tav denotes an identifying mark placed on foreheads and, in Job’s appeal, a personal signature.

The dominant attested use is an identifying sign placed on people: in Ezekiel 9:4 it is put on the foreheads of those who grieve over the city’s acts, and Ezekiel 9:6 distinguishes those bearing it from those approached for destruction. In Job 31:35, the construct form occurs in Job’s appeal for an answer, where the APB presents it as his signature.

1. Identifying sign on protected people · dominant

   In Ezekiel 9:4, the masculine singular absolute form occurs in the command to put a sign on the foreheads of men who sigh and groan over the acts done in the city; the APB renders the clause "put a mark on the foreheads." In Ezekiel 9:6, the same form identifies those whom the command says not to approach, rendered by the APB as "anyone on whom the mark is."

   Ezekiel 9:4Ezekiel 9:6
2. Personal signature in an appeal · occasional

   In Job 31:35, the masculine singular construct form occurs as Job calls for someone to hear him and for the Almighty to answer; the APB renders the clause "here is my signature" before mentioning a document written by his opponent.

   Job 31:35

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB presents the Ezekiel occurrences with "mark" in the clauses about foreheads and spared persons, while Job 31:35 is rendered "signature." These renderings are treated as presentations of their clauses rather than exact lexical equivalents.