אָטַם (a.tam)
a.tam
to shutter
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb aṭam means to shut or close something tightly. In the Old Testament, it appears only four times, primarily in wisdom literature and prophetic texts. Its most common usage describes the physical act of closing lips, as seen when Proverbs warns against letting one’s mouth remain shut during times of trouble (Proverbs 17:28). This concrete image highlights the power of silence.
A more striking application appears in Isaiah 5:12 and 59:1, where the Hiphil stem describes a person stopping their ears. Here, the word moves from physical action to spiritual metaphor. The text uses this imagery to depict the wicked who deliberately ignore God’s voice. Just as one might block out noise by covering their ears, these individuals refuse to listen to divine instruction, choosing willful deafness over obedience.
The root conveys a sense of finality and force. It is not merely closing an eye or door gently; it implies a firm, decisive action that prevents anything from passing through. This intensity makes it a powerful tool for describing both the restraint of speech and the hardness of heart. Translators often render it as "shut" or "stop," capturing the abruptness of the action without adding emotional nuance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word atam describes a firm, decisive action to shut or close something tightly. It is not a gentle closing but one that prevents anything from passing through. This intensity makes it a powerful image for both silence and refusal to listen.
In Proverbs 17:28, the text suggests that even a fool appears wise when he keeps silent. Here, holding your tongue becomes a sign of discernment. It reminds us that restraint in speech can be a form of wisdom, especially when words might cause more harm than good.
However, the word also carries a warning. In Proverbs 21:13 and Isaiah 33:15, it describes those who stop their ears to ignore the cries of others or the ways of God. This deliberate deafness leads to isolation. The choice is ours: will we shut our hearts against need and truth, or will we remain open to listen and respond?
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [one who] shuts2×
- shut1×
- [who] shuts1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אֹטֵ֤ם1×
- אֹטֵ֣ם1×
- אֹטֵ֖ם1×
- אֲטֻמִֽים\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 17:28
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
This verse uses the word to describe a fool who appears wise simply by keeping his lips shut, highlighting silence as a form of discernment.
-
Proverbs 21:13
Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
Here the Hiphil stem describes someone who deliberately stops their ears to the poor's cry, showing how willful deafness leads to being unheard in turn.
-
Isaiah 33:15
He who walks righteously and speaks blamelessly, he who despises the gain of oppressions, who gestures with his hands, refusing to take a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from looking at evil—
The righteous person is defined by stopping their ears from hearing of bloodshed, using this physical action to symbolize moral refusal to engage with violence.