תָּוָה H8427
mark, scribble (make marks on a surface)
This denominative verb means to make marks or set a mark, derived from the noun 'tav' (mark). 1 Samuel 21:14 describes David feigning madness before Achish: he 'scribbled on the doors of the gate' and let saliva run down his beard (though textual variants and alternative readings exist—some suggest 'drummed'). Ezekiel 9:4 uses the Hiphil with cognate accusative: 'set a mark upon' the foreheads of the faithful—actively inscribe the protective sign. The contexts involve either erratic marking (David's fake madness) or purposeful signing (divine protection). The root connects to the letter tav and the concept of making visible signs.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Make marks or inscribe a sign. 1 Samuel 21:14 (with Ketiv-Qere variant) describes David 'scribbling' on the gate doors as part of his insanity act (though textual difficulties exist—some read 'drummed' instead). Ezekiel 9:4 commands the scribe-angel 'mark a mark' (cognate accusative) on the foreheads of the righteous—actively inscribe the protective tav. The multilingual glosses ('garabateaba,' 'scribbled,' 'marcarás') confirm this involves making visible marks, whether purposeful (divine sealing) or chaotic (feigned madness). 3×
AR["(وَ-خَرَبَشَ)", "[وَ-خَرَبَشَ]", "وَ-اِرْسُمْ"]·ben["[এবং-লিখল]", "আর-চিহ্ন-দাও", "এবং-আঁকল"]·DE["[and-er-scribbled]", "[והתוית]"]·EN["[and-he-scribbled]", "and-he-scribbled", "and-you-shall-mark"]·FR["[and-il-scribbled]", "et-il-scribbled", "et-marquer"]·heb["(ויתו)", "[ויתיו]", "ו-התווית"]·HI["(और-लिख)", "[और-लिख]", "और-लगा"]·ID["(dan-dia-mencoret)", "dan-buatlah-tanda", "dan-dia-mencoret"]·IT["[and-egli-scribbled]", "[והתוית]", "e-egli-scribbled"]·jav["lan-panjenengan-tandhanana", "lan-piyambakipun-nggambar", "nggores"]·KO["그리고-긁었다", "그리고-표하라"]·PT["[e-escreveu]", "e-escreveu", "e-marcarás"]·RU["(и-чертил)", "[и-чертил]", "и-поставь"]·ES["(Qeré)", "y-garabateaba", "y-marcarás"]·SW["na-akaandika", "na-uweke-alama"]·TR["(ve-çizdi)", "[ve-çizdi]", "işaret"]·urd["(اور-نشان-بنائے)", "[اور-لکیریں-کھینچیں]", "اور-نشان-لگا"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
[תָּוָה] vb.denom. make or set a mark;— Pi. Impf. 3 ms. ויתו Kt, וַיְתָיו Qr 1 S 21:14 (Ges§ 75bb) and he made marks on (עַל) the doors, but l.c. and most וַיָּ֫תָף he drummed (v. תפף). Hiph. וְהִתְוִ֫יתָ תָו עַל־ Ez 9:4 set a mark (acc. cogn.) upon.