Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Significance:Teth (טֵ) is the ninth letter of the Hebrew alphabet and holds significant value in biblical literature, particularly in the context of acrostic poems found in the Old Testament. Each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, including Teth, is often associated with a specific meaning or symbolism. In the case of Teth, it is sometimes linked to the concepts of goodness and humility.
Biblical Occurrences:Teth appears prominently in the acrostic structure of
Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible.
Psalm 119 is an intricate composition where each section corresponds to a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and each verse within that section begins with the respective letter. The Teth section includes verses 65-72.
Psalm 119:65-72 :65 You have treated Your servant well, O LORD, according to Your word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now I keep Your word.
68 You are good, and You do what is good; teach me Your statutes.
69 Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep Your precepts with all my heart.
70 Their hearts are hard and callous, but I delight in Your law.
71 It was good for me to be afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.
72 The law from Your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.
Theological Insights:The Teth section of
Psalm 119 emphasizes the goodness of God and the value of His statutes. The psalmist acknowledges the afflictions he has faced and recognizes them as a means to draw closer to God's word. This reflects a common biblical theme where trials and suffering are seen as opportunities for spiritual growth and deeper understanding of divine truths.
The repeated emphasis on God's goodness ("You are good, and You do what is good") aligns with the symbolic meaning of Teth, reinforcing the idea that God's nature and His laws are inherently good. The psalmist's desire for God's teachings and his delight in the law highlight the importance of scripture as a source of wisdom and guidance.
Symbolism and Interpretation:In Jewish tradition, the letter Teth is often associated with the word "tov" (טוֹב), meaning "good." This connection is evident in the Teth section of
Psalm 119, where the goodness of God and His commandments is a central theme. The psalmist's journey from affliction to understanding underscores the transformative power of God's word.
The humility expressed by the psalmist, who acknowledges his past waywardness and the corrective nature of his afflictions, serves as a model for believers. It illustrates the biblical principle that true wisdom and understanding come from a humble and teachable spirit, open to the instruction and correction of the Lord.
Conclusion:While the entry does not include a conclusion, the exploration of Teth in the context of
Psalm 119 provides a rich tapestry of theological insights, emphasizing the goodness of God, the value of His commandments, and the transformative power of His word in the life of a believer.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
TETHteth (T): The 9th letter of the Hebrew alphabet; transliterated in this Encyclopedia as "T" (a more intense "t"). It came also to be used for the number 9; and with waw ("w") for 15, with zayin ("z") for 16 (i.e. 9 plus 6 and 9 plus 7) to avoid forming regular series with the abbreviation for Yahweh. For name, etc., see ALPHABET.
Strong's Hebrew
8296. seret -- incision... cutting And sareteth {saw-reh'-
teth}; from sarat; an incision -- cutting. see
HEBREW sarat. 8295, 8296. seret. 8296a . Strong's Numbers.
7986. shalleteth -- imperious
... shalleteth. 7987 . imperious. Transliteration: shalleteth Phonetic Spelling:
(shal-leh'-teth) Short Definition: imperious. Word Origin the same as shallit, qv...
Library
Teth.
... St. Augustin on the Psalms.Teth. 62. "Thou hast dealt in sweetness with
Thy servant: according unto Thy word;" or rather, "according...
Psalm 119Teth, the 9Th Part.
... Psalm 119Teth, The 9th Part. 8,6,8,6. ^65Well hast thou with thy servant dealt,.
as thou didst promise give. ^66Good judgment me, and knowledge teach,....
Exposition on the Book of Psalms
... Psalm CXVI. Psalm CXVII. Psalm CXVIII. Psalm CXIX. Beth. Gimel. Daleth. He. Vav.
Zain. Cheth.Teth. Jod. Caph. Lamed. Mem. Nun. Samech. Ain. Pe. Tadze. Koph....
Scottish Psalter and Paraphrases
... Psalm 119 Zain, The 7th Part. Psalm 119 Cheth, The 8th Part. Psalm 119Teth, The
9th Part. Psalm 119 Jod, The 10th Part. Psalm 119 Caph, The 11th Part....
A Second Time the Master Zachyas, Doctor of the Law...
... Him. Footnotes: [1674] 1 Corinthians 13:1, xiv. 7. [1675] Tau, and notTeth,
is the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet. [1676] The...
The Theology of St. Hilary of Poitiers.
The Life and Writings of St. Hilary of Poitiers. <....
Thesaurus
Teth (1 Occurrence)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia
TETH.
... For name, etc., see ALPHABET.
Multi-Version Concordance
Teth (1 Occurrence). Psalms 119:65
TETH.
...Nebaioth (5 Occurrences)
... This view is widely accepted, but the name "Nabatean" is spelled with a "T" (teth),
and the interchange of "T" (teth) and "t" (taw), although not unparalleled...
Nabathaeans
... of Nebaioth, which is possible, though Nebaioth is spelled with the Hebrew letter
taw ("t") and Nabateans is spelled with the Hebrew letterteth ("t). They...
Nabataeans
... of Nebaioth, which is possible, though Nebaioth is spelled with the Hebrew letter
taw ("t") and Nabateans is spelled with the Hebrew letterteth ("t). They...
Tethered (1 Occurrence)
Teta
Teta. Tests, Teta.Teth . Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia TETA.
te'-ta. See ATETA. Tests, Teta.Teth . Reference Bible.
Beeltethmus
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia BEELTETHMUS. be-el-teth'-mus (Beeltethmos; Balthemus):
One of the officers of King Artaxerxes in Palestine (1 Esdras 2:16, 25)....
Acrostic (2 Occurrences)
... Text. The initials of 9:1, 3, 5 are respectively 'aleph, beth, gimel; of
9:9, 11, 13, 15, 17 waw, zayin, cheth,Teth and yodh. Psalm...
Alphabet (2 Occurrences)
... house (tent); (3) gimel = camel; (4) daleth = door; (5) he = house; (6) waw = nail
(Evans, tent peg); (7) zayin = weapon; (8) cheth = fence; (9)Teth = cake of...
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