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חִתִּי

𐤇𐤕𐤉

Chiti

H2850 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חִת descendant of Heth, member of the Heth group, Hittite

Definition

A member of the people known as the Hittites (Hebrew: חִתִּי), identified in the Hebrew Bible as a Canaanite group inhabiting the land prior to and during the period of Israelite settlement. The term typically refers to individuals belonging to this people group, but in some genealogical contexts may indicate ethnic or familial descent traced back to an ancestor named Heth. In narratives, the word designates both a people group as a whole and specific individuals identified as Hittites.

Semantic Range

member of the Hittite (חִתִּי) people, individual of Hethite origin, gentilic for a Canaanite group, genealogy indicating descent from Heth

Root / Etymology

From the root ח-ת-ת (חֵת) with the adjectival gentilic suffix -ִי (-î), forming an ethnonym indicating membership in or relation to Heth (חֵת). The root ח-ת-ת is itself attested only in proper nouns relating to this ethnonym. Thus, חִתִּי combines the name Heth with the suffix to mean 'of Heth,' i.e., 'Hittite.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, חִתִּי refers to an established Canaanite group present in patriarchal narratives (e.g., Genesis 23, Abraham's interactions at Hebron) as well as in lists of peoples during the conquest and settlement periods (e.g., Exodus 3:8; Joshua 1:4). The term is used for both groups (the Hittites as a whole) and singular individuals (e.g., Uriah the Hittite in 2 Samuel). While traditionally equated with the later Anatolian Hittite Empire, in the biblical context, these 'Hittites' are among Palestinian and Syrian Canaanite groups, not the Indo-European-speaking rulers of Hatti in Anatolia. The genealogical connection to 'Heth' in Genesis 10:15 is part of the Table of Nations; this literary genealogy does not necessarily reflect historic ethnic relationships. English translations often use 'Hittite,' a convention based on later historical identifications which may not fully correspond to the biblical usage. The term should not be conflated with the populations of the Anatolian Hittite Empire unless the context supports such identification.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

patronymically from חֵת; a Chittite, or descendant of Cheth; Hittite, Hittities.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חת (ḥ-t-t) — Heth, descendant of Heth, Hittite lineage

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2850-03 הַ/חִתִּ֥י hachiti HTd/Ngmsa the Hittite the Hittite man 31
H2850-05 וְ/הַ֣/חִתִּ֔י vehachiti HC/Td/Ngmsa and the Hittite and the Hittite 9
H2850-04 הַֽ/חִתִּ֔ים hachitim HTd/Ngmpa of the Hittites the Hittites 5
H2850-01 חִתִּֽית chitit HNgmsa Hittite Hittite 2
H2850-02 חִתִּיֹּֽת chitiyot HNgfpa Hittite Hittite women 1

Occurrences in Scripture

48 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2850-03 Genesis 15:20 הַ/חִתִּ֥י hachiti HTd/Ngmsa Hittites the Hittite man
H2850-03 Genesis 23:10 הַ/חִתִּ֤י hachiti HTd/Ngmsa the Hittite the Hittite man
H2850-03 Genesis 25:9 הַֽ/חִתִּ֔י hachiti HTd/Ngmsa the Hittite the Hittite man
H2850-03 Genesis 26:34 הַֽ/חִתִּ֑י hachiti HTd/Ngmsa the Hittite the Hittite man
H2850-03 Genesis 26:34 הַֽ/חִתִּֽי hachiti-2 HTd/Ngmsa the Hittite the Hittite man
H2850-03 Genesis 36:2 הַֽ/חִתִּ֔י hachiti HTd/Ngmsa the Hittite the Hittite man
H2850-03 Genesis 49:29 הַֽ/חִתִּֽי hachiti HTd/Ngmsa the Hittite the Hittite man
H2850-03 Genesis 49:30 הַ/חִתִּ֖י hachiti HTd/Ngmsa the Hittite the Hittite man
H2850-03 Genesis 50:13 הַ/חִתִּ֖י hachiti HTd/Ngmsa the Hittite the Hittite man
H2850-05 Exodus 3:8 וְ/הַ֣/חִתִּ֔י vehachiti HC/Td/Ngmsa and the Hittite and the Hittite
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