H2887 H2887
Tebeth, the tenth month of the Hebrew calendar, corresponding to December-January
Tebeth is the tenth month in the post-exilic Hebrew calendar, corresponding roughly to December-January (Esth 2:16). The name is a Babylonian loanword adopted during the exile. Akkadian Ṭebêtum likely derives from a root meaning 'to sink,' possibly referring to muddy conditions or the sun's low position. Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus in this month. The adoption of Babylonian month names reflects the cultural impact of exile.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Esther 2:16 dates a pivotal event: 'Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.' The month name is a Babylonian loan, replacing the earlier numbering system. Cross-language glosses transliterate: Spanish 'Tebet,' French and German preserve the Hebrew, English 'Tevet'—all identifying the winter month when Esther became queen. 1×
AR["طِيبِيتَ"]·ben["টেবেথ"]·DE["[טבת]"]·EN["Tevet"]·FR["[טבת]"]·heb["טבת"]·HI["तेबेत-का"]·ID["Tebet"]·IT["[טבת]"]·jav["Tébèt"]·KO["데벳"]·PT["Tevet"]·RU["Тевет"]·ES["Tebet"]·SW["Tebethi"]·TR["Tevet'in"]·urd["طیبیت"]
Related Senses
H3117 1. day, specific time (2231×)H5704 1. until, unto, as far as (1238×)H8141 1. year, unit of time (880×)H6258 1. and now (421×)G2250 1. day (388×)H5750 1. again, more, further (288×)H5769 1. forever, to eternity (280×)H6256 1. time, period (264×)H2320 1. month, calendar period (260×)H0310a 2. after (temporal) (258×)H3915 1. night, period of darkness (234×)H1242 1. morning (214×)H5750 2. still, yet (continuative) (166×)G5119 1. then (160×)G3568 1. now (147×)G2193 1. until (143×)G3825 1. (141×)G3752 1. (123×)H6153 1. evening, time of day (123×)H0227a 1. then (122×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† טֵבֵ֑ת n.pr. 10th month = Dec.–Jan., Est 2:16 (Nab. טבת Eut No. 3 Palm. id., Vog No. 66; loan-word from Assyrian Ṭêbêtum, SchrCOT on Ne 1:1, HptE Vowel 10, JenZA iv (1889) 272 f., √ perhaps ṭebû = טבע v. especially Hptl.c., Muss-ArnoltJBL xi, 1892, 170, month of sinking in = muddy month).