a primitive root; to close up; especially to seal; make an end, mark, seal (up), stop.
Transliteration:châtham
Pronunciation:khaw-tham'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew verb `{{H2856}}` *châtham* (חָתַם) is a primitive root carrying the fundamental meaning "to close up" or "to seal." This core definition branches into several nuanced semantic ranges, reflecting its diverse applications in biblical contexts. Primarily, it denotes the act of affixing a seal, typically with a signet ring or stamp, onto a document, container, or object. This act of sealing carries several significant implications:
1. **Authentication and Validation:** A seal serves as a mark of authenticity, verifying the origin, ownership, or authority of the one who seals. It validates the content of a document or the identity of an object.
2. **Security and Preservation:** Sealing an object or container ensures its security, preventing unauthorized access or tampering. It signifies that the contents are protected and remain intact until the seal is broken.
3. **Finality and Irrevocability:** When a decree or covenant is sealed, it signifies its binding nature and finality. It becomes unalterable and legally enforceable.
4. **Concealment and Secrecy:** In some contexts, sealing implies the closing off or keeping secret of information, often until a designated time for its revelation.
5. **Ownership and Possession:** A seal can designate ownership, marking an item as belonging to a specific individual or entity.
6. **Completion or Cessation:** The act of "closing up" can also imply bringing something to an end, completing a process, or stopping an action.
Thus, *châtham* encompasses actions ranging from the physical act of sealing to the symbolic implications of authority, security, finality, and controlled revelation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb `{{H2856}}` *châtham* appears approximately 16 times in the Hebrew Bible, with its derivatives appearing more frequently. Its usage illustrates the semantic range described above:
* **Sealing Documents and Decrees:**
* In the book of Esther, Haman's decree against the Jews is sealed with the king's signet ring, making it irrevocable ([[Esther 3:12]], [[Esther 8:8]], [[Esther 8:10]]). This highlights the binding and authoritative nature conferred by the act of sealing.
* Jeremiah is commanded by God to buy a field and seal the deed in a jar, signifying the future restoration of Israel and the validity of the transaction even during exile ([[Jeremiah 32:10]], [[Jeremiah 32:11]], [[Jeremiah 32:14]], [[Jeremiah 32:44]]). This demonstrates sealing as an act of legal authentication and a guarantee of future fulfillment.
* Nehemiah 9:38 describes the leaders, Levites, and priests sealing a binding agreement (covenant) to walk in God's law, emphasizing the solemn and committed nature of their pledge ([[Nehemiah 9:38]]).
* **Sealing Visions and Prophecies:**
* The book of Daniel frequently uses *châtham* in relation to visions and prophecies. Daniel is instructed to "seal up the vision and the prophecy" until the time of the end ([[Daniel 9:24]]). This signifies that the prophecy's full understanding or fulfillment is reserved for a future, appointed time.
* Similarly, the angel tells Daniel to "shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end" ([[Daniel 12:4]]), and again, "the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end" ([[Daniel 12:9]]). Here, sealing implies a divine concealment of knowledge, to be revealed when God deems fit.
* **Sealing a Tomb or Stone:**
* In Daniel 6:17, a stone is brought and laid on the mouth of the den of lions, and the king seals it with his own signet ring and with the signet of his nobles. This act ensures the security of the den and prevents any interference, emphasizing confinement and security.
* **Figurative Usage:**
* Job 9:7 speaks of God "who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars." This metaphorical usage describes God's absolute control over creation, implying His power to hide or restrain natural phenomena.
* Job 37:7 states, "He seals up the hand of every man, that all men may know His work." This poetic expression suggests that God can bring human activity to a standstill, compelling humanity to recognize His sovereign power and providence.
* Ezekiel 28:12 describes the king of Tyre as "the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty." While the Hebrew here is `{{H2368}}` *chotam* (the noun "seal" or "signet"), it draws directly from the verb *châtham*, indicating the king's original state as a perfect, divinely "sealed" creation.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary noun directly related to `{{H2856}}` *châtham* is `{{H2368}}` *chotam* (חֹתָם), meaning "seal" or "signet ring." This noun refers to the instrument used for sealing or the impression made by the seal. The close relationship between the verb and its nominal derivative underscores the significance of the act of sealing and the object that performs it in ancient Near Eastern culture.
Other related concepts include:
* **Authority and Sovereignty:** The act of sealing is intrinsically linked to the one in authority, whether a king, a prophet, or God Himself.
* **Covenant and Oath:** Sealing often accompanies the ratification of covenants and oaths, signifying their binding and unbreakable nature.
* **Divine Decree and Providence:** God's "sealing" of prophecies or human actions highlights His ultimate control over history and His divine plan.
* **Truth and Authenticity:** A sealed document or message is considered authentic and trustworthy.
* **Concealment and Revelation:** The idea of sealing up knowledge implies a divinely appointed time for its unveiling, linking to the broader biblical theme of progressive revelation.
* **Security and Protection:** The physical act of sealing a container or tomb speaks to the desire for security and preservation.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H2856}}` *châtham* is profound, touching upon several key doctrines:
1. **Divine Sovereignty and Authority:** God is depicted as the ultimate Sealer. He seals prophecies, decrees, and even the "hands of men," demonstrating His absolute control over history, human affairs, and the natural world. What God seals is irrevocable and will surely come to pass. This reinforces His omnipotence and unchallengeable will.
2. **Reliability of God's Word:** The sealing of Jeremiah's deed guarantees the future restoration of Israel, even in the midst of national catastrophe. This illustrates that God's promises, though seemingly delayed or obscured, are sealed and will be fulfilled in His appointed time. His word is authentic and trustworthy.
3. **Progressive Revelation:** The command to Daniel to "seal up" prophecies underscores the concept of progressive revelation. Not all truth is revealed at once; some divine mysteries are kept "sealed" until God's timing for their unveiling. This calls for faith and patience in awaiting God's full disclosure.
4. **Security and Preservation:** While not explicitly using *châtham* in the New Testament context, the concept of being "sealed" by the Holy Spirit (e.g., `{{G4972}}` *sphragizō*) echoes the Old Testament idea of divine ownership, security, and preservation for a future inheritance. God "seals" His people, marking them as His own and guaranteeing their final redemption.
5. **Judgment and Finality:** The sealing of a decree, such as Haman's, signifies its finality and the inevitability of its execution, whether for blessing or judgment. This reflects God's unyielding justice and the certainty of His judgments.
### Summary
The Hebrew verb `{{H2856}}` *châtham* (חָתַם) fundamentally means "to close up" or "to seal." Its semantic range extends to encompass authentication, security, finality, ownership, and controlled concealment. In biblical contexts, *châtham* is applied to the sealing of legal documents, royal decrees, prophecies, and even tombs, each instance reinforcing the binding, authoritative, and often irrevocable nature of the sealed item or action. Theologically, *châtham* powerfully communicates God's absolute sovereignty, the unwavering reliability of His promises, the principle of progressive revelation, and the ultimate security of His divine plan. It underscores the profound truth that what God seals, whether a promise or a prophecy, is sure and will be brought to pass in His perfect timing.
TRV