Lexical Definition

‎טַבָּח‎ ṭabbâch (tab-bawkh') guard ^H:N-M
from ‎טָבַח‎

cook, guard.

• properly, a butcher
• hence, a lifeguardsman (because he was acting as an executioner)
• also a cook (usually slaughtering the animal for food)

1) executioner, cook, bodyguard, guardsman
1a) cook (who also killed the animal for food)
1b) guardsmen, bodyguard

Extended Information

• Aramaic equivalent: tab.bach (‎ט‎ַ‎ב‎ָּ‎ח‎ "guardsman" טַבָּח)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

Aramaic form: טַבָּח
‎טַבָּח‎ noun masculine^{1Sam 9:23}

1. cook,

2. guardsman; —

1. cook (who also killed the animal for food and served it) ‎טַבָּח‎ absolute 1Sam 9:23; 1Sam 9:24 .

2. elsewhere only plural ‎טַבָּחִים‎ guardsmen, bodyguard (originally royal slaughterers; see RS^{OTJC 426} (262); Semitic i. 1st ed., 396); always in the following combinations: ‎׳‎‎שַׂר הַטּ‎ captain of Pharaoh's bodyguard Gen 37:36; Gen 39:1 (both J), Gen 40:3; Gen 40:4; Gen 41:10; Gen 41:12 (all E); ‎׳‎‎רַבטֿ‎ chief of Nebuchadrezzar's bodyguard 2Kgs 25:8; 2Kgs 25:10; 2Kgs 25:11; 2Kgs 25:12; 2Kgs 25:15; 2Kgs 25:18; 2Kgs 25:20; Jer 39:9 + 16 t. Jeremiah (hence Aramaic ‎רַב טַבָּחַיָּא‎ Dan 2:14).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References