(Aramaic) the same as חַרְטֹם; {a horoscopist (as drawing magical lines or circles)}; magician.
Transliteration:charṭôm
Pronunciation:khar-tome'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic lemma חַרְטֹם (charṭôm) refers to a specific class of individuals involved in esoteric and occult practices. Its base definition points to a "horoscopist" or "magician," with an underlying sense of one who "draws magical lines or circles." This suggests a practitioner who inscribes symbols, writes incantations, or performs rituals involving precise markings for divinatory or magical purposes. The semantic range encompasses roles such as enchanter, soothsayer, diviner, and wise man, particularly within non-Yahwistic religious or courtly contexts. While primarily Aramaic, it is closely related to the Hebrew `{{H2748}}`, sharing a common conceptual space.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term חַרְטֹם appears exclusively in the books of Exodus and Daniel, consistently referring to foreign practitioners of magic and divination.
In **Exodus**, חַרְטֹם describes the Egyptian magicians who oppose Moses and Aaron. They are initially able to replicate some of God's signs through their "secret arts" or "enchantments," such as turning staffs into snakes ([[Exodus 7:11]], [[Exodus 7:22]]) and water into blood ([[Exodus 7:22]]). However, their power is demonstrably limited. They fail to produce gnats ([[Exodus 8:18]]) and are afflicted by boils, unable to stand before Moses ([[Exodus 9:11]]). This narrative arc highlights the qualitative difference between divine power and human/demonic magic, asserting Yahweh's absolute sovereignty over all other forces.
In **Daniel**, חַרְטֹם refers to the Babylonian "magicians" or "wise men" summoned by King Nebuchadnezzar to interpret his dreams and visions. These חַרְטֹם are repeatedly depicted as incapable of providing the king with the answers he seeks, unable even to recall the dream itself, let alone its interpretation ([[Daniel 2:2]], [[Daniel 2:10]], [[Daniel 2:27]]). Their failures pave the way for Daniel, who, empowered by God, reveals and interprets the mysteries ([[Daniel 1:20]], [[Daniel 2:28]], [[Daniel 4:7]], [[Daniel 5:11]]). The repeated inability of the חַרְטֹם in Daniel serves to underscore the profound limitations of human wisdom and occult knowledge when confronted with divine revelation.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept embodied by חַרְטֹם is often found alongside other terms for practitioners of forbidden arts in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing a comprehensive rejection of such activities. Related Hebrew terms include:
* `{{H3045}}` (ידעני - *yidde'oni*): "wizards" or "spiritists."
* `{{H3784}}` (כָּשַׁף - *kashaf*): "sorcerer" or "witch."
* `{{H6049}}` (ענן - *onan*): "soothsayer" or "diviner" (often associated with interpreting omens).
* `{{H5172}}` (נחשׁ - *nachash*): "enchanter" or "diviner" (often associated with snake charming or omens).
* `{{H7080}}` (קסם - *qasam*): "diviner" or "practitioner of divination."
In the Greek New Testament or Septuagint, the concept might be conveyed by `{{G3097}}` (*magos*), referring to a "magician" or "wise man," or `{{G5331}}` (*pharmakeus*), a "sorcerer" (often with connotations of drug use in magic). The consistent biblical condemnation of these practices, as seen in [[Deuteronomy 18:10-12]], underscores their inherent opposition to the worship of the one true God.
### Theological Significance
The recurring presence of חַרְטֹם in the biblical narrative serves several crucial theological purposes:
* **Demonstration of Divine Supremacy:** The primary theological function of חַרְטֹם is to highlight the absolute power and authority of Yahweh over all rival spiritual forces and human wisdom. Their eventual failure in both Exodus and Daniel emphatically proves that no magic, enchantment, or human intellect can stand against the will and power of God.
* **Condemnation of Occult Practices:** By portraying the חַרְטֹם as ineffective and ultimately defeated, the biblical text implicitly and explicitly condemns all forms of divination, magic, and reliance on powers other than God. These practices are presented as futile, deceptive, and an affront to the divine order.
* **Exaltation of Divine Revelation:** The narratives involving חַרְטֹם consistently elevate God as the sole source of true wisdom and revelation. While the חַרְטֹם rely on secret arts or human intellect, Daniel's success is explicitly attributed to the "God in heaven who reveals mysteries" ([[Daniel 2:28]]). This underscores that genuine understanding comes only through divine illumination.
* **Spiritual Warfare:** The confrontations with חַרְטֹם represent a form of spiritual warfare, demonstrating that God's people need not fear worldly powers or occult forces, as God's power is unequivocally supreme.
### Summary
The Aramaic term חַרְטֹם (charṭôm) denotes a "magician" or "horoscopist," a practitioner of esoteric arts often involving the drawing of magical symbols. Its usage in Exodus portrays the Egyptian magicians who are ultimately overwhelmed by God's power, while in Daniel, it refers to the Babylonian wise men who are utterly incapable of interpreting divine mysteries without God's direct intervention. In both contexts, the חַרְטֹם serve as a foil, highlighting the profound limitations of human and demonic power when confronted with the omnipotence and omniscient wisdom of Yahweh. The biblical portrayal of חַרְטֹם thus functions as a powerful theological statement, condemning all forms of occult practice and exalting the unique sovereignty and revelatory capacity of the one true God.
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