• Tartarus
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • the Bible is not a place but a condition and, therefore, is not the same as this Tartarus of Greek mythology. However, it is worth noting that the mythological Tartarus was not presented as a place for humans but for superhuman creatures. So, in that regard there is a similarity, since the Scriptural Tartarus is clearly not for the detention of human souls (compare Matthew 11:23) but only for wicked superhuman spirits who are rebels against God.

      The condition of utter debasement represented by Tartarus is a precursor of the abyssing that Satan and his demons are to experience prior to the start of the thousand-year reign of Christ. This, in turn, is to be followed after the end of the thousand years by their utter destruction in the “second death.”—Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:1-3, 7-10, 14.

  • Tattenai
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • TATTENAI

      (Tatʹte·nai).

      The governor of the Persian province “beyond the River” during the reign of Darius I (Hystaspis). When the Jews again started to rebuild the temple in Darius’ second year (520/519 B.C.E.), Tattenai and his colleagues came to Jerusalem to conduct an inquiry. The Jews appealed to Cyrus’ original decree; so Tattenai wrote to Darius asking if such a decree had been issued, as the Jews contended. The answer received confirmed Cyrus’ decree and the validity of the temple work, and warned Tattenai not to interfere, but to render material assistance to the Jews. This Tattenai proceeded to do.—Ezra 4:24–6:13.

  • Tattoo
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • TATTOO

      A permanent mark or design on the skin made by cutting the skin to produce scars or by inserting coloring matter under the skin. The Israelites were forbidden to engage in this practice, one that was doubtless common among other ancient peoples. (Lev. 19:28) For example, there were times when the Egyptians tattooed the names or symbols of their deities on their breast or arms. By complying with Jehovah’s law not to disfigure their bodies, the Israelites would have stood out as different from other nations. (Deut. 14:1, 2) The prohibition would also have impressed upon them a proper respect for the human body as God’s creation, to be used in honoring him.—Ps. 100:3; 139:13-16; Rom. 12:1.

  • Tau
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • TAU

      [Τ, τ].

      The nineteenth letter of the Greek alphabet, from which the English “t” originates.

      Tau is derived from the Hebrew taw. When accented (τ΄), its numerical value is 300, and, with the subscript (,τ), 300,000.

  • Taw
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • TAW

      [ת].

      The twenty-second and last letter of the Hebrew alphabet; later, outside the Hebrew Scriptures, used also as a number to denote four hundred. The name of the letter literally means “mark.”

      The corresponding Greek letter is called tau and through it comes our English “t.” The Hebrew taw, having the point (dagesh lene) in it, has a sound similar to our English “t” but, when it does not have this point, it is pronounced as “th.” In the Hebrew, it is the initial letter in each of the eight verses of Psalm 119:169-176.

  • Taxation
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • TAXATION

      Forms of taxation have long been employed to support the services of government, public officials and also of priests. The taxes that were imposed anciently included the tithe, tribute, toll, head or poll tax, and tax on consumer items, exports, imports and goods taken through a country by merchants.

      TAXES FOR MAINTAINING JEHOVAH’S SANCTUARY

      The service of the sanctuary was maintained through taxation. Obligatory tithing provided the major source of maintenance for the Aaronic priests and Levites and, on at least one occasion, they received a share of the war booty in accordance with a tax stipulated by Jehovah. (Num. 18:26-29; 31:26-47; see TITHE.) Jehovah also instructed Moses that, on taking a census, each person registered was to give a half shekel as “Jehovah’s contribution,” it serving in behalf of the tent of meeting. (Ex. 30:12-16) It appears that it became customary for the Jews to give a fixed amount every year, even though a census was not taken annually. Jehoash, for example, called for the “sacred tax ordered by Moses.” (2 Chron. 24:6, 9) The Jews of Nehemiah’s time obligated themselves to pay a third of a shekel yearly for the service of the temple. (Neh. 10:32) And, in the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, the Jews paid two drachmas to the temple. When asked whether Jesus complied with this taxation, Peter replied in the affirmative. Later, in discussing the matter, Jesus pointed out that kings do not tax their sons, the sons being part of the royal household for whom tax is collected. However, though being the only-begotten Son of the One worshiped at the temple, Jesus, to avoid giving occasion for stumbling others, saw to it that the tax was paid.—Matt. 17:24-27.

      TAXES IMPOSED BY RULERS

      With the establishment of kingship in Israel, taxes, including a tenth of the flock and of the produce, were imposed to support the king, his household and the various governmental officials and servants. (1 Sam. 8:11-17; 1 Ki. 4:6-19) By the end of the reign of Solomon, conscription for forced labor and the support of the government had become so burdensome to the people that they requested Solomon’s son and successor, Rehoboam, to lighten the ‘hard service and the heavy yoke.’ Rehoboam’s refusal to do so prompted ten tribes to revolt.—1 Ki. 12:3-19; see COMPULSORY SERVICE; FORCED LABOR.

      Upon coming under foreign domination, the Israelites had to submit to still other forms of taxation. For instance, when Pharaoh Nechoh made Jehoiakim his vassal and imposed a heavy fine or tribute on Judah, Jehoiakim raised the necessary funds by having his subjects pay a certain sum “according to each one’s individual tax rate.”—2 Ki. 23:31-35; see TRIBUTE.

      During the Persian period, the Jews (with the exception of the priests and others serving at the sanctuary, who were exempted by Artaxerxes Longimanus) had to pay tax (mid·dahʹ or min·dahʹ), tribute (belohʹ) and toll (halakhʹ). (Ezra 4:13, 20; 7:24) Mid·dahʹ is thought to designate personal tax on individuals; belohʹ, a tax on consumer items, excise; and halakhʹ, toll paid by travelers at road stations or river fords. The mid·dahʹ (translated “tribute” in AS, AV, NW at Nehemiah 5:4) must have been quite high, for many of the Jews had to borrow money to pay it. Besides having to care for the taxes levied by the Persians, the Jews normally also had to pay for the support of the governor.—Neh. 5:14, 15.

      In the first century C.E., the Jews very much resented the payment of taxes, not only on account of the corruption prevalent among tax collectors, but also because this forced them to acknowledge their subjection to Rome. (See TAX COLLECTOR.) However, both Jesus Christ and the apostle Paul showed that it was proper to pay taxes to “Caesar” or to the “superior authorities.” (Matt. 22:17-21; Rom. 13:1, 7; see CAESAR [God and Caesar].) Among the various kinds of taxes mentioned in the Christian Greek Scriptures is teʹlos (an indirect tax, duty or tribute; Matt. 17:25; Rom. 13:7). Also referred to is the kenʹsos (a head or poll tax; Matt. 17:25; 22:17, 19; Mark 12:14) and phoʹros (a broader term thought to designate a tax levied upon houses, lands and persons; Luke 20:22; 23:2).

  • Tax Collector
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • TAX COLLECTOR

      In the Roman Empire, poll and land taxes were collected by imperial officers as part of their official function. But the authority to collect taxes on exports, imports and goods taken through a country by merchants was purchased at public auction. Thus the right to collect such taxes went to the highest bidders. When they collected taxes, they made a profit from tax receipts that exceeded the amount of their bid. These men, known as publicani, farmed out to subcontractors the right to collect taxes in certain portions of their territory. The subcontractors, in turn, were in charge of other men who personally collected the taxes. Zacchaeus, for example, appears to have been the chief over the tax collectors in and around Jericho. (Luke 19:1, 2) And Matthew, whom Jesus called to be an apostle, was one who did the actual work of collecting taxes, apparently having his tax office in or near Capernaum.—Matt. 10:3; Mark 2:1, 14.

      Thus, in Palestine many Jewish tax collectors were active. They were held in low esteem by their fellow countrymen, since they often exacted more than the tax rate. (Matt. 5:46; Luke 3:12, 13; 19:7, 8) The other Jews generally avoided voluntary association with tax collectors and classified them with persons known to be sinners, including harlots. (Matt. 9:11; 11:19; 21:32; Mark 2:15; Luke 5:30; 7:34) They also resented tax collectors because of their being in the service of a foreign power, Rome, and in close contact with “unclean” Gentiles. Hence, to treat a “brother” like a “tax collector” meant having no voluntay association with him.—Matt. 18:15-17.

      Christ Jesus did not condone the corruption prevalent among tax collectors. Though criticized for doing so, he was willing to help them spiritually. (Matt. 9:9-13; Luke 15:1-7) In one of his illustrations, Jesus showed that the tax collector who humbly recognized himself as a sinner and repented was more righteous than the Pharisee who proudly viewed himself as righteous. (Luke 18:9-14) And humble, repentant tax collectors (like Matthew and Zacchaeus) came in line for membership in the kingdom of the heavens.—Matt. 21:31, 32.