Original Word: תַּרְתָּן
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: Tartan
Pronunciation: tar-tan'
Phonetic Spelling: (tar-tawn')
Definition: Tartan
Meaning: Tartan

Tartan

Of foreign derivation; Tartan, an Assyrian -- Tartan.

Word Origin
of foreign origin
Definition
general, commander (title of an Assyr. general)
NASB Translation
commander (1), Tartan (1).

תַּרְתָּן noun masculine title of Assyrian General = field-marshal (loan-word from Assyrian tartânu, turtânu Dl^{WB 716} Tiele^{Geschichte. 495 f.} Pinches^{Hast. DB TARTAN} Johns^{Ency. Bib. ID}.); — Isaiah 20:1; 2 Kings 18:17 (+ רַבסָֿרִיס, רַבשָֿׁקֵה; only this last in "" Isaiah 36:2).

Word Origin: Derived from an Assyrian title.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There are no direct Greek equivalents for the title Tartan in the Strong's Greek lexicon, as it is a specific Assyrian title not directly translated into Greek in the biblical texts. However, the concept of a military commander or general can be related to Greek terms for military leaders, though these are not direct translations of Tartan.

Usage: The term Tartan is used in the context of the Assyrian military hierarchy, specifically referring to a chief commander or general. It appears in the Hebrew Bible in reference to Assyrian military leaders.

Context: • Tartan is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as a title for a prominent Assyrian military leader. The term is used in two specific instances:
• 2 Kings 18:17: "Nevertheless, the king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rabsaris, and the Rabshakeh from Lachish with a great army to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem." In this passage, Tartan is one of the high-ranking officials sent by the Assyrian king Sennacherib to demand the surrender of Jerusalem during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah.
• Isaiah 20:1: "In the year that Tartan came to Ashdod, sent by Sargon king of Assyria, he fought against Ashdod and captured it." Here, Tartan is mentioned as leading a campaign against the Philistine city of Ashdod, under the orders of the Assyrian king Sargon II.
• The title Tartan reflects the structured military hierarchy of the Assyrian Empire, indicating a position of significant authority and responsibility. The presence of Tartan in these biblical narratives underscores the geopolitical tensions between the Assyrian Empire and the smaller kingdoms of the ancient Near East, including Judah and Philistia.

תַּרְתָּ֥ן תַרְתָּן֙ תרתן tar·tān ṯar·tān tarTan tartān ṯartānInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts