Bible Encyclopedia: Tamar

Jump to: Hitchcock's • Smith's • ATS • ISBE • Easton's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

TAMAR (1)

ta'-mar (tamar, "palm"; Codex Vaticanus Themar; Codex Alexandrinus Thamar (so Codex Vaticanus in Genesis)):

(1) The wife of Er, the oldest son of Judah (Genesis 38:6). Upon her husband's death under the displeasure of Yahweh, his brother Onan ought to have performed the husband's part, but he evaded his duty in this respect, and likewise perished. Shelah, the next brother, was promised to her, but not given. This led Tamar to the extraordinary course narrated in Genesis 38:13;, on which see JUDAH. By her father-in-law she became the mother of Perez and Zerah (the King James Version "Pharez and Zarah"). Judah, who at first condemned her to be burned (Genesis 38:24), was compelled to vindicate her (Genesis 38:25, 26). Through Perez she became an ancestress of Jesus (Thamar, Matthew 1:3).

(2) A daughter of David and sister of Absalom (2 Samuel 13:1). Her beauty inflamed her half-brother Amnon with passion, and by stratagem he forcibly violated her. This brought upon Amnon the terrible revenge of Absalom.

See ABSALOM; AMNON.

(3) A daughter of Absalom (2 Samuel 14:27).

See MAACAH.

James Orr

TAMAR (2)

(tamar, "palm tree"; Thaiman):

(1) This name occurs in Ezekiel's ideal delimitation of the territory to be occupied by Israel (Ezekiel 47:19; Ezekiel 48:28). The Dead Sea is the eastern border; and the southern boundary runs from Tamar as far as the waters of Meriboth-kadesh to the Brook of Egypt and the Great Sea. The place therefore lay somewhere to the Southwest of the Dead Sea. "Hazazon-tamar (the same is En-gedi)" (2 Chronicles 20:2) is of course out of the question, being much too far to the North. Eusebius (in Onomasticon) mentions Asasonthamar, with which Thamara was identified. This place was a village with fortress and Roman garrison, a day's journey from Mampsis on the way from Hebron to Elath. It is the Thamaro mentioned by Ptolemy (v.16, 8), as a military station on the road from Hebron to Petra. It is named also in the Peutinger Tables. Neither Mampsis nor Thamaro has been identified.

(2) Among the towns "built" or fortified by Solomon, named in 1 Kings 9:18, is Tamar (the Revised Version (British and American) following Kethibh), or Tadmor (the King James Version following Qere; compare 2 Chronicles 8:4). Gezer, Beth-horon and Baalath, named along with it, are all in Southern Palestine, while Tamar is described as in the wilderness in the land, pointing to the Negeb or to the Wilderness of Judah. It was probably intended to protect the road for trade from Ezion-geber to Jerusalem. We may with some confidence identify it with (1) above. It is interesting to note that the Chronicler (2 Chronicles 8:4) takes it out of connection with the other cities (2 Chronicles 8:5), and brings its building into relation with Solomon's conquest of Hamath-zobah. Clearly in his mind it denoted the great and beautiful city of Palmyra, which has so long been known as "Tadmor in the Wilderness."

W. Ewing

Greek

2283. Thamar -- Tamar, an Israelite woman
... Tamar, an Israelite woman. Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration:
Thamar Phonetic Spelling: (tham'-ar) Short Definition: Tamar Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2283.htm - 6k

2196. Zara -- Zerah, an Israelite
... Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Zara Phonetic Spelling:
(dzar-ah') Short Definition: Zerah Definition: Zerah, son of Judah and Tamar ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2196.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

2688. Chatsatson Tamar -- a place on the W. side of the Dead Sea
Chatsatson Tamar or Chatsatson Tamar. 2687, 2688. Chatsatson Tamar or
Chatsatson Tamar. 2689 . a place on the W. side of the ...
/hebrew/2688.htm - 6k

8559. Tamar -- daughter-in-law of Judah, also two Israelite women ...
... 8558, 8559. Tamar. 8560 . daughter-in-law ... Dead Sea. Transliteration: Tamar
Phonetic Spelling: (taw-mawr') Short Definition: Tamar. Word ...
/hebrew/8559.htm - 6k

1193. Baal Tamar -- "possessor of palms," a place near Gibeah
Baal Tamar. 1192, 1193. Baal Tamar. 1194 . "possessor of palms," a place
near Gibeah. Transliteration: Baal Tamar Phonetic Spelling ...
/hebrew/1193.htm - 6k

8558. tamar -- palm tree, date palm
... 8557, 8558. tamar. 8559 . palm tree, date palm. Transliteration: tamar Phonetic
Spelling: (taw-mawr') Short Definition: trees. ... 8557, 8558. tamar. 8559 ...
/hebrew/8558.htm - 6k

6557. Perets -- son of Judah and Tamar
... 6556, 6557. Perets. 6558 . son of Judah and Tamar. Transliteration: Perets
Phonetic Spelling: (peh'-rets) Short Definition: Perez. ...
/hebrew/6557.htm - 6k

8412. Tadmor -- a city built by Solomon
... continually. Or Tammor (1 Kings 9:18) {tam-more'}; apparently from tamar; palm-city;
Tadmor, a place near Palestine -- Tadmor. see HEBREW tamar. 8411, 8412. ...
/hebrew/8412.htm - 6k

385. Ithamar -- "land of palms," a son of Aaron
... Word Origin from i and tamar Definition "land of palms," a son of Aaron NASB Word
Usage Ithamar (21). Ithamar. ... see HEBREW 'iy. see HEBREW tamar. 384, 385. ...
/hebrew/385.htm - 6k

5899. ir hattemarim -- Ir-hat-Temarim, a place in Palestine -- the ...
... Word Origin see ir and tamar. Ir-hat-Temarim, a place in Palestine -- the city
of palm trees ... see HEBREW iyr. see HEBREW tamar. 5898, 5899. ...
/hebrew/5899.htm - 6k

8561. timorah -- palm (tree) figure
... (plural o or (feminine) timmorah (singular and plural) {tim-mo-raw'}; from the same
root as tamar; (arch.) A palm-like pilaster (ie Umbellate) -- palm tree. ...
/hebrew/8561.htm - 6k

8564. tamrur -- perhaps signpost
... high heap. From the same root as tamar; an erection, ie Pillar (probably for a
guide-board) -- high heap. see HEBREW tamar. 8563, 8564. tamrur. 8565 . ...
/hebrew/8564.htm - 6k

Library

Both Covenants were Prefigured in Abraham, and in the Labour of ...
... Against Heresies: Book IV Chapter XXV."Both covenants were prefigured in Abraham,
and in the labour of Tamar; there was, however, but one and the same God to ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxv both covenants were prefigured.htm

The Coast of the Asphaltites, the Essenes. En-Gedi.
... of the land, Ezekiel 47:19 (the very same which are mentioned Numbers 34 and Joshua
15:2), are thus declared; "The southern coast southward from Tamar to the ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 6 the coast of.htm

The Son of the Maker is Like unto his Father as Maker!
... Tamar desired him that was widowed, and Ruth loved a man that was old, yea,
that Rahab, that led men captive, was captivated by Thee. ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn vii the son of.htm

In Urging Repentance St. ...
... known to me I may suffer with him, and not chide him proudly, but mourn and weep,
so that weeping over another I may mourn for myself, saying, "Tamar hath been ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter viii in urging repentance.htm

Chapter xxxviii
... mean "town of lies" or "Lieham" (KC, Lugheim), the insertion of its name as suggestive
of Judah's deception in the matter of giving Shelah to Tamar is possible ...
/.../leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxviii.htm

Because, Therefore, Lying Heretics Find not in the Books of the ...
... But why do these persons think they may imitate Tamar telling a lie, and
not think they may imitate Judah committing fornication? ...
/.../augustine/against lying/section 29 because therefore lying.htm

The virgin Mother to Her Child
... with His glory. Tamar, who was of the house of David, Amnon put to shame;
and virginity fell and perished from them both. My pearl ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn xi the virgin mother.htm

How David Laid Siege to Jerusalem; and when He had Taken the City ...
... whom he had were in number eleven, whose names were Amnon, Emnos, Eban, Nathan,
Solomon, Jeban, Elien, Phalna, Ennaphen, Jenae, Eliphale; and a daughter, Tamar ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 3 how david laid.htm

The Reign of David.
... (2) Ammon, his oldest son, one of the pitiable products of his oriental harem,
shamefully treated his sister, Tamar, in the gratification of his brutal lusts. ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xi the reign of.htm

The Testament of Judah Concerning Fortitude, and Love of Money ...
... 10. After these things, my son Er took to wife Tamar, from Mesopotamia,
a daughter of Aram. [105] Now Er was wicked, and he doubted ...
/.../iv the testament of judah concerning.htm

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Tamar

palm; palm-tree

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Tamar

(palm tree).

The wife successively of the two sons of Judah, Er and Onan. (Genesis 38:8-30) (B.C. about 1718.) Her importance in the sacred narrative depends on the great anxiety to keep up the lineage of Judah. It seemed as if the family were on the point of extinction. Er and Onan had successively perished suddenly. Judah's wife, Bathshuah, died; and there only remained a child, Shelah, whom Judah was unwilling to trust to the dangerous union as it appeared, with Tamar, lest he should meet with the same fate as his brothers. Accordingly she resorted to the desperate expedient of entrapping the father himself into the union which he feared for his son. The fruits of this intercourse were twins, Pharez and Zarah, and through Pharez the sacred line was continued.
Daughter of David and Maachah the Geshurite princess, and thus sister of Absalom. (2 Samuel 13:1-32; 1 Chronicles 3:9) (B.C. 1033.) She and her brother were alike remarkable for their extraordinary beauty. This fatal beauty inspired a frantic passion in her half-brother Amnon, the oldest son of David by Ahinoam. In her touching remonstrance two points are remarkable: first, the expression of the infamy of such a crime "in Israel" implying the loftier standard of morals that prevailed, as compared with other countries at that time; and second, the belief that even this standard might be overborne lawfully by royal authority --"Speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from thee." The intense hatred of Amnon succeeding to his brutal passion, and the indignation of Tamar at his barbarous insult, even surpassing her indignation at his shameful outrage, are pathetically and graphically told.
Daughter of Absalom, (2 Samuel 14:7) became, by her marriage with Uriah of Gibeah, the mother of Maachah, the future queen of Judah or wife of Abijah. (1 Kings 15:2) (B.C. 1023.)
A spot on the southeastern frontier of Judah, named in (Ezekiel 47:19; 48:28) only, evidently called from a palm tree. If not Hazazon-tamar, the old name of Engedi, it may he a place called Thamar in the Onamasticon [HAZAZON-TAMAR), a day's journey south of Hebron.

ATS Bible Dictionary

Tamar

A palm-tree,

1. A Canaanitish woman, mother of Pharez and Zarah, Genesis 38:1-30.

2. A daughter of David. See TALMAI.

3. A daughter of Absalom, 2 Samuel 14:27.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Palm.

(1.) A place mentioned by Ezekiel (47:19; 48:28), on the southeastern border of Palestine. Some suppose this was "Tadmor" (q.v.).

(2.) The daughter-in-law of Judah, to whose eldest son, Er, she was married (Genesis 38:6). After her husband's death, she was married to Onan, his brother (8), and on his death, Judah promised to her that his third son, Shelah, would become her husband. This promise was not fulfilled, and hence Tamar's revenge and Judah's great guilt (38:12-30).

(3.) A daughter of David (2 Samuel 13:1-32; 1 Chronicles 3:9), whom Amnon shamefully outraged and afterwards "hated exceedingly," thereby illustrating the law of human nature noticed even by the heathen, "Proprium humani ingenii est odisse quem laeseris", i.e., "It is the property of human nature to hate one whom you have injured."

(4.) A daughter of Absalom (2 Samuel 14:27).

Thesaurus

Tamar (28 Occurrences)
... This promise was not fulfilled, and hence Tamar's revenge and Judah's great
guilt (38:12-30). ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. TAMAR (1). ...
/t/tamar.htm - 21k

Baal-tamar (1 Occurrence)
Baal-tamar. Baaltamar, Baal-tamar. Ba'al-ta'mar . Easton's Bible Dictionary
Lord ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BAAL-TAMAR. ba ...
/b/baal-tamar.htm - 7k

Hazezon-tamar (2 Occurrences)
Hazezon-tamar. Hazezontamar, Hazezon-tamar. Haziel . Easton's Bible Dictionary
Pruning ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. HAZEZON-TAMAR. haz ...
/h/hazezon-tamar.htm - 7k

Hazazon-tamar (2 Occurrences)
Hazazon-tamar. Hazazontamar, Hazazon-tamar. Haz'azon-ta'mar . Int.
Standard Bible Encyclopedia HAZAZON-TAMAR. haz'-a-zan ...
/h/hazazon-tamar.htm - 8k

Amnon (23 Occurrences)
... of David, by Ahinoam of Jezreel (1 Chronicles 3:1; 2 Samuel 3:2). Absalom caused
him to be put to death for his great crime in the matter of Tamar (2 Samuel 13 ...
/a/amnon.htm - 15k

Ab'salom (85 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 13:1 It happened after this, that Absalom the son of David had a beautiful
sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. ...
/a/ab'salom.htm - 29k

Hazezontamar (1 Occurrence)
... Pruning of the palm, the original name of the place afterwards called ENGEDI (qv),
Genesis 14:7; called also HAZAZON-TAMAR (2 Chronicles 20:2). ... HAZEZON-TAMAR. ...
/h/hazezontamar.htm - 7k

Hazazontamar (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia HAZAZON-TAMAR. haz'-a-zan-ta'-mar (chatsatson
tamar; the King James Version Hazezon Tamar): "Hazazon ...
/h/hazazontamar.htm - 7k

Daughter-in-law (16 Occurrences)
... Genesis 38:11 Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, "Remain a widow in
your father's house, until Shelah, my son, is grown up;" for he said, "Lest he ...
/d/daughter-in-law.htm - 12k

Pharez (11 Occurrences)
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. PEREZ; PHAREZ. pe'-rez, fa'-rez (perets, "breach"):
One of the twins born to Judah by Tamar, Zerah's brother (Genesis 38:29, 30). ...
/p/pharez.htm - 11k

Bible Concordance

Tamar (28 Occurrences)

Matthew 1:3 Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron. Hezron became the father of Ram.
(WEB WEY ASV BBE YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 14:7 They returned, and came to En Mishpat (the same is Kadesh), and struck all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that lived in Hazazon Tamar.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Genesis 38:6 Judah took a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 38:11 Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, "Remain a widow in your father's house, until Shelah, my son, is grown up;" for he said, "Lest he also die, like his brothers." Tamar went and lived in her father's house.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 38:13 It was told Tamar, saying, "Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 38:24 It happened about three months later, that it was told Judah, saying, "Tamar, your daughter-in-law, has played the prostitute; and moreover, behold, she is with child by prostitution." Judah said, "Bring her forth, and let her be burnt."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 20:33 All the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and set themselves in array at Baal Tamar: and the ambushers of Israel broke forth out of their place, even out of Maareh Geba.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Ruth 4:12 Let your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, of the seed which Yahweh shall give you of this young woman."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 13:1 It happened after this, that Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 13:2 Amnon was so troubled that he fell sick because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 13:4 He said to him, "Why, son of the king, are you so sad from day to day? Won't you tell me?" Amnon said to him, "I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 13:5 Jonadab said to him, "Lay down on your bed, and pretend to be sick. When your father comes to see you, tell him,'Please let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and dress the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it from her hand.'"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 13:6 So Amnon lay down and faked being sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, "Please let my sister Tamar come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 13:7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, "Go now to your brother Amnon's house, and prepare food for him."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 13:8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. She took dough, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 13:10 Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food into the room, that I may eat from your hand." Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the room to Amnon her brother.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 13:19 Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her garment of various colors that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head, and went her way, crying aloud as she went.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 13:20 Absalom her brother said to her, "Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother. Don't take this thing to heart." So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 13:22 Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 13:32 Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother, answered, "Don't let my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead; for by the appointment of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 14:27 To Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a beautiful face.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 9:18 and Baalath, and Tamar in the wilderness, in the land,
(WEB ASV BBE NAS RSV)

1 Chronicles 2:4 Tamar his daughter-in-law bore him Perez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 3:9 All these were the sons of David, besides the sons of the concubines; and Tamar was their sister.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 20:2 Then there came some who told Jehoshaphat, saying, There comes a great multitude against you from beyond the sea from Syria; and behold, they are in Hazazon Tamar (the same is En Gedi).
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Ezekiel 47:18 And the east side will be from Hazar-enon, which is between Hauran and Damascus; and between Gilead and the land of Israel the Jordan will be the limit, to the east sea, to Tamar. This is the east side.
(BBE RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 47:19 The south side southward shall be from Tamar as far as the waters of Meriboth Kadesh, to the brook of Egypt, to the great sea. This is the south side southward.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 48:28 By the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar to the waters of Meribath Kadesh, to the brook of Egypt, to the great sea.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Tamar

Tamar: A City of Unknown Location

Tamar: Daughter of Absalom

Tamar: Daughter of David

Tamar: Wife of the Sons of Judah

Tamar: Wife of the Sons of Judah: Called Thamar

Related Terms

Baal-tamar (1 Occurrence)

Hazezon-tamar (2 Occurrences)

Hazazon-tamar (2 Occurrences)

Amnon (23 Occurrences)