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חָתַם

𐤇𐤕𐤌

châtham

H2856 verb

SILEX Entry

Root חתם to seal, to close, to secure by sealing

Definition

To affix a seal, to seal, to close up or secure by means of a seal; by extension, to mark something as authenticated, completed, or protected—primarily referring to the physical act of sealing documents, letters, or containers (for security, authority, or privacy), but sometimes connoting bringing something to an end or completion in a metaphorical sense.

Semantic Range

to seal (a document or container), to affix a seal as authentication or closure, to secure or enclose (make inaccessible), to bring to completion or finalize, to mark by sealing, to stop up, to protect by sealing

Root / Etymology

Root חתם (Ḥ-T-M), with core sense of 'to seal, to close.' The verb likely derives from the concrete act of applying a physical seal, such as a signet or stamp, to an object or document, thereby authenticating it or making its contents inaccessible to unauthorized persons.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In ancient Israelite and broader Ancient Near Eastern practice, sealing was associated with ownership, authority, authenticity, and protection. Administrative documents, letters, contracts, and containers (e.g., jars) were sealed with clay, wax, or impressions from signet rings—often bearing the owner's inscription or emblem. The verb חָתַם occurs most frequently in the context of royal or official transactions (e.g., the sealing of a letter in Nehemiah 9:38; Esther 8:8, 10; Daniel 6:17), symbolizing legal closure or protection from tampering. In prophetic and poetic texts (such as Isaiah 8:16; Daniel 9:24; Job 14:17), it acquires an extended sense of 'making inaccessible,' 'completing,' or 'finalizing.' The Hebrew root חתם is distinct from other roots used for 'closing' (e.g., סגר), focusing specifically on the act of sealing for protection or authentication rather than mere physical closure. English translations sometimes obscure the breadth of its meaning; although 'seal' is accurate, the verb's use can connote completion, authentication, or concealment, depending on context. Over time, especially in post-exilic and later Jewish practice, the idea of divine or eschatological sealing (as in Daniel) develops, but this concept is already latent within earlier usages. The Greek translations (LXX) frequently render חתם with σφραγίζω, which preserves the semantic focus on sealing as a mark of authority or closure.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to close up; especially to seal; make an end, mark, seal (up), stop.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חתם (ḥ-t-m) — to seal, to close, to secure by sealing

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2368 חוֹתָם with his signet-seal
H2369 חוֹתָם seal-signet ring
H2413 חָטַם I will seal up
H2857 חֲתַם and he sealed her
H2858 חֹתֶמֶת the seal

Word Forms

19 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2856-02 חָתֻ֖ם chatum HVqsmsa sealed sealed one 4
H2856-06 הֶֽ/חָתוּם֒ hechatum HTd/Vqsmsa sealed sealed one 4
H2856-19 יַחְתֹּֽם yachetom HVqi3ms he seals he will seal 3
H2856-04 חוֹתֵ֣ם chotem HVqrmsc seal sealer of 1
H2856-14 וְ/חִתְמ֖וּ vechitemu HC/Vqv2mp and-seal Seal! 1
H2856-01 חֲת֥וֹם chatom HVqv2ms Seal Seal! 1
H2856-03 חִתְּמוּ chitemu HVpp3cp they seal they sealed 1
H2856-05 הַ/חֲתוּמִ֑ים hachatumim HTd/Vqsmpa the signers the sealed ones 1
H2856-09 וַ/חֲתֻמִ֛ים vachatumim HC/Vqsmpa and sealed and sealed ones 1
H2856-12 וַ/יַּחְתֹּ֖ם vayachetom HC/Vqw3ms and he sealed and he sealed 1

Occurrences in Scripture

27 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2856-07 Leviticus 15:3 הֶחְתִּ֤ים hechetim HVhp3ms retains he caused to seal
H2856-02 Deuteronomy 32:34 חָתֻ֖ם chatum HVqsmsa sealed sealed one
H2856-11 1 Kings 21:8 וַ/תַּחְתֹּ֖ם vatachetom HC/Vqw3fs and she sealed and she sealed
H2856-01 Isaiah 8:16 חֲת֥וֹם chatom HVqv2ms Seal Seal!
H2856-06 Isaiah 29:11 הֶֽ/חָתוּם֒ hechatum HTd/Vqsmsa that is sealed sealed one
H2856-02 Isaiah 29:11 חָת֖וּם chatum HVqsmsa sealed sealed one
H2856-10 Jeremiah 32:10 וָֽ/אֶחְתֹּ֔ם vaechetom HC/Vqw1cs and I sealed and I sealed
H2856-06 Jeremiah 32:11 הֶֽ/חָת֛וּם hechatum HTd/Vqsmsa sealed sealed one
H2856-06 Jeremiah 32:14 הֶ/חָת֗וּם hechatum HTd/Vqsmsa sealed sealed one
H2856-13 Jeremiah 32:44 וְ/חָתוֹם֮ vechatom HC/Vqa and seal and sealing
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