Tau (Τ/τ) – New Testament Greek words that start with tau

• Old Testament Hebrew
• New Testament Greek

Quick reference

Greek Name:

ταῦ

English Name:

tau

Pronunciation:

tou’

Upper-case Letter:

Τ

Lower-case Letter:

τ

Speech Sound:

consonant

Numerical Value:

300

Pronunciation guide

In Koine Greek, the letter Tau was a voiceless alveolar plosive, produced by placing the tongue against the ridge behind the upper front teeth and releasing a burst of air. It’s pronounced similar to the “t” in “time.”

Numerical significance

Tau corresponds to the number three hundred (300) in the Greek numerical system (isopsephy). While the number 300 doesn’t hold specific symbolic meaning in Greek culture, it has ties to the Old Testament.

In Judges 7, God reduced Gideon’s army to 300 people when battling the Midianites in order to demonstrate Divine intervention, rather than human strength. This highlights the theme of faith and reliance on God rather than on numerical strength or personal capability.

In Genesis 6, Noah’s Ark is described as being 300 cubits long. The specific dimensions may symbolize completeness and Divine provision for survival through judgment.

Cultural and symbolic meaning

The letter Tau originates from the Phoenician letter Taw, which likely represented a mark or a sign. The shape of Tau, resembling a cross or a simple upright mark, has been imbued with various symbolic meanings over time, especially in Christian contexts where it can symbolize the cross of crucifixion.