Tobit
To'bit (Sept. Τωβείθ, Τωβείτ, Τωβίτ; Vulg. Tobias; et. Lat. Tobi, Thobi, Tobis), the son of Tobiel and father of Tobias (Tobit 1, 1, etc.). The name appears to answer to טוֹבַי, Tob, which occurs frequently in later times (Fritzsche, Ad Tob. 1, 1), and not (as Welte, Einleitung, p. 65) to טוֹבַיָּה, Tobiah; yet in that case Τωβίς, according to the analogy of Λεϊvς (לֵוַי), would have been the more -natural form. The etymology of the word is obscure. Ilgen translates it simply "my goodness;" Fritzsche regards it as an abbreviation of טוֹבַיָּה, comparing Μελχί (Lu 3:24,28), חַזַקַי, etc. (Ad Tob. loc. cit.). The form in the Vulg. is of no weight against the old Latin, except so far as it shows the reading of the Chaldaic text which Jerome used, ia which the identity of the names of the father and son is directly affirmed (1, 9, Vulg.). SEE TOBIT, BOOK OF.
