/hebrew/4305.htm - 6k

8639. tardemah -- deep sleep
... 8638, 8639. tardemah. 8640 . deep sleep. Transliteration: tardemah Phonetic
Spelling: (tar-day-maw') Short Definition: sleep. Word ...
/hebrew/8639.htm - 6k

8653. tarelah -- a reeling
... 8652, 8653. tarelah. 8654 . a reeling. Transliteration: tarelah Phonetic
Spelling: (tar-ay-law') Short Definition: reeling. Word ...
/hebrew/8653.htm - 6k

8648. teren -- two
... second, twelve, two. (Aramaic) feminine tarteyn {tar-tane'}; corresponding to shnayim;
two -- second, + twelve, two. see HEBREW shnayim. 8647, 8648. ...
/hebrew/8648.htm - 6k

2967. tarpelaye -- official (a Pers. title)
... 2966, 2967. tarpelaye. 2968 . official (a Pers. title). Transliteration: tarpelaye
Phonetic Spelling: (tar-pel-ah'-ee) Short Definition: officials. ...
/hebrew/2967.htm - 6k

Betar
... by Christians, Bitter, or Bither: but I find it written in the Jerusalem Talmud
pretty often in the same page, to be read, as it seems Beth-Tar; and casting ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 52 betar.htm

Thou Anointest My Head with Oil; My Cup Runneth Over.
... He has olive oil and cedar-tar to use as healing ointments for their wounds, and
he has cool, refreshing water for those that are worn and weary. ...
/.../callan/the shepherd of my soul/x thou anointest my head.htm

Off to vienna
... aurochs. And the tar burners in the forests looked up from under their matted
brows at the fair oval face of the Polish boy, and said: ...
/.../chapter iv off to vienna.htm

Special Efforts
... When she took charge of Hythe, the corps fought its battles in a miserable
little barn known as 'The Tar-Tub,' located in a back lane. ...
/.../carpenter/the angel adjutant of twice born men/vi special efforts.htm

Choosing the Tens
... In the open spaces were covered heaps of sand, and tons of lime, in sacks; layers
of paint and hogsheads of tar; ingots of copper and pigs of bronze. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter i choosing the tens.htm

Vanished Hopes
... Out of the suffocating sallow smoke from the tuns of burning tar heaved over the
fortification upon the engines and their managers, the stones from the ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter xxii vanished hopes.htm

The Fulfilment
... weapons from kitchens, from hardware booths and from armories; anything that one
man or a body of men could wield; torches and kettles of tar; chains and ropes ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter xxiii the fulfilment.htm

Visit to Ceylon and Return to Benares.
... The name of the tree in the native language is "Tar"; this intoxicating juice is
called "Taree," and by a well-known custom of linguistic transposition it is ...
/.../life and work in benares and kumaon 1839-1877/chapter xviii visit to ceylon.htm

Joshua Kocherthal.
... They were ordered to engage in the production of tar and pitch, and were treated
as slaves and Redemptioners, ie, emigrants, shamefully defrauded by "the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bente/american lutheranism/joshua kocherthal.htm

John Christopher Hartwick.
... Church constitution. His parish included the congregations at Rheinbeck,
Camp, Staatsburg, Ancrum, and Tar Bush. The capriciousness ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bente/american lutheranism/john christopher hartwick.htm

Tar (3 Occurrences)
... it. 3. (vt) To smear with tar, or as with tar; as, to tar ropes; to tar cloth.
Multi-Version Concordance Tar (3 Occurrences). Genesis ...
/t/tar.htm - 7k

Tar'alah (1 Occurrence)
Tar'alah. Taralah, Tar'alah. Tare . Multi-Version Concordance Tar'alah (1
Occurrence). Joshua 18:27 and Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah; (See RSV). ...
/t/tar'alah.htm - 6k

Taralah (1 Occurrence)
...tar'-a-la (tar'alah; Codex Vaticanus Thareela; Codex Alexandrinus Tharala): A town
in the territory of Benjamin named between Irpeel and Zelah (Joshua 18:27). ...
/t/taralah.htm - 7k

Tarah (2 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. TARAH. ta'-ra, tar'-a (Numbers 33:27 the King
James Version). See TERAH. Multi-Version Concordance Tarah (2 Occurrences). ...
/t/tarah.htm - 7k

Tarry (62 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Consisting of, or covered with, tar; like
tar. 2. (vi) To stay or remain behind; to wait. 3. (vi ...
/t/tarry.htm - 25k

Pitch (25 Occurrences)
... character. (see SLIME.). Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) A thick, black, lustrous,
and sticky substance obtained by boiling down tar. It ...
/p/pitch.htm - 18k

Tare (4 Occurrences)

/t/tare.htm - 8k

Olives (30 Occurrences)
... To the natives of Palestine today it is usually known as Jebel et Tar ("mountain
of the elevation," or "tower"), or, less commonly, as Jebel Tur ez zait ...
/o/olives.htm - 37k

Last (1087 Occurrences)
... each containing 100 lbs; of red herrings, twenty cades, or 20,000; of hides, twelve
dozen; of leather, twenty dickers; of pitch and tar, fourteen barrels; of ...
/l/last.htm - 18k

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