• Toe
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • TOE

      The Hebrew and Aramaic words used in the Bible for finger refer also, at times, to the toe. (2 Sam. 21:20; 1 Chron. 20:6; Dan. 2:41, 42) In other places the Hebrew word for “thumb” is used also for “toe.”—Ex. 29:20; Lev. 8:23, 24; 14:14, 17, 25, 28.

      The toes, being important for balance and direction to the body in walking, are referred to in the Scriptures with literal and figurative significance. A custom occasionally practiced to incapacitate for battle a captured enemy was to cut off his thumbs and big toes.—Judg. 1:6, 7.

      At the installation of the priesthood in Israel, Moses took some blood of the ram of the installation and put it on the right ear, the right thumb and the right big toe of Aaron and each of his sons. (Lev. 8:23, 24) The blood of the sacrifice on the prominent member of the right (best) foot would mean that they must point their course and walk unswervingly with the best of their ability in the sacrificial duties of the priesthood. Jesus Christ the great High Priest fulfilled this prophetic type when on earth (Matt. 16:21-23), and his underpriests, his spirit-begotten brothers, must follow his steps closely.—Heb. 7:26; 1 Pet. 2:5, 8; Rev. 20:6.

  • Togarmah
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • TOGARMAH

      (To·garʹmah).

      A son of Gomer the son of Japheth, hence a great-grandson of Noah. (Gen. 10:1-3; 1 Chron. 1:4-6) The name apparently came to apply as well to the region occupied by his descendants. In Ezekiel’s dirge concerning Tyre, Togarmah is mentioned as the source of “horses and steeds and mules,” for which Tyre traded certain goods. (Ezek. 27:2, 14) The same prophet lists Togarmah among Gog of Magog’s allies and gives its situation as among the peoples of “the remotest parts of the north.”—Ezek. 38:6.

      Many commentators connect Togarmah with the Armenians. The Armenians themselves traditionally claim to be descended from “Haik, son of Thorgom.” Ancient Greek writers speak of the Armenians as famed for their horses and mules.

  • Tola
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • TOLA

      (Toʹla) [the coccus, metonymically, crimson or deep-scarlet color].

      1. First-named son of Issachar who accompanied Jacob’s household into Egypt in 1728 B.C.E. (Gen. 46:8, 13) Tola’s sons and some of his grandsons founded populous tribal families in Issachar, collectively known as Tolaites.—Num. 26:23; 1 Chron. 7:1-4.

      2. A judge of Israel; the son of Puah. Tola was a descendant of Issachar, but he lived, and was later buried, in the mountainous region of Ephraim. No experiences from his twenty-three-year judgeship are recorded.—Judg. 10:1, 2.

  • Tongue
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • TONGUE

      The organ of the body playing a prominent role in tasting. However, the taste buds distributed on the tongue’s surface detect only acid, sweet, salt and bitter. What is commonly called “taste” results from combinations of these taste buds reacting plus the aroma detected by the sense of smell. More importantly, the tongue is also essential to speech, because articulation of words requires active maneuvering on its part, which it does with dexterity and remarkable speed.—See MOUTH (The Palate).

      In Bible usage, “tongue” often stands for “language.” (Gen. 10:5; Deut. 28:49; Isa. 28:11; Acts 2:4; 19:6; 1 Cor. 12:10) Or, at times, it refers to a people speaking a certain language.—Isa. 66:18; Rev. 5:9; 7:9; 13:7.

      Jesus’ half-brother James vividly describes the power exercised by the tongue and the need for the Christian to exercise great care to use it properly. He points out that failure to bridle the tongue can be a factor in causing one’s worship to be futile. (Jas. 1:26) He likens the tongue to a fire that can destroy a forest. The unbridled tongue can be influenced by destructive forces and can bring about such a great quantity or extent of unrighteousness that it can contaminate the individual’s entire life. It can be poisonous, spiritually, to oneself and others. It cannot be tamed by man’s own efforts; nor can any imperfect human be completely exempt from ‘stumbling in word.’ (Jas. 3:2-8) But taming of this intractable organ of the imperfect human flesh is not impossible for the Christian, for by Jehovah’s undeserved kindness through Christ one can “bridle” his tongue and can make over his personality.—Jas. 3:10-18; 1 Pet. 3:10; Col. 3:9, 10; compare Psalm 34:13; 39:1.

      In harmony with James’ description of the tongue, the writer of Proverbs says that the calmness of the tongue can be a “tree of life,” or, conversely, a distortion in it can mean “a breaking down in the spirit”; that death and life are in its power. (Prov. 15:4; 18:21) “A mild tongue itself can break a bone,” in that a person hard as bone may be softened by a mild answer and break down in his hardness and opposition. (Prov. 25:15) In fact, the tongue can heal in a spiritual way if it speaks the words of God. (Prov. 12:18) “From Jehovah is the answer of the tongue,” for only he can provide spiritually correct words that result in healing. (Prov. 16:1) The Scriptures foretold the spiritual healing of Jesus’ ministry as he spoke God’s words, ‘binding up the brokenhearted.’—Isa. 61:1.

      Jehovah emphasizes how he views the badness of the false tongue, listing it as one of the seven things that he hates, placing it alongside “hands that are shedding innocent blood.” (Prov. 6:16-19) David describes the wicked as attempting to destroy God’s servant with a ‘tongue sharpened just like a sword,’ but he points out that actually God will see to it that they themselves are wounded, for “their tongue is against their own selves.” (Ps. 64:3, 7, 8) Jehovah promises his people: “Any tongue at all that will rise up against you in the judgment you will condemn.” (Isa. 54:17) This is comforting to God’s servants, who stick to his law even though those considered wise in the world may speak great things and say: “With our tongue we shall prevail.” (Ps. 12:3-5) They may “keep sticking out the tongue” and striking with the tongue