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חָתַן

𐤇𐤕𐤍

châthan

H2859 verb

SILEX Entry

Root חָתַן to form marital alliance, to become related by marriage, to establish affinity through marriage

Definition

To become related by marriage, specifically to form an alliance through marriage or to enter into an affinity, usually referring to actions such as marrying, giving in marriage, or becoming a son-in-law or parent-in-law. The term commonly refers to the process or state of forging kinship by marriage, not to general wedding activity. Semantic range includes to become a son-in-law, to enter into marital kinship, to give or take a daughter in marriage, to ally oneself by marriage.

Semantic Range

to become a son-in-law, to contract affinity by marriage, to give or receive in marriage, to ally oneself by marriage, to form kinship through marriage, to become connected through marriage

Root / Etymology

From the root ח-ת-ן (חתן), which carries the core sense of forming a relationship or alliance through marriage. Derived forms (such as the noun חתן, 'son-in-law') also share this relational nuance. The core root meaning centers on establishing a new kinship bond, typically through marriage.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, חָתַן ('to become related by marriage') is mainly used in situations describing the act of joining two families through a marital union. In masculine form, the term especially denotes the act of becoming a son-in-law, while by extension it may also indicate the broader process of contracting familial affinity through marriage (including father-in-law, mother-in-law, and the reciprocal creation of these relationships). Over time, the verb is used more to express the act of forging such bonds rather than the mere act of marriage as a ceremony. The technical nuance in biblical usage is on forming kin alliances, often with political, social, or tribal implications. English translations often render these phrases as 'marry,' 'give in marriage,' or 'become the father/son-in-law,' but the Hebrew term specifically highlights the act of establishing a new familial connection by marriage. In patriarchal and monarchic narratives, such alliances could have significant social and political ramifications (see Genesis 34:9, 2 Samuel 18:27). The underlying nuance of alliance is often missed in later translations; the word is less about marriage as a personal institution and more about relational and communal transformation. The later noun form חתן ('son-in-law') is related but technically distinct from the verb core meaning, which is about forming affinity. Other Semitic languages have related roots with similar meanings. There is no evidence of a shift in meaning from pre-exilic to post-exilic periods, though the verb becomes less frequent outside narrative or legal texts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to give (a daughter) away in marriage; hence (generally) to contract affinity by marriage; join in affinity, father in law, make marriages, mother in law, son in law.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חתן (ḥ-t-n) — form marital alliance, become related by marriage, establish affinity through marriage

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2860 חָתָן marriage-allied man
H2861 חֲתֻנָּה his wedding celebration

Word Forms

12 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2859-02 חֹתֵ֣ן choten HVqrmsc father-in-law one forming marital alliance 10
H2859-04 חֹתְנ֖/וֹ choteno HVqrmsc/Sp3ms his father-in-law his in-law by marriage 8
H2859-05 הִתְחַתֵּ֥ן hitechaten HVtv2ms be the king's son-in-law ally yourself by marriage 2
H2859-08 תִתְחַתֵּ֖ן titechaten HVti2ms intermarry you will ally yourself by marriage 2
H2859-07 לְ/הִתְחַתֵּ֖ן lehitechaten HR/Vtc to become son-in-law to ally oneself by marriage 2
H2859-06 לְ/חֹ֣תְנ֔/וֹ lechoteno HR/Vqrmsc/Sp3ms to his father-in-law his marriage-allied one 2
H2859-10 וַ/יִּתְחַתֵּ֣ן vayitechaten HC/Vtw3ms and he allied himself by marriage and he allied himself by marriage 2
H2859-11 וְ/הִֽתְחַתַּנְתֶּ֥ם vehitechatanetem HC/Vtq2mp and you intermarry you allied yourselves by marriage 1
H2859-01 חֹֽתַנְתּ֑/וֹ chotaneto HVqrfsc/Sp3ms his mother-in-law his marriage-alliance-forming woman 1
H2859-12 וְ/הִֽתְחַתְּנ֖וּ vehitechatenu HC/Vtv2mp intermarry with us ally yourselves by marriage 1

Occurrences in Scripture

33 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2859-12 Genesis 34:9 וְ/הִֽתְחַתְּנ֖וּ vehitechatenu HC/Vtv2mp intermarry with us ally yourselves by marriage
H2859-04 Exodus 3:1 חֹתְנ֖/וֹ choteno HVqrmsc/Sp3ms his father-in-law, his in-law by marriage
H2859-04 Exodus 4:18 חֹֽתְנ֗/וֹ choteno HVqrmsc/Sp3ms his father-in-law his in-law by marriage
H2859-02 Exodus 18:1 חֹתֵ֣ן choten HVqrmsc father-in-law one forming marital alliance
H2859-02 Exodus 18:2 חֹתֵ֣ן choten HVqrmsc father-in-law one forming marital alliance
H2859-02 Exodus 18:5 חֹתֵ֥ן choten HVqrmsc father-in-law one forming marital alliance
H2859-03 Exodus 18:6 חֹתֶנְ/ךָ֥ chotenekha HVqrmsc/Sp2ms your father-in-law your marriage-allied one
H2859-04 Exodus 18:7 חֹֽתְנ֗/וֹ choteno HVqrmsc/Sp3ms his father-in-law his in-law by marriage
H2859-06 Exodus 18:8 לְ/חֹ֣תְנ֔/וֹ lechoteno HR/Vqrmsc/Sp3ms to his father-in-law his marriage-allied one
H2859-02 Exodus 18:12 חֹתֵ֥ן choten HVqrmsc father-in-law one forming marital alliance
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