Tov

The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was beautiful, she hid him for three months. Exodus 2:2

The Hebrew says, “that he was good (Ki tov). Tov is the Hebrew word for “good.”

Strong’s number H2896

טוֹב

ṭôv tove

From H2895; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well): - beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, X fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, X most, pleasant, + pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well ([-favoured]).

 “That he was good (ki tov)” can also be read as “that it was good.” 

“That it was good” alludes to the first usage of ki tov, which is the creation of light in Genesis! “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.  God saw that the light was good, (ki tov). Genesis 1:3-4

The Holy One determines what is “good.” The light of Creation was the first to be called “tov” and if you understand that the Hebrew word “bara” (create) means to bring purpose to a thing,¹ you’ll catch the significance that the Hebrew tov isn’t just about what is valuable or lovely. It’s about what is useful; what is purposeful according to God. To be working in alignment with what God says (His thoughts, His desires, His statutes, commandments, etc.) is to be tov. 

The Hebrew language is concrete and the meaning of tov in Genesis (Rule of First Mention)² is more along the lines of “well formed with purpose,” “well-crafted” rather than the value-laden English meaning of “good.”

The creation of Light was purposeful; it was tov. The Jewish sages say that Moses’ soul came from the same light of God’s first creation day.³ Additionally, they teach that the soul of Messiah emerges from the same light. Moses’ purpose as the first redeemer was to bring the revelation light of Torah to the world. Messiah, as the last redeemer likewise fills the world with God’s revelation. This is TOV. Speaking of Messiah, it says:

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was the true Light, which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. (John 1: 5, 9)

The word tov is used often by Moses and most of the meanings have the sense of being “good” as the result of being made or given by God and of being called out as “good” by God. A thing is “tov” because of its relation to God.  

“Am I a good person” gets replaced with “Am I walking in alignment with who God says I am?” Am I partnering with Him in this dance of life – where He is the lead and I follow? Ask Him what His purpose is for your life. Then allow Him to bring that to fruition. That’s the “good life.”

¹See Word of the Week: “Bara” for more on this idea.

²The rule of first mention is a guideline for studying Scripture where the first place in Scripture that a word or doctrine is revealed helps set the definition. 

³When he was born the whole house became filled with light. (Sotah 12a).