Original Word: טָפַּת
Part of Speech: Proper Name Feminine
Transliteration: Taphath
Pronunciation: TAH-fath
Phonetic Spelling: (taw-fath')
KJV: Taphath
NASB: Taphath
Word Origin: [probably from H5197 (נָטַף - speak)]

1. a dropping (of ointment)
2. Taphath, an Israelitess

Taphath

Probably from nataph; a dropping (of ointment); Taphath, an Israelitess -- Taphath.

see HEBREW nataph

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
daughter of Solomon
NASB Translation
Taphath (1).

טָפַת proper name, feminine daughter of Solomon, & wife of בֶּןאֲֿבִינָדָב 1 Kings 4:11.

Identity and Family Context

Taphath is identified in 1 Kings 4:11 as a daughter of King Solomon and therefore a member of the royal house that sat upon the throne promised to David. Her single canonical appearance links her to the king’s administrative reforms and illustrates how Solomon employed marriage alliances within Israel to consolidate the kingdom’s unity.

Biblical Setting

The lone reference to Taphath occurs in the list of twelve district officials appointed by Solomon to supply the royal household (1 Kings 4:7–19). Verse 11 states, “Ben-abinadab—in Taphath the daughter of Solomon was his wife—was in charge of all the region of Dor”. Two verses later another governor, Ahimaaz, is said to have married Basemath, another daughter of Solomon (1 Kings 4:15). Placed in succession, these notices show intentional structuring of administrative districts through marital bonds to the king.

Political and Administrative Significance

1. Regional Stability in Israel: Dor lay on the Mediterranean coast, commanding a key trade corridor. By giving Taphath in marriage to Ben-Abinadab, Solomon tightened royal oversight of that strategic region without stationing a standing force there.
2. Internal Alliance-Building: Unlike Solomon’s later foreign marriages (1 Kings 11:1–8), these alliances remained within covenant Israel, knitting provincial leadership directly to the throne.
3. Provision for the Royal Household: Each governor supplied food for one month of the year (1 Kings 4:7). Marrying a princess would motivate loyal, generous provisions and deter misappropriation.

Historical and Cultural Notes

• Royal daughters in the ancient Near East were often political assets; yet Solomon’s use of them within Israel rather than abroad underscores an early period of national cohesion.
• Dor’s Canaanite heritage (Joshua 17:11) made loyal administration there especially valuable; placing a son-in-law in authority advanced Israelite integration of formerly independent city-states.

Spiritual and Theological Observations

• Covenant Faithfulness: These marriages occurred prior to Solomon’s decline into idolatry. They exemplify an early phase when the king’s policies, including his family arrangements, harmonized with covenant priorities (Deuteronomy 17:17).
• Foreshadowing of Unity in the Messiah: Solomon’s reign, marked by wisdom, prosperity, and ordered administration, provides a type of the greater Son of David whose kingdom will likewise be one of peace, provision, and righteousness (Isaiah 9:6–7). Taphath’s inclusion in the biblical record contributes to that portrait of ordered blessing.
• God’s Care for the Peripheral: By naming a princess stationed in a coastal district, Scripture highlights that covenant blessings extended from Jerusalem to outlying regions, prefiguring the later expansion of gospel witness “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Ministry Applications

1. Stewardship and Accountability: Solomon’s district system—with familial ties enhancing fidelity—models transparent structures that support leaders and prevent corruption, a principle applicable to church administration today (1 Timothy 3:2–7).
2. Marriage for Kingdom Purposes: While modern believers do not arrange marriages for political gain, the text reminds us that family relationships can advance God-honoring objectives when aligned with biblical convictions (2 Corinthians 6:14).
3. Remembering the Unheralded: Taphath’s brief mention encourages appreciation of lesser-known saints whose quiet faithfulness supports broader kingdom work (Romans 16).

Summary

Taphath, though mentioned only once, illustrates Solomon’s wise use of domestic alliances to secure Israel’s peace and prosperity. Her marriage to Ben-Abinadab ensured loyal oversight of a vital coastal district, reinforcing the united monarchy’s reach and foreshadowing the ordered, expansive reign of Christ.

טָפַת֙ טפת ṭā·p̄aṯ taFat ṭāp̄aṯInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts