חָתַם (cha.tam)
cha.tam
to seal
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 21 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb chatham means to close something securely by affixing a seal. In ancient times, this was not merely decorative but functional, serving as a guarantee of authenticity and protection. When a king like Ahasuerus in Esther sealed a decree with his signet ring (Esther 8:8), the act made the document legally binding and impossible to alter without detection. The word appears frequently in contexts involving official documents, such as Jeremiah buying a field and sealing the deed to preserve the legal record (Jeremiah 32:10).
Its range extends beyond physical objects to include abstract concepts. In Job, God is described as sealing up instruction or hiding wisdom from human understanding (Job 33:16), suggesting a divine restraint or preservation of knowledge. The sources note that this usage implies a shutting off from view, much like a sealed scroll that remains unread until opened by the proper authority. This dual sense of authentication and concealment gives the word significant theological weight in passages about prophecy and divine mystery.
Translators typically render chatham as "seal" or "sealed up," capturing both the physical act and its metaphorical implications. The consistency of this translation across diverse contexts—from legal contracts to prophetic visions—highlights how ancient readers understood sealing as an act of finality and trust. The word reminds us that in biblical culture, a seal was a serious commitment, marking something as set apart and secure.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
In biblical culture, a seal was far more than a decorative stamp. It served as a guarantee of authenticity and protection, marking something as secure and set apart from unauthorized interference. When King Ahasuerus sealed a decree in Esther, the act made the document legally binding and impossible to alter without detection. This physical reality helps us understand how God uses this concept in Scripture: His promises are not fragile suggestions but secure commitments that cannot be broken or reversed.
We see this security extended beyond legal documents into our spiritual lives. In Jeremiah 32, Jeremiah seals a land deed during a time of national crisis, trusting that God’s promise of restoration is as real and binding as the paper in his hand. Similarly, when Job speaks of his disobedience being sealed up in a bag, he acknowledges God’s total knowledge and control over every aspect of his life. These images remind us that what belongs to God is kept safe by Him.
For your faith, this word offers a profound sense of stability. In a world where circumstances shift rapidly, the idea of divine sealing assures you that your relationship with God is authenticated by His own authority. It is not based on your fluctuating performance but on His faithful character. You can rest in the knowledge that what God has marked as His own remains secure until the final day.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 21 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ sealed [one]2×
- sealed up2×
- he puts a seal2×
- they seal up1×
- seal up1×
- it has been obstructed1×
- he will seal1×
- and/ to/ seal up1×
- and/ they will seal [it]1×
- and/ she sealed [them]1×
- and/ sealed up1×
- and/ seal up1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יַחְתֹּֽם\׃2×
- יַחְתּ֑וֹם1×
- חָתֽוּם\׃1×
- חָתֻ֣ם1×
- חָתֻ֖ם1×
- חָת֖וּם1×
- חִתְּמוּ\־1×
- חֲת֥וֹם1×
- וָֽ/אֶחְתֹּ֔ם1×
- וַ/תַּחְתֹּ֖ם1×
- וַ/יַּחְתֹּ֖ם1×
- וַ/חֲתֻמִ֛ים1×
Key Verses
-
Esther 8:8
Write also to the Jews as it pleases you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring; for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may not be reversed by any man.”
This verse highlights the irreversible nature of a royal seal, showing that once God’s purposes are sealed, no human power can overturn them.
-
Jeremiah 32:10
I signed the deed, sealed it, called witnesses, and weighed the money in the balances to him.
Jeremiah’s act of sealing the deed serves as a tangible prophecy of future restoration, demonstrating that God’s promises remain valid even in times of judgment.
-
Daniel 12:9
He said, “Go your way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.
The instruction to seal the book until the end of time emphasizes that some divine mysteries are preserved by God for the proper moment of revelation.
-
Job 14:17
My disobedience is sealed up in a bag. You fasten up my iniquity.
Here the sealing of iniquity in a bag illustrates God’s complete handling of sin, suggesting it is contained and accounted for rather than ignored.