חָתַף
𐤇𐤕𐤐
châthaph
H2862 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To seize or snatch swiftly and forcefully, often with the implication of taking something suddenly or unexpectedly. The term is used both for literal acts of grabbing or capturing and for figurative instances of sudden removal or abduction.
Semantic Range
to seize, snatch away, abduct, carry off suddenly, clutch, take by force
Root / Etymology
Root is ח-ת-ף (חתף), whose core idea is taking or seizing. The verb חָתַף is a denominative root formation referring to the physical or figurative action of snatching. Derivation implies a forceful, abrupt taking, possibly linked to cognate terms in other Semitic languages conveying similar acts of violent or sudden seizure.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb חָתַף appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible, with primary attestation in late biblical Hebrew (e.g., Job 5:5; 27:20). It denotes suddenness and force, contrasting with verbs like לָקַח ('to take'), which can denote a more neutral or controlled act. There are related nouns (e.g., חֲטוּפָה), mostly in later or post-biblical Hebrew, that continue the sense of 'snatching.' English translations often render it as 'snatch,' 'carry away,' or 'seize,' but may not fully capture its implication of violence or abruptness. The term does not acquire any specialized legal or ritual meaning in biblical contexts, and usage remains consistent from the monarchic to post-exilic periods, with no substantial theological development attached to the verb itself.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to clutch; take away.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חתף (ḥ-ṭ-p) — to seize, snatch, take suddenly
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2863 | חֶתֶף | like violent snatching |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2862-01 |
יַ֭חְתֹּף | yachetof | HVqi3ms |
he snatches away | he snatches away | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2862-01 |
Job 9:12 | יַ֭חְתֹּף | yachetof | HVqi3ms |
he snatches away | he snatches away |