טַבַּ֫עַת H2885
Ring; a metal ring used either as a functional loop for carrying sacred objects or as a signet ring of authority and adornment.
A noun denoting a ring, appearing in two distinct material contexts across the Hebrew Bible. The vast majority of occurrences (40 of 50) describe the gold or bronze rings attached to the ark, the altar of incense, the table of showbread, and the priestly ephod — functional loops through which carrying poles were inserted. Spanish distinguishes these as 'argollas' (loops) versus 'anillo' (finger ring), a revealing lexical split. The remaining ten occurrences describe signet rings worn on the hand as symbols of royal authority: Pharaoh's ring given to Joseph (Gen 41:42), Ahasuerus's seal ring transferred to Haman and then Mordecai (Esth 3:10; 8:2).
Senses
1. ring or loop for attachment — Functional ring or loop for attachment — a metal ring affixed to the tabernacle furnishings (ark, altar, table, ephod) through which poles or cords were threaded for transport or fastening. This is the dominant use (40 occurrences), concentrated in Exodus 25–39. Spanish 'argollas' (hardware loops) versus French 'anneaux' captures the utilitarian character (Exod 25:12–15; 26:24; 28:23–28). 40×
AR["الحَلقاتُ","الحَلقاتِ","حَلقاتٍ","حَلقَتانِ","حَلقَتَينِ","حَلَقاتٍ","حَلَقَاتٍ","حَلَقَاتِ"]·ben["আংটা","আংটি","বলয়","সেই-বলয়গুলি"]·DE["Ringe","Ringe-von","der-Ringe"]·EN["rings","rings-of","the-rings"]·FR["anneaux","anneaux-de","le-anneaux"]·heb["ה-טבעות","טבעות"]·HI["कड़ियाँ","कड़े"]·ID["gelang","gelang-gelang"]·IT["anelli","anelli-di","il-anelli"]·jav["gelang","gelang-","gelang-gelang","gelang-gelang-punika","gelang-gelang-punika,"]·KO["고리들을","그-고리들을","그-고리들이"]·PT["argolas","as-argolas"]·RU["кольца"]·ES["anillos","anillos-de","argollas","argollas-de","los-anillos"]·SW["pete"]·TR["halka","halkalar","halkaları"]·urd["کڑے"]
Exod 25:12, Exod 25:12, Exod 25:12, Exod 25:14, Exod 25:15, Exod 25:26, Exod 25:26, Exod 25:27, Exod 26:24, Exod 26:29, Exod 27:4, Exod 27:7 (+28 more)
2. signet ring — Signet ring — a ring worn on the finger, especially one bearing a seal used for authentication and as a mark of delegated authority. Pharaoh removes his signet ring and places it on Joseph's hand (Gen 41:42), and Ahasuerus's ring seals royal decrees (Esth 3:10–12; 8:2, 8, 10). Also listed among ornamental jewelry (Isa 3:21; Num 31:50; Exod 35:22). Spanish 'anillo' and German 'Ring' signal the personal adornment sense. 10×
AR["الخَوَاتِمِ","بِ-خَاتَمِ","خَاتَمًا","خَاتَمَهُ","وَ-خاتَماً"]·ben["-আংটি-দিয়ে","-আংটির","আংটি","এবং-আংটি","তাঁর-আংটি","তার-আংটি"]·DE["[הטבעות]","[טבעתו]","in-Ring","ring","seinen-Siegelring","und-Siegel-Ring"]·EN["and-signet-ring","his-signet-ring","ring","the-signet-rings","with-signet-ring-of"]·FR["[הטבעות]","et-sceau-anneau","in-anneau","ring","son-anneau","son-sceau-anneau"]·heb["ב-טבעת","ה-טבעות","ו-טבעת","טבעת","טבעת-ו","טבעתו-ו"]·HI["अंगूठियां","अंगूठी","अपनी-अंगूठी","अपनी-मुद्रिका-अंगूठी","अपनी-मुद्रिका-की-अंगूठी","और-अंगूठी","मुद्रिका-अंगूठी-से","मुद्रिका-की-अंगूठी-से"]·ID["Cincin-cincin","cincin","cincinnya","dan-cincin","dengan-cincin"]·IT["[הטבעות]","e-sigillo-anello","il-suo-anello","in-anello","ring","suo-sigillo-anello"]·jav["Sesupè","ali-ali-ipun","ali-alinipun","lan-sesupé","mawi-ali-ali","sesupé"]·KO["그리고-반지와","그의-반지를","반지들과","반지와","에-반지로"]·PT["anel-dele","anel-seu","anéis","com-anel-de","e-anel","os-anéis"]·RU["и-кольцо","перстень-свой","перстнем","перстни"]·ES["Los-anillos","anillo","anillo-suyo","con-anillo-de","su-anillo","y-anillos"]·SW["kwa-pete","kwa-pete-ya","na-pete","pete","pete-yake"]·TR["ve-yüzük","yuzukleri","yüzük","yüzüğünü","yüzüğüyle-"]·urd["انگوٹھی","انگوٹھی-اپنی","انگوٹھیوں","اور-انگوٹھی","اپنی-انگوٹھی","سے-انگوٹھی"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
טַבַּ֫עַת n.f. signet, signet-ring, ring (on format. v. LagBN 88; Assyrian ṭimbu’u, seal-ring, Muss-Arnoltl.c.)—abs. טַבַּעַת Ex 26:24 + 3 times; cstr. id. Est 3:12 + 3 times; טַבַּעְתּוֹ Gn 41:42 + 2 times; pl. abs. טַבָּעוֹת Is 3:21 Ex 28:23; טַבָּעֹת Ex 25:12(×2) + 14 times; cstr. טַבְּעוֹת Ex 28:23 + 2 times; טַבְּעֹת Ex 25:12 + 12 times; sf. טַבְּעֹתָ֯ו Ex 28:28; 39:21; טַבְּעֹתֵיהֶם Ex…