חָטַף
𐤇𐤈𐤐
châṭaph
H2414 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To seize, snatch, or take quickly, often with force or suddenness. The primary lexical sense is to grasp or take something suddenly, sometimes with the nuance of violence or illegality. It can emphasize rapid and forceful action, especially in the context of capturing, taking by surprise, or forcibly removing someone or something.
Semantic Range
to snatch away rapidly, to seize by force, to capture by surprise, to abduct, to carry off suddenly, to take possession suddenly
Root / Etymology
Root is ח-ט-ף (חָטַף). The core meaning of the root is 'to seize, snatch.' The verb derives directly from this root, with the simple (Qal) form indicating the act of snatching or seizing, especially suddenly or forcefully. No significant morphological development is evident; the etymology is straightforward from the root meaning.
Historical & Contextual Notes
חָטַף appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible and is used predominantly in contexts concerning the sudden taking or snatching of someone or something, such as taking a person captive or seizing an object. The sense often includes rapid, forceful, and sometimes unexpected action, distinguishing it from broader or more neutral terms for taking (e.g., לָקַח 'to take, receive'). In rabbinic and later Hebrew, חָטַף develops the connotation of robbery, banditry, or snatching unlawfully, sometimes becoming a more technical legal term. English translations often render the word as 'seize,' 'snatch,' or 'catch,' but can obscure the immediacy and forcefulness implied by the Hebrew. The imagery is closer to that of abduction or grabbing by surprise, rather than simply catching or receiving. This verb is distinct from roots like גָּזַל (gazal, 'to rob by force') or לָקַח (laqach, 'to take, accept'), as it highlights the swiftness and surprise of the action.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to clutch; hence, to seize as aprisoner; catch.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חטף (ḥ-ṭ-p) — to seize, to snatch, to take quickly
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2412 | חֲטִיפָא | Seized One |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2414-03 |
יַחְטֹ֥ף | yachetof | HVqi3ms |
he seizes | he snatches | 1 |
H2414-01 |
לַ/חֲט֣וֹף | lachatof | HR/Vqc |
to seize | to snatch | 1 |
H2414-02 |
וַ/חֲטַפְתֶּ֥ם | vachatafetem | HC/Vqp2mp |
and seize | you snatched | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2414-02 |
Judges 21:21 | וַ/חֲטַפְתֶּ֥ם | vachatafetem | HC/Vqp2mp |
and seize | you snatched |
H2414-01 |
Psalms 10:9 | לַ/חֲט֣וֹף | lachatof | HR/Vqc |
to seize | to snatch |
H2414-03 |
Psalms 10:9 | יַחְטֹ֥ף | yachetof | HVqi3ms |
he seizes | he snatches |