ta.vach denotes killing by slaughter, whether animals are prepared for a meal or people are cut down in violence and judgment.

The predominant attested use concerns people or animals being killed in violent, hostile, or judgment-filled scenes; a smaller cluster concerns slaughtering animals in preparation for a meal. The same action is expressed through imperatives, infinitive constructs, perfect forms, and a passive participle.

1. Killing in violence, threat, or judgment · dominant

   In Ezekiel 21:15 the infinitive construct occurs in the clause about a sword sharpened for slaughter, while Psalm 37:14 places it with the wicked drawing sword and bow against the upright. Jeremiah 25:34 and Lamentations 2:21 likewise portray people being killed, and Deuteronomy 28:31 describes cattle slaughtered before the hearers' eyes.

   Ezekiel 21:15Psalm 37:14Jeremiah 25:34Jeremiah 51:40Lamentations 2:21Deuteronomy 28:31
2. Slaughtering animals for a prepared meal · common

   In Genesis 43:16, the second-person masculine singular imperative is followed by instructions to make ready because the men are to eat at noon. Proverbs 9:2 presents a third-person feminine singular perfect alongside mixing wine and arranging a table, and 1 Samuel 25:11 refers to meat already slaughtered for shearers.

   Genesis 43:16Proverbs 9:21 Samuel 25:11

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across the occurrences, the APB commonly uses "slaughtered," "slaughter," or "to be slaughtered" for the relevant clauses. In Lamentations 2:21 it also uses "killed" before "slaughtered," so the translation’s wording should not be treated as a precise word-by-word distinction.