Lexical Summary
tamid: Continually, perpetually, always, regularly
Original Word:תָּמִיד
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:tamiyd
Pronunciation:tah-meed
Phonetic Spelling:(taw-meed')
KJV: alway(-s), continual (employment, -ly), daily, ((n-))ever(-more), perpetual
NASB:continually, continual, regular sacrifice, regularly, always, regular, constantly
Word Origin:[from an unused root meaning to stretch]
1. (properly) continuance (as indefinite extension)
2. but used only (attributively as adjective) constant (or adverbially, constantly)
3. ellipt. the regular (daily) sacrifice
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
always, continual employment daily, nevermore, perpetual
From an unused root meaning to stretch; properly, continuance (as indefinite extension); but used only (attributively as adjective) constant (or adverbially, constantly); ellipt. The regular (daily) sacrifice -- alway(-s), continual (employment, -ly), daily, ((n-))ever(-more), perpetual.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom an unused word
Definitioncontinuity
NASB Translationall times (1), always (4), constantly (2), continual (26), continually (52), continuously (2), ever (2), perpetual (1), regular (3), regular sacrifice (5), regularly (5).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Daniel 12:11 (perhaps originally
extent; Late Hebrew as Biblical Hebrew, Ecclus Ecclesiasticus 45:14); — always absolute; —
,continually:
=continuously,Hosea 12:7;Jeremiah 6:7;Nahum 3:19;Isaiah 21:8;Isaiah 49:16;Isaiah 51:13 (+ ),Isaiah 52:5 (+id.),Isaiah 60:11 ("" ,Isaiah 62:6 (+ ),Isaiah 65:3; Obadiah 16;Habakkuk 1:17;Deuteronomy 11:12;1 Kings 10:8 2Chronicles 9:7;1 Chronicles 16:11,37; especially (sometimes hyperbole) in Psalms :Psalm 16:8;Psalm 25:15;Psalm 34:2 ("" ),Psalm 35:27; comparePsalm 40:17;Psalm 70:5;Psalm 38:18;Psalm 40:12;Psalm 50:8;Psalm 51:5;Psalm 69:24;Psalm 71:6;Psalm 71:14;Psalm 72:15;Psalm 73:23;Psalm 74:23;Psalm 105:4;Psalm 109:15;Psalm 109:19;Psalm 119:44 (+ ),Psalm 40:109; v<BIBLE/VERSE_ONLY:Psalm 119:117 (so alsoPsalm 16:5, for , Bi Che; Ol Bae);Proverbs 5:19 ("" ),Proverbs 6:21;Proverbs 15:15;Proverbs 28:14; alsoEzekiel 38:8 (strike out Co ToyHpt. Berthol),Leviticus 6:6 (P; of fire, "" ), and Lev 46:14 (but Co Berthol); also in ritual,Leviticus 24:8 (H), compareExodus 25:30 (P; shew-bread),Leviticus 24:2,3,4 (H), compareExodus 27:20 (P; of lamp),Exodus 28:29,30,38.
2 Samuel 9:7,10,13;2 Kings 25:29 =Jeremiah 52:33; journeys2 Kings 4:19; compareNumbers 9:16;Psalm 71:3; of ritual: sacrifice,Exodus 29:38; compare1 Chronicles 16:40;1 Chronicles 23:31; 2Chronicles 24:14.
,Ezekiel 39:14men of continuity, i.e. men continually employed for the purpose;Numbers 4:7the bread of continuity, i.e. the bread that is always there, so 2Chron 2:3, and perhaps1 Chronicles 16:6.
2 Kings 25:30, i.e. a regular allowance, =Jeremiah 52:34; especially of ritual:Exodus 30:8 (P); most oftenEzekiel 46:15 (every morning),Exodus 29:42 (morning and evening, so)Numbers 28:6;Ezra 3:5, so read alsoNumbers 28:3 (Di) for ();Numbers 28:10,15,23,24,31;Numbers 29:6,11,16,19,22,25,28,31,34,38; NehNehemiah 10:35; rarelyNumbers 4:16 (P),Nehemiah 10:34; as appositive,Leviticus 6:13meal-offering as a regular observance (compare Ges§ 131, 2 (b) DaSynt.§ 29 (b); on text see Di, NowArchaeology ii. 124 f.), (andNumbers 28:3 , but see above)
(late) alone =daily (morning and evening)burnt-offering (NowArchaeology ii. 222 f.)Daniel 8:11,12,13;Daniel 11:31;Daniel 12:11 (so Talmud, even in plural ).
Topical Lexicon
OverviewThe Hebrew adjective and adverb תָּמִיד (tamid) describes that which is continuous, perpetual, or regular. Appearing about 104 times, it portrays an unbroken pattern that characterizes Israel’s worship, God’s covenant watchfulness, and the believer’s devotion. The word binds together daily ritual, annual festivals, ethical constancy, and eschatological hope.
Continual Offerings and the Rhythm of Daily Worship
From the moment the Tabernacle was erected, tamid regulated its heartbeat. “This will be a regular burnt offering for the generations to come at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD” (Exodus 29:42).Numbers 28:3–4 expands the instruction: “Present two unblemished year-old male lambs as a regular burnt offering each day, one in the morning and the other at twilight.” This “continual” offering provided a steady aroma of atonement, framing every day with sacrifice and pointing to the need for uninterrupted fellowship with God.
Perpetual Flame, Lampstand, and Incense
The altar fire itself embodied tamid: “The fire must be kept burning on the altar continually; it must not be extinguished” (Leviticus 6:13). The lampstand in the Holy Place mirrored that permanence—“Command the Israelites to bring you pure oil … so that the lamps may be kept burning continually” (Leviticus 24:2–4). Morning and evening incense, though not always translated with tamid, functioned in the same cycle (Exodus 30:7–8), enveloping the sanctuary in ceaseless prayerful fragrance (cf.Revelation 8:3–4).
Showbread of the Presence
Twelve loaves, replaced every Sabbath, were “to be set out before the LORD continually” (Leviticus 24:8). Their constancy testified to the unbroken covenant fellowship between the LORD and the twelve tribes whom He nourishes.
High-Priestly Ministry: A Continual Memorial
Aaron’s breastpiece “shall be over his heart … as a continual memorial before the LORD” (Exodus 28:29). Likewise the gold plate inscribed “Holy to the LORD” rests on the high priest’s forehead “continually” (Exodus 28:38). Through tamid the priest embodies perpetual representation, prefiguring the eternal intercession of the Messiah (Hebrews 7:25).
Tamid and Israel’s Sacred Calendar
Although the great festivals occur “year by year,” they rest on the foundation of daily tamid offerings (Numbers 28–29). Every Sabbath, New Moon, and feast day adds sacrifices “besides the regular burnt offering,” showing that special observances never replace but rather augment continual devotion.
Covenant Watchfulness
Tamid is not limited to human activity; it describes divine vigilance. Canaan is “a land that the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually upon it” (Deuteronomy 11:12). Solomon’s Temple prayer pleads for the same steady gaze (1 Kings 8:29;2 Chronicles 6:20). God’s unwavering attention secures the covenant even when Israel falters.
Ethical and Devotional Usage
In Psalms and Proverbs tamid becomes the language of individual piety:
• “I have set the LORD always before me” (Psalm 16:8).
• “His praise will always be on my lips” (Psalm 34:1).
• “I will ever praise You” (Psalm 71:6).
• “The cheerful of heart has a continual feast” (Proverbs 15:15).
The worshiper imitates the sanctuary’s steadiness through ceaseless gratitude, trust, and wisdom.
Interruption and Judgment
Prophets lament when tamid is broken.Lamentations 3:17 mourns the loss of “peace” continually;Joel 1:9 grieves that “the grain offering and drink offering have been cut off.” Most striking are Daniel’s visions: “It removed the daily sacrifice” (Daniel 8:11; 11:31; 12:11). The suspension of tamid signals defilement of the sanctuary and persecution of God’s people, prefiguring events under Antiochus Epiphanes and foreshadowing final eschatological conflict.
Promise of Restoration
Ezekiel’s renewed-temple vision restores the rhythm: “Thus the lamb and the grain offering and the oil shall be provided morning by morning as a regular burnt offering” (Ezekiel 46:15). Ultimately, “The LORD is there” (Ezekiel 48:35) promises perpetual presence.
Messianic Fulfillment and New Covenant Application
The unbroken pattern of tamid converges on Jesus Christ:
• His sacrificial death is “once for all” yet eternally effective (Hebrews 10:12–14).
• He “always lives to intercede” (Hebrews 7:25).
• His Spirit enables believers to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Thus the earthly shadows of continual offerings give way to the heavenly reality of an unending priesthood.
Pastoral and Liturgical Implications
1. Daily disciplines—Scripture reading, prayer, praise—should mirror the morning-evening pattern, anchoring life in God’s presence.
2. Corporate worship thrives when ordinary services are valued as highly as special events.
3. Missions and mercy grow from constant sacrifice of time, talent, and treasure (Romans 12:1).
4. Suffering believers draw hope from the assurance that divine eyes are “continually” upon them.
Tamid invites the faithful to live in an unbroken orientation toward God, anticipating the day when worship will indeed be “day and night” without end (Revelation 4:8).
Forms and Transliterations
הַ֠תָּמִיד הַתָּמִ֑יד הַתָּמִ֔יד הַתָּמִ֖יד הַתָּמִ֛יד הַתָּמִ֣יד הַתָּמִיד֙ התמיד וְתָמִ֛יד וְתָמִ֥יד ותמיד תָ֭מִיד תָּ֝מִ֗יד תָּ֭מִיד תָּמִ֑יד תָּמִ֔יד תָּמִ֖יד תָּמִ֗יד תָּמִ֛יד תָּמִ֜יד תָּמִ֣יד תָּמִ֤יד תָּמִ֥יד תָּמִ֧יד תָּמִ֨יד תָּמִֽיד׃ תָּמִיד֒ תָּמִיד֙ תָמִ֑יד תָמִ֔יד תָמִ֗יד תָמִ֣יד תָמִ֤יד תָמִֽיד׃ תמיד תמיד׃ hat·tā·mîḏ hattaMid hattāmîḏ tā·mîḏ ṯā·mîḏ taMid tāmîḏ ṯāmîḏ vetaMid wə·ṯā·mîḏ wəṯāmîḏ
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