H8389 H8389
Outward form, figure, appearance — the visible shape or physical bearing of a person
The noun תֹּאַר (toar) denotes outward form, figure, or physical appearance — the visible shape a person presents to the eye. It almost always describes human beauty or its absence, typically paired with מַרְאֶה (appearance/look) in the phrase יְפַת/יְפֵה תֹּאַר ('beautiful of form'). Rachel (Gen 29:17), Joseph (Gen 39:6), Abigail (1 Sam 25:3), and Esther (Est 2:7) all receive this description. By striking contrast, the Suffering Servant has 'no form' that we should desire him (Isa 52:14; 53:2). Spanish 'figura' and French cognates capture the sense of visible contour.
Senses
1. outward form or appearance — The visible outline, shape, or physical bearing of a person, nearly always in evaluations of beauty or its absence. Paired with מַרְאֶה in the stock phrase 'beautiful of form and appearance' applied to Rachel (Gen 29:17), Joseph (Gen 39:6), and the captive woman of Deuteronomy 21:11. The theological inversion appears in Isaiah 52:14 and 53:2, where the Servant's marred form defies expectation. Pharaoh's dream cows are also described by their toar (Gen 41:18-19). Spanish 'figura,' English 'form,' and German 'Gestalt' all convey the word's focus on visible shape. 15×
AR["الشَّكْلِ", "الصُّورَةِ", "المَنظَرِ", "المَنْظَرِ", "الْ-قَوَامِ", "الْ-هَيْئَةِ", "الْقَوَامِ", "الْمَنْظَرِ", "شَكلُهُ", "شَكْلٌ", "شَكْلُهُمْ", "صُورَةٍ", "كَـ-هَيْئَة", "وَ-هَيْئَتُهُ"]·ben["-এবং-তার-আকৃতি", "আকার", "আকারে", "আকৃতি", "আকৃতিতে", "আকৃতিতে-মত", "আকৃতির", "চেহারায়", "চেহারার", "তাদের-চেহারা", "তার-আকার", "রূপের"]·DE["Gestalt", "[ותארו]", "[תאר]", "[תארם]", "form", "sein-form", "von-Gestalt", "wie-appearance-von"]·EN["and-his-form", "form", "his-form", "like-appearance-of", "of-form", "their-appearance"]·FR["[ותארו]", "[תאר]", "[תארם]", "comme-appearance-de", "form", "forme", "former", "son-form"]·heb["ו-תוארו", "כ-תואר", "תאר", "תואר", "תואר-ו", "תוארם"]·HI["आकार-में", "आकार-वाला", "उनका-रूप", "उस्क-रोओप", "मनुष्य-से", "रुपवअन", "रूप", "रूप-की", "रूप-में", "रूपमें"]·ID["bentuk", "bentuknya", "berperawakan-baik", "dan-bentuk-Nya", "penampilan-mereka", "rupa", "rupanya", "seperti-rupa"]·IT["[ותארו]", "[תאר]", "[תארם]", "come-appearance-di", "form", "forma", "formare", "suo-forma"]·jav["bagus", "kados-wanguning", "lan-wujudipun", "pasuryan-ipun", "pawakan", "praupan", "rupa", "wangun", "warninipun", "wujud", "wujud-nipun", "wujudipun"]·KO["같이-모양", "그들-모습-이", "그리고-그의-형상이", "그의-모양이냐", "모습의", "모양의", "용모와", "형상이"]·PT["aparência", "aparência,", "como-aparência-de", "e-sua-forma", "forma", "forma-dele", "sua-aparência"]·RU["вид-его", "вид-их", "вида", "видом", "и-облик-Его", "красивый", "по-облику", "станом", "статью", "формой"]·ES["como-forma-de", "es-su-apariencia", "figura", "forma", "forma-su", "y-su-forma"]·SW["kama-umbo-la", "kuonekana", "mazuri", "na-akamzaa", "na-umbo-lake", "sura", "sura-yake", "sura-yao", "umbo", "wa-sura", "wa-sura-nzuri", "wa-umbo"]·TR["bicim", "biçimli", "de-görünüşü", "görünümlü", "görünüş", "görünüşleri-onların", "görünüşlü", "görünüşü", "ve-bicimi", "yakışıklı", "şekilli"]·urd["اور-اُس-کی-شکل", "اُن-کی-شکل", "بدن", "شکل", "شکل-اُس-کی", "شکل-میں", "شکل-والا", "صورت", "ڈھانچے-میں"]
Gen 29:17, Gen 39:6, Gen 41:18, Gen 41:19, Deut 21:11, Judg 8:18, 1 Sam 16:18, 1 Sam 25:3, 1 Sam 28:14, 1 Kgs 1:6, Esth 2:7, Isa 52:14 (+3 more)
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
† תֹּ֫אַר n.m. La 4:8 outline, form (Ph. תאר; according to SchwallyIdiot. 100 proposes something gazed at, from √ תאר = ChrPal Aramaic ܬܐܪ gaze at);—ת׳ abs. Gn 29:17 +; cstr. Ju 8:18; sf. תֹּֽאֲרוֹ (Ges§ 93q) Is 52:14, תָּאֳרוֹ 1 S 28:14;—form, of woman, יְפַת תּ׳ Gn 29:17 (E; + מַרְאֶה, ‖ later צֶלֶם וּרְמוּת 1:26, LagOr. ii. 62; BN 149), Est 2:7 (+ id.), 1 S 25:3; Dt 21:11; of man, יְפֵה־ת׳ Gn…