Original Word: טָעַן
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: ta`an
Pronunciation: tah-ahn
Phonetic Spelling: (taw-an')
KJV: lade
NASB: load
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to load a beast

lade

A primitive root; to load a beast -- lade.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to load
NASB Translation
load (1).

I. [טָעַן] verb load (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic , טְעֵן, טְעַן carry, also laod) —

Qal Imperative טַעֲנוּ אֶתבְּֿעִירְכֶם Genesis 45:17 (E) load your beasts.

Meaning and Scope

טָעַן conveys the action of placing a weight on something or someone—especially the loading of pack-animals for travel. The image is concrete: supplies are fastened to a beast, enabling a journey that would be impossible without that burden bearer. In Scripture the idea naturally broadens to include any provision or responsibility entrusted to another.

Biblical Occurrence

Genesis 45:17 stands as the single textual witness: “Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Tell your brothers, “Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan.”’ ”. The word appears as an imperative given to Joseph’s brothers, urging immediate preparation for relocation.

Historical Background

The patriarchal age relied on donkeys and camels as freight carriers. A loaded animal signified both wealth and mobility. Pharaoh’s command therefore reflects royal generosity; he is underwriting the entire move of Jacob’s clan by granting grain, carts, and “the best of all the land of Egypt” (Genesis 45:18). To load the animals was to receive Egypt’s abundant resources and begin a divinely orchestrated transition from famine to plenty.

Theological Insights

1. Divine Provision. Behind Pharaoh’s order stands a sovereign God who has positioned Joseph to preserve life (Genesis 45:5). The verb underscores how God “loads” His people with what they need before calling them to a new season.
2. Transfer of Burden. The brothers once bore guilt over selling Joseph; now they bear gifts of grace. The same animals that hauled sacks of silver in deceit (Genesis 42:26) now transport proof of forgiveness.
3. Covenant Advancement. Loading for Canaan-to-Egypt travel becomes the hinge by which the family of Israel is planted in Goshen, where it will grow into a nation according to the promise given to Abraham (Genesis 15:13-14).

Prophetic and Christological Foreshadowing

Joseph functions as a type of Christ, providing sustenance for his brethren. The loaded animals picture the abundance believers receive in the gospel: “From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace” (John 1:16). Just as Pharaoh’s riches ride on beasts to reach needy people, the riches of heaven are borne by Christ, “who Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24).

Canonical Connections to Bearing and Loading

While טָעַן is unique to Genesis 45:17, Scripture often revisits the motif:
• Exodus 23:5 – assisting a fallen beast “under its burden” expresses neighborly love.
• Psalm 55:22 – “Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you.”
• Galatians 6:2 – “Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

These passages reveal a divine pattern: God shoulders humanity’s greatest load and then commissions His people to bear each other’s lesser loads.

Practical Ministry Applications

1. Encouraging Readiness. Pharaoh’s imperative is brisk: “Load…and return.” Ministry often requires swift obedience. Leaders should equip disciples promptly, supplying them for the tasks ahead.
2. Stewarding Resources. The episode models the godly use of wealth. Pharaoh leverages Egypt’s surplus for covenant purposes; believers today steward finances, time, and gifts so others may thrive.
3. Relieving Burdens. As Joseph’s brothers received tangible help, the church is called to meet material needs—disaster relief, refugee support, benevolence—so journeys of faith are not hindered by lack.
4. Trusting God’s Timing. The family had to wait two decades before reconciliation enabled this loading. Ministry may involve long intervals between promise and provision, yet the eventual supply is precise and sufficient.

Reflections for Today

Every follower of Christ is both a beast of burden and a beneficiary. We carry the gospel treasure (2 Corinthians 4:7) while relying on the Lord to “daily bear our burdens” (Psalm 68:19). Remembering טָעַן invites believers to ask: What has God loaded onto me for the blessing of others? Where am I resisting the journey because I fear the weight? The same God who furnished Jacob’s household supplies us with grace to travel well until we reach the ultimate Goshen—our eternal home prepared by the greater Joseph.

טַֽעֲנוּ֙ טענו ṭa‘ănū ṭa·‘ă·nū taaNuInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts