H8388b H8388b
draw outline, trace (used of shaping idols with marking tool)
This verb appears only twice in Scripture, both times in Isaiah 44:13 describing the craftsman who traces the outline of an idol with his marking tool. The Piel stem suggests deliberate, careful action—not just sketching, but precisely delineating the form that will become a carved image. The passage portrays the futility of idolatry: a man uses the same wood for his fire and his god, tracing out the latter with meticulous care.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The evidence shows this verb exclusively in the context of idol-making, where a craftsman marks out or traces the outline of a figure before carving it. Isaiah uses this detail to emphasize the absurdity: the idolater carefully plans and traces what his own hands will make, then worships it. The verb captures the preliminary artistic step of defining boundaries and shapes. 2×
AR["يَرْسُمُهُ"]·ben["আকার-দেয়-তাকে"]·DE["[יתארהו]"]·EN["he-outlines-it", "he-traces-it"]·FR["[יתארהו]"]·heb["יתארהו"]·HI["आकार-देता-है-उसे"]·ID["ia-menggarisnya"]·IT["[יתארהו]"]·jav["nggambar", "piyambakipun-nggambar"]·KO["그린다-그것을", "그릸다-그것을"]·PT["marca-o", "traça-o"]·RU["очерчивает-его"]·ES["lo-traza"]·SW["anaichora"]·TR["cizer-onu"]·urd["اُسے-نشان-لگاتا-ہے"]
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H???? 1. (4670×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)H0899b 1. garment, article of clothing (216×)H6213a 2. make, construct, fabricate (148×)H3772 1. cut a covenant / make a pact (97×)H5060 1. touch physically (Qal) (96×)H3615 1. complete a task (Piel) (85×)H3772 2. cut off / destroy (Hifil causative) (81×)H3920 1. capture, seize (Qal) (76×)H???? 12. (76×)H3772 3. be cut off / be eliminated (Niphal) (74×)H6213a 3. be done, be made (Niphal) (73×)G4160 2. make, construct, create (62×)H3847 1. Qal: put on, wear (60×)H8210 1. pour out (liquid/libation) (59×)G2440 1. garment or clothing (general) (54×)H4191 4. kill / put to death (Hifil causative) (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [תָּאַר] vb. Pi. denom. draw in outline, trace out;—Impf. 3 ms. sf. יְתָֽאֲרֵ֫הוּ Is 44:13(×2) (both c. ב instr.), of shaping idols; for MT 2 mpl. תְּתָאוּ Nu 34:7, 8 CheEncy. Bib. 2109 proposes תְּתָאֲרוּ ye shall trace out (the boundary; with וְתֵאַרְתֶּם for וְהִתְאַוִּיתֶם v 10); v. also תָּאָה" dir="rtl" >תאה, תוה" dir="rtl" >תוה.