חָתָן (cha.tan)
cha.tan
son-in-law
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 18 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun chatan refers to a man who is either a son-in-law or a bridegroom. It describes a man’s relationship to his wife’s family or to his new spouse. The word appears eighteen times in the Old Testament, with significant usage in Genesis, Jeremiah, and Nehemiah.
Its meaning shifts depending on context. When used for a father-in-law, it highlights the legal bond between families, as seen when Jethro is called Moses’s chatan in Exodus 2:18. In wedding contexts, it emphasizes the man’s role as the groom, such as in the Song of Solomon where the bridegroom rejoices (Song of Solomon 5:1). The term covers both the relational tie to the in-laws and the ceremonial status of being newly married.
Translators often render chatan as "son-in-law" or "bridegroom" based on the surrounding narrative. This distinction matters because it clarifies whether the text focuses on family alliances or marital celebration. The word underscores the seriousness of these bonds in ancient Israelite society, where marriage connected entire households rather than just individuals.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word chatan carries a dual meaning that bridges two vital relationships: it describes both a son-in-law and a bridegroom. In ancient Israel, marriage was not merely a union of two people but a binding alliance between entire families. When Jethro is called Moses’s chatan in Exodus 2:18, the term highlights the legal and social bond created by this new connection. It reminds us that our personal choices often ripple outward, affecting how we relate to extended kin and community.
Yet the word also shines with joy. In passages like Isaiah 61:10, chatan describes a bridegroom decked in garments of righteousness, celebrating his union. This imagery points to God’s own delight in His people. Whether viewed through the lens of family duty or marital celebration, chatan underscores that relationships are sacred trusts. They require faithfulness, care, and a willingness to honor the bonds we have entered.
For your daily life, this word invites reflection on how you nurture your connections. It encourages you to see marriage and family ties as serious commitments that reflect deeper spiritual truths. By honoring these relationships with integrity and joy, you participate in a pattern of faithfulness that has been valued for millennia.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 18 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a bridegroom5×
- sons-in-law/ his2×
- a son-in-law2×
- [was] a son-in-law2×
- son-in-law/ his1×
- like <the>/ bridegroom1×
- and/ [the] son-in-law of1×
- a bridegroom of1×
- [was] [the] son-in-law of1×
- [the] son-in-law of1×
- [the] bridegroom1×
- [are] a bridegroom of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חָתָ֖ן5×
- חָתָן֙3×
- חֲתַ֥ן2×
- כֶּֽ/חָתָן֙1×
- חָתָן֮1×
- חָתָ֥ן1×
- חֲתָנָֽי/ו\׃1×
- חֲתָנָ֣י/ו\׀1×
- חֲתָנ֗/וֹ1×
- חֲתַן\־1×
- חֲתַ֣ן1×
- וַ/חֲתַ֥ן1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 19:14
Lot went out, and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters, and said, “Get up! Get out of this place, for Yahweh will destroy the city!” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be joking.
This verse shows chatan referring to sons-in-law, highlighting the urgent responsibility to warn family members of impending judgment.
-
Isaiah 61:10
I will greatly rejoice in Yahweh! My soul will be joyful in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation. He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
The term shifts to describe a bridegroom adorned in righteousness, using marital joy as a metaphor for God’s salvation.
-
Judges 15:6
Then the Philistines said, “Who has done this?” They said, “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife and given her to his companion.” The Philistines came up, and burned her and her father with fire.
Samson is identified as the son-in-law of the Timnite, showing how this title defined his legal status and the resulting conflict.