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סָתַם

𐤎𐤕𐤌

çâtham

H5640 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To stop up, close, or shut something (especially an opening or passage), either literally (e.g., wells, doorways) or figuratively (e.g., silencing, closing the mouth). It can also extend metaphorically to concealment or keeping something hidden or secret, especially in poetic or prophetic contexts.

Semantic Range

to stop up (a well or opening), to block or fill in, to close (mouth, gates, entryways), to shut out, to conceal, to keep secret, to hide

Root / Etymology

From the root סתם (samekh-tav-mem), meaning 'to stop up, shut, close.' The verb reflects the core idea of physical covering or sealing, which develops metaphorically into the sense of concealing or withholding information.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, סָתַם is most commonly used in literal contexts, such as blocking or filling up wells (e.g., Genesis 26:15), often as an act of hostility or to deprive someone of access. It can also be used of shutting mouths (e.g., preventing speech or protest). In poetic or prophetic contexts, especially in later literature, the idea broadens to hiding something or making it inaccessible, including metaphorical uses like concealing a message or prophecy. The word stands in contrast to פתח (to open), and is distinct from חתם (to seal), though there can be semantic overlap in some contexts. English translations sometimes narrow the word to 'stop up,' missing its broader uses in concealment or secret-keeping.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or שָׂתַם; (Numbers 24:15), a primitive root; to stop up; by implication, to repair; figuratively, to keep secret; closed up, hidden, secret, shut out (up), stop.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

סתם (s-t-m) — stopping up, closing, shutting, concealing

Root סתם to stop up, close, shut

Word Forms

12 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H5640-05 סְתֹ֣ם setom HVqv2ms seal-up Stop up! seal up 2
H5640-03 שָׂתַ֖ם satam HVqp3ms he shuts out he stopped up he shuts out 2
H5640-06 סְתֻמִ֧ים setumim HVqsmpa concealed stopped-up ones concealed 1
H5640-11 וַֽ/יִּסְתְּמוּ֙ vayisetemu HC/Vqw3mp and they stopped up and they stopped up and they stopped up 1
H5640-08 תִּסְתֹּ֑מוּ tisetomu HVqi2mp you shall stop up you will stop up you shall stop up 1
H5640-01 לְ/הִסָּתֵ֑ם lehisatem HR/VNc to repair to be stopped up to repair 1
H5640-02 לִ/סְתּוֹם֙ lisetom HR/Vqc to stop to stop up to stop up 1
H5640-07 סִתְּמ֣וּ/ם sitemum HVpp3cp/Sp3mp stopped up they tightly shut them they stopped them up 1
H5640-09 וּ֝/בְ/סָתֻ֗ם uvesatum HC/R/Vqsmsa and in the hidden part stopped-up and in the hidden part 1
H5640-10 וַ/יְסַתְּמ֣וּ/ם vayesatemum HC/Vpw3mp/Sp3mp had stopped them up they stopped them up they stopped them up 1

Occurrences in Scripture

14 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H5640-07 Genesis 26:15 סִתְּמ֣וּ/ם sitemum HVpp3cp/Sp3mp stopped up they tightly shut them they stopped them up
H5640-10 Genesis 26:18 וַ/יְסַתְּמ֣וּ/ם vayesatemum HC/Vpw3mp/Sp3mp had stopped them up they stopped them up they stopped them up
H5640-08 2 Kings 3:19 תִּסְתֹּ֑מוּ tisetomu HVqi2mp you shall stop up you will stop up you shall stop up
H5640-12 2 Kings 3:25 יִסְתֹּ֨מוּ֙ yisetomu HVqi3mp they-stopped-up they stop up they stopped up
H5640-04 Ezekiel 28:3 סָת֖וּם satum HVqsmsa secret stopped-up hidden
H5640-09 Psalms 51:8 וּ֝/בְ/סָתֻ֗ם uvesatum HC/R/Vqsmsa and in the hidden part stopped-up and in the hidden part
H5640-03 Lamentations 3:8 שָׂתַ֖ם satam HVqp3ms he shuts out he stopped up he shuts out
H5640-05 Daniel 8:26 סְתֹ֣ם setom HVqv2ms seal-up Stop up! seal up
H5640-05 Daniel 12:4 סְתֹ֧ם setom HVqv2ms shut up Stop up! Stop up
H5640-06 Daniel 12:9 סְתֻמִ֧ים setumim HVqsmpa concealed stopped-up ones concealed
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