חָטַם
𐤇𐤈𐤌
châṭam
H2413 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To stop up, to seal, to obstruct a passage or opening. In the Hebrew Bible, חָטַם usually means to close securely, most often referring to the sealing of objects, containers, documents, or sources of water, either physically (as with a literal seal or by plugging a spring) or metaphorically (as in stopping the mouth). The term can imply rendering something inaccessible or preventing entry, exit, or use.
Semantic Range
to seal (a document or object), to stop up (a well or mouth), to make inaccessible, to obstruct, to put a seal on, to restrain (speech or access)
Root / Etymology
From the root חתם, which in its basic sense means 'to seal' or 'to stop up.' The noun from the same root, חוֹתָם (chotam), means 'seal' (an instrument for sealing or a signet ring). The verb developed from the idea of pressing or closing off, referring both to literal obstruction and to the act of impressing a seal upon a surface to denote closure or security. This root is attested in other Semitic languages with similar meanings (e.g., Aramaic and Arabic have cognate forms referring to sealing or stamping).
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, חָטַם appears in contexts involving the closure or sealing of tangible items, such as wells (Genesis 29:3) or documents (Daniel 12:4). The act of sealing could serve practical, legal, or symbolic purposes: physically preventing access, marking ownership or authenticity, or preventing tampering. The image of sealing also serves metaphorical functions (e.g., 'sealing the lips' to indicate silence or restraint). Across different periods of Israelite history, the primary sense—secure closure—remains dominant. English translations sometimes render חָטַם as 'stop,' 'seal,' or 'shut up,' but the underlying sense of rendering inaccessible or validated by seal can be lost. The term differs from others such as סָגַר (sagar, 'to shut, close'), which conveys simple closure without the nuance of sealing or securing. In later Hebrew and post-biblical contexts, sealing becomes more associated with formal and written documents, but in biblical usage the focus remains on literal and symbolic closure.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to stop; refrain.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חתם (ḥ-t-m) — sealing, stopping up, closing off
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2368 | חוֹתָם | with his signet-seal |
| H2369 | חוֹתָם | seal-signet ring |
| H2856 | חָתַם | Seal! |
| H2857 | חֲתַם | and he sealed her |
| H2858 | חֹתֶמֶת | the seal |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2413-01 |
אֶחֱטָם | echetam | HVqi1cs |
I will restrain | I will seal up | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2413-01 |
Isaiah 48:9 | אֶחֱטָם | echetam | HVqi1cs |
I will restrain | I will seal up |