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הֲתָךְ

𐤄𐤕𐤊

Hatakhe

H2047 noun

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain uncertain (proper name of foreign origin)

Definition

Proper name referring to an individual in the book of Esther, specifically an official at the Persian royal court serving as an intermediary between Queen Esther and Mordecai. The term designates a specific courtier rather than carrying a general lexical meaning in Hebrew beyond the named person.

Semantic Range

personal name; designation for a court official or messenger in the Persian royal household

Root / Etymology

The name is likely of foreign (Persian) origin, not deriving from any identifiable Hebrew root. Appearing only within the Persian context of the book of Esther, its derivation within Hebrew is uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

הֲתָךְ (Hăthâk) occurs only in Esther 4–6, where he is portrayed as a royal official or court attendant (sometimes traditionally rendered as 'eunuch'). The term refers to an individual tasked with delivering messages between Esther and Mordecai. While some translations indicate he is a eunuch due to the Greek Septuagint's rendering and Persian court convention, the Hebrew text does not specify the term 'סריס' (eunuch) for him. The name's origin remains uncertain, but it is widely regarded as Persian. The figure should not be conflated with Levantine Israelite officials or terms for priestly attendants; הֲתָךְ refers to a particular Persian-period royal servant. Modern translations sometimes use 'Hathach' or 'Hatach,' neither of which captures additional lexical nuance. This name, like other Persian proper names in Esther, reflects the book’s Persian setting and foreign onomastic influences.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably of foreign origin; Hathak, a Persian eunuch; Hatach.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

הֲתָךְ (Hăthâk) — uncertain; proper name of foreign origin

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2047-02 לַ/הֲתָ֜ךְ lahatakhe HR/Np Hathach to Hathak 2
H2047-01 הֲתָ֖ךְ hatakhe HNp Hathach Hathak 2

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2047-02 Esther 4:5 לַ/הֲתָ֜ךְ lahatakhe HR/Np Hathach to Hathak
H2047-01 Esther 4:6 הֲתָ֖ךְ hatakhe HNp Hathach Hathak
H2047-01 Esther 4:9 הֲתָ֑ךְ hatakhe HNp Hathach Hathak
H2047-02 Esther 4:10 לַ/הֲתָ֔ךְ lahatakhe HR/Np to Hathach to Hathak
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