Lexical Summary
teem: Uncleanness, impurity
Original Word:טְעַם
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:t`am
Pronunciation:tehm
Phonetic Spelling:(teh-am')
KJV: make to eat, feed
NASB:given to eat
Word Origin:[(Aramaic) corresponding toH2938 (טָּעַם - taste)]
1. to taste
2. causatively to feed
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
make to eat, feed
(Aramaic) corresponding tota'am; to taste; causatively to feed -- make to eat, feed.
see HEBREWta'am
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to
taamDefinitionto feed
NASB Translationgiven to eat (3).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[] (Pe`al properly
taste, see Biblical Hebrew); —
Imperfect3masculine plural, accusative of grass + person:
Daniel 4:22;
Daniel 4:29, so (suffix person)
Daniel 5:21.
Topical Lexicon
Taʿam—Reasoned Discernment and Physical TasteOccurrences in Daniel
The term surfaces four times, all within the Aramaic paragraphs of Daniel (Daniel 4:25;Daniel 4:32;Daniel 5:2;Daniel 5:21). Twice it describes the literal tasting of wine by Belshazzar, and twice it portrays the return or loss of mental judgment in the experiences of Nebuchadnezzar.
Literal and Figurative Senses
1. Physical palate. InDaniel 5:2 the king “tasted the wine,” a mundane act that precipitated the sacrilege of drinking from the temple vessels. The narrative anchors the word in ordinary sensation before pivoting to supernatural judgment.
2. Inner judgment. When Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity departs, Scripture says that his “reason departed” (Daniel 4:25) and later “my reason returned to me” (Daniel 4:32). The same Aramaic term that can mean tasting with the mouth is used for perceiving with the mind, showing Scripture’s seamless movement from the physical faculty to the moral-spiritual faculty.
Theological Themes
Sovereign discipline. Both kings misuse God-given faculties: Belshazzar abuses physical taste, Nebuchadnezzar abuses moral judgment. Each loses what he refuses to steward.
Restoration through acknowledgment. Nebuchadnezzar’s reason is restored only after he “blessed the Most High” (Daniel 4:32). Divine mercy is displayed in the return of taʿam when repentance is expressed.
Holiness of vessels. Belshazzar’s casual tasting of wine becomes emblematic of contempt for the holiness of God’s sanctuary (compareEzra 1:7–8). The same tongue that tasted is later silenced by the writing on the wall.
Biblical Motifs Connected to Taste and Discernment
Psalm 34:8: “Taste and see that the LORD is good.” What begins as sense experience leads to spiritual insight.
Proverbs 2:9–10: true wisdom “will enter your heart,” echoing the move from external to internal perception.
1 Peter 2:3: believers “have tasted that the Lord is good,” employing the physical metaphor to speak of saving knowledge.
Practical Ministry Insights
• Preaching: Daniel’s dual use of taʿam invites sermons on stewardship of both body and mind. Neglect either faculty and judgment follows; submit both and restoration comes.
• Counseling: The narrative affirms that mental clarity is ultimately in God’s hand, encouraging prayer for those whose reasoning is clouded.
• Worship: Reverent treatment of the Lord’s table is underscored by the fate of Belshazzar, warning against irreverent “tasting” of sacred things (compare1 Corinthians 11:27–30).
• Discipleship: Encourage believers to cultivate spiritual discernment by actively “tasting” God’s Word (Hebrews 5:13–14), so that their moral taste buds mature.
Christological Reflection
Jesus Christ, “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14), embodies perfect taʿam. He “tasted death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9) so that redeemed people might “have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). The reversal of Nebuchadnezzar’s madness anticipates the fuller regeneration of the mind promised in the gospel.
Summary
Taʿam unites bodily sensation and intellectual discernment, illustrating how Scripture regards humanity as an integrated whole. Through the contrasting accounts of Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, the word reminds readers that true wisdom and even rational capacity are gifts from God to be used for His glory; to misuse them courts judgment, but humble acknowledgment of the Most High opens the door to gracious restoration.
Forms and Transliterations
בִּטְעֵ֣ם בטעם יְטַ֣עֲמוּנֵּ֔הּ יְטַֽעֲמ֗וּן יְטַעֲמ֔וּן יטעמון יטעמונה biṭ‘êm biṭ·‘êm bitEm yə·ṭa·‘ă·mūn yə·ṭa·‘ă·mūn·nêh yəṭa‘ămūn yəṭa‘ămūnnêh yetaaMun yeTaamunNeh
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
