Lexical Summary
tob: Good, pleasant, agreeable, beneficial
Original Word: טוֹב
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: towb
Pronunciation: tove
Phonetic Spelling: (tobe)
NASB: well, good, pleases, merry, did well, please, any
Word Origin: [a primitive root, to be (transitively, do or make) good (or well) in the widest sense]
1. be (do) better, cheer, be (do, seem) good, (make) goodly, X please, (be, do, go, play) well
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
be do better, cheer, be do, seem good, make goodly, please, be, do,
A primitive root, to be (transitively, do or make) good (or well) in the widest sense -- be (do) better, cheer, be (do, seem) good, (make) goodly, X please, (be, do, go, play) well.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto be pleasing or good
NASB Translationany (1), did well (2), done well (1), fair (1), go well (1), good (1), good (5), high (1), merry (3), please (2), pleased* (2), pleases (4), pleases* (2), pleasing (1), well (8), well-off (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. (Late Hebrew
id., Hiph`il; also derivatives; Arabic
👁 Image, medial
👁 Image,
be pleasant, delightful, delicious, sweet or
savoury in taste or odour,
be pure and clean, cheerful, gleeful (Lane); Aramaic
👁 Image,
👁 Image, , , and especially derivatives
glad, joyful; Assyrian
‰âbu,
be good, kind, acceptable,
joyful,
vigorous Dl
HWB 299) —
Perfect Numbers 11:18 32t.; plural Numbers 24:5; Songs 4:10; (Imperfect from ); Infinitive absolute Judges 11:25; construct Jeremiah 32:39 6t., Judges 16:25 Qr (Kt ); Participle Judges 11:25; 1 Samuel 2:26; (for these forms see Bö§ 1133, 4 SS under the word; Ges recognizes only Perfects and fewer of them than above. It is often difficult to decide between verb and adjective ); —
be pleasant, delightful, of tents of Jacob Numbers 24:5 (J E; poetry); of caresses Songs 4:10 (followed by compare)
be glad, joyful Judges 16:25 (Qr), 1 Samuel 25:36; 2 Samuel 13:28; Esther 1:10 (see ).
: Judges 11:25 art thou really better than Balak?
be well with, good for Numbers 11:18 (J), Deuteronomy 5:30; Deuteronomy 15:16; Deuteronomy 19:13; 1 Samuel 16:16,23; 2 Samuel 14:32; Psalm 119:71; Psalm 128:2; Jeremiah 22:15; so (that is ) Isaiah 3:10 it is well (with him); Jeremiah 22:16 (compare Jeremiah 22:15); 1 Samuel 20:12 there is good toward David
be pleasing (see II. ) Numbers 24:1 (J) 2 Samuel 3:19,36; 2 Samuel 15:26; 2 Samuel 19:38; 1 Kings 21:2; Jeremiah 40:4,4; Zechariah 11:12; later usage is if it seem good unto (so Assyrian ‰âbu eli, be pleasing unto, DlHWB 300 a), 1 Chronicles 13:2; Nehemiah 2:5,7; Esther 1:19; Esther 3:9; Esther 5:4,8; Esther 7:3; Esther 8:5; Esther 9:13 (compare adjective ).
Perfect2masculine singular 2Chronicles 6:8, 1 Kings 8:18; 2 Kings 10:30; — do well, act right, followed by that 1 Kings 8:18 thou didst well, that it was in thine heart = 2 Chronicles 6:8; followed by infinitive with 2 Kings 10:30 thou hast done well in performing what was right in mine eyes.
Topical Lexicon
General Overview The Hebrew adjective טוֹב (Strong’s 2895) gathers a full spectrum of “goodness”: moral excellence, pleasantness, beauty, benefit, prosperity, and what is fitting or pleasing. The word is found in legal codes, narrative, poetry, prophecy, and wisdom, showing that “good” is not an abstract ideal but a lived reality within covenant life.
Goodness as the Essence of God
Psalm 119:68 anchors the term in divine character: “You are good, and You do what is good; teach me Your statutes”. God’s own nature defines what is good; therefore the law, salvation history, and ethical commands are all expressions of His goodness.
Goodness as Divine Pleasure and Approval
Numbers 24:1 shows that what is “good” to the LORD sets the agenda for blessing: “When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel…”. In royal courts the same nuance appears in the refrain “If it pleases the king” (Nehemiah 2:5; Esther 1:19; Esther 5:4; Esther 7:3), illustrating that טוֹב speaks of satisfaction and consent. Human plans succeed when aligned with a higher authority’s pleasure, foreshadowing the believer’s call to seek the will of God (compare Romans 12:2).
Goodness as Moral Rectitude
Judges 9:16 appeals to the Shechemite conscience: “If you have acted honestly and uprightly…”. Jehu’s zeal is commended with the same adjective: “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in My sight” (2 Kings 10:30). Here טוֹב marks deeds that conform to God’s standards, not merely pragmatic success.
Goodness and Covenant Well-Being
Deuteronomy 5:33 links obedience to life and prosperity: “Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper…”. Jeremiah 32:41 expands the promise after exile: “I will rejoice in doing them good and will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and soul”. Ezekiel 36:11 echoes, “I will treat you better than at first,” assuring restoration that surpasses former blessings.
Goodness in Worship and Temple Vision
David’s desire to build the temple is praised twice: “You did well to have it in your heart to build a house for My Name” (1 Kings 8:18; 2 Chronicles 6:8). The word celebrates motives that honor God, even when the task itself is delegated to another (Solomon). Likewise, 1 Chronicles 13:2 uses טוֹב to test community consensus before bringing the ark to Jerusalem, showing that corporate worship must be anchored in what is “good” before God and His people alike.
Goodness in Leadership and Governance
Nehemiah’s petitions (Nehemiah 2:5–7) and Esther’s diplomatic phrasing demonstrate how הטוב frames political decisions within a moral horizon. The good of a people—and of the vulnerable, such as the Jews threatened by Haman—depends on just rulers whose edicts align with God’s overarching purposes.
Goodness in Personal Relationships and Household Life
Deuteronomy 15:16 describes a bond-servant remaining because “he loves you and your household and is well off with you.” 1 Samuel 16:16, 23 reports that David’s harp made Saul “well,” revealing goodness as restorative. Song of Songs 4:10 celebrates marital affection: “How much better is your love than wine,” where טוֹב captures the surpassing delight of covenant love.
Goodness in Prophetic Appeal and Eschatology
Ezekiel 33:32 compares the prophet to “one who has a beautiful voice.” The message sounds pleasant, yet genuine goodness demands obedience, not mere admiration. Ultimately, the prophets envision a future where the land and its people are “better than at first” (Ezekiel 36:11), fulfilled in the messianic kingdom where God’s goodness is universally acknowledged.
Goodness in Prayer and Wisdom
Psalm 125:4 cries, “Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, to the upright in heart.” The psalmist assumes that God’s goodness is both the standard and the reward for faithfulness. Wisdom literature thus invites believers to align heart, speech, and action with divine goodness.
Ministry Implications
1. Proclaim God’s unchanging goodness as the ground of hope in trial and restoration.
2. Evaluate plans and motives by whether they are “pleasing” to the Lord, not merely expedient.
3. Model leadership that seeks the good of others, reflecting the kingly refrain “If it pleases…” but oriented toward the true King.
4. Foster worship that springs from good intention and communal affirmation, as with David and the ark.
5. Encourage believers to expect and pursue tangible expressions of goodness—healing, justice, covenant love—while awaiting the consummate “better than at first” promised in Christ.
From Genesis onward, Scripture’s witness is unanimous: what God calls good is both desirable and trustworthy. Those who treasure His statutes, walk in His ways, and seek His pleasure participate in the rich tapestry of טוֹב that stretches from Eden to the New Jerusalem.
Forms and Transliterations
הֱֽטִיב֔וֹתָ הֱטִיבֹ֔תָ הֱטִיבֹ֙תָ֙ הֵיטִ֣יבָה הטיבות הטיבת היטיבה וְהֵטִֽבֹתִי֙ וְט֣וֹב וְט֥וֹב וּמֵטִ֗יב וּמֵטִ֣ב והטבתי וטוב ומטב ומטיב ט֑וֹב ט֔וֹב ט֗וֹב ט֜וֹב ט֞וֹב ט֥וֹב טֹּ֤בוּ טֹּ֥בוּ טבו טוֹבָ֤ה טוב טובה לְהֵטִ֣יב להטיב hê·ṭî·ḇāh hĕ·ṭî·ḇō·ṯā heiTivah hĕṭî·ḇō·w·ṯā hêṭîḇāh hĕṭîḇōṯā hĕṭîḇōwṯā hetiVota lə·hê·ṭîḇ ləhêṭîḇ leheTiv ṭō·ḇū ṭō·w·ḇāh ṭō·wḇ ṭōḇū Tou Tov toVah ṭōwḇ ṭōwḇāh ū·mê·ṭiḇ ū·mê·ṭîḇ ūmêṭiḇ ūmêṭîḇ umeTiv vehetivoTi veTov wə·hê·ṭi·ḇō·ṯî wə·ṭō·wḇ wəhêṭiḇōṯî wəṭōwḇ
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