H2368 H2368
A seal or signet-ring used for authenticating documents, marking ownership, and as a figure of preciousness.
Denotes both the physical seal-stone and the signet ring worn on the hand or hung from a cord around the neck. Judah pledges his seal-cord to Tamar as surety (Gen 38:18), Jezebel stamps Naboth's death warrant with Ahab's seal (1 Kgs 21:8), and the priestly vestments are engraved 'like the engravings of a seal' (Exod 28:11, 21, 36). In prophetic speech, Haggai likens Zerubbabel to God's signet ring (Hag 2:23), and Song of Solomon 8:6 pleads, 'Set me as a seal upon your heart.' Spanish distinguishes 'sello' (seal) from 'anillo de sellar' (signet ring), while German uses 'Siegel.'
Senses
1. seal, signet-ring — A seal or signet-ring (חוֹתָם / חֹתָם) — a personal object of authentication and authority. Physically, it could be hung from a cord about the neck (Gen 38:18) or worn on the right hand (Jer 22:24). Its uses span the practical — stamping royal documents (1 Kgs 21:8) and engraving priestly stones with the technique described as 'engravings of a seal' (Exod 28:11, 39:6) — and the figurative, where God declares Zerubbabel his signet (Hag 2:23) and the beloved asks to be set as a seal upon the heart (Song 8:6). Its preciousness makes it apt metaphor for what is uniquely treasured. 14×
AR["بِ-خاتَمِهِ", "تَحْتَ-خَاتَمٍ", "خاتَمٍ", "خَاتَمًا", "خَاتَمُكَ", "خَاتِمٍ", "خَتْمٌ", "كَخَاتَمٍ", "كَخَاتِمٍ"]·ben["-মুদ্রার-মতো", "-সীলমোহরের-মতো", "তার-সীল-দিয়ে", "তোমার-সিলমোহর", "মুদ্রার-আংটি", "সিলমোহর", "সীলমোহর", "সীলমোহরের", "সীলের"]·DE["[חותם]", "[כחותם]", "dein-Siegel", "mit-sein-seal", "versiegeln"]·EN["a-seal", "as-signet-ring", "like-the-seal", "seal", "signet-ring", "signet-your", "with-a-seal", "with-his-seal"]·FR["[חותם]", "avec-son-scelle", "comme-un-sceau", "sceau", "sceau-ton"]·heb["ב-חותמו", "חותם", "חתמך-ך", "כ-חותם"]·HI["उसकी-मुहर-से", "जैसे-मोहर", "तेरी-मुहर", "तेरे-हृदय", "मुझे", "मुद्रा", "मुहर", "मुहर-की", "मुहर-के-नीचे"]·ID["cincin-meterai", "dengan-meterainya", "materai-mu", "meterai", "seperti-cincin-meterai", "seperti-meterai"]·IT["[חותם]", "come-il-like-il-seal", "con-suo-seal", "sigillare", "sigillo", "sigillo-tuo", "un-seal", "with-a-seal"]·jav["Ségelipun", "ali-ali-meterai", "cap,", "kados-ali-ali-cap", "kados-segel", "kalayan-cap", "mawi-capipun", "segel"]·KO["같이-인장", "그의-인장-으로", "당신의-도장과", "도장-처럼", "인장으로", "인장의", "인장이"]·PT["anel-de-selar", "com-selo-seu", "como-selo", "de-selo", "selo", "sinete-teu"]·RU["как-печать", "перстнем", "печати", "печать-твою", "печатью", "печатью-его"]·ES["anillo-de-sellar", "como-sello", "con-su-sello", "sello", "sello-de-ti"]·SW["kama-muhuri", "kwa-muhuri", "kwa-muhuri-wake", "muhuri", "muhuri-wako", "pete-ya-muhuri", "wa-muhuri", "ya-muhuri", "za-muhuri"]·TR["Mührün", "muhur-gibi", "mühür", "mühür-gibi", "mühür-yüzüğü", "mühürüyle"]·urd["اُس-کی-مہر-سے", "مہر", "مہر-تیری", "مہر-سے", "مہر-کی", "مہر-کی-طرح"]
Gen 38:18, Exod 28:11, Exod 28:21, Exod 28:36, Exod 39:6, Exod 39:14, Exod 39:30, 1 Kgs 21:8, Job 38:14, Job 41:15, Song 8:6, Song 8:6 (+2 more)
Related Senses
H2719 1. sword, weapon of war (410×)H4196 1. altar (place of sacrifice) (403×)H7393 1. chariot, chariotry (117×)H7198 1. bow (weapon) (72×)H7979 1. table (71×)H7782 1. ram's horn trumpet (69×)H4294 2. staff, rod, scepter (63×)H4043 1. shield, defensive weapon (60×)H0646 1. ephod (priestly garment) (49×)H8504 1. blue (violet-blue yarn/fabric) (49×)H2595 1. spear, lance (48×)H2671 1. arrow, projectile weapon (46×)H4818 1. chariot, war-chariot (44×)H3658 1. lyre, harp (stringed instrument) (42×)H1537 1. Gilgal (place name) (41×)H0713 1. purple (fabric/dye) (38×)H0905 3. poles, staves (37×)H7392 1. Qal participle: rider, charioteer (37×)H4501 1. cultic lampstand (menorah) (36×)H0212 1. wheel (35×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† I. חֹתָם, חוֹתָם n.m. Jb 41:7 seal, signet-ring (Aramaic ܚܳܬܡܳܐ; Ethiopic ማኅተም —v. LagBN 116)—abs. חֹתָם Ex 28:11 + 2 times; חוֹתָם Je 22:24 + 8 times; sf. חֹתָֽמְךָ Gn 38:18, חֹתָמוֹ 1 K 21:8;—on supposed cstr. חוֹתַם v. foregoing;—seal, signet-ring, hung by a cord (פָּתִיל) about the neck Gn 38:18 (J; = חֹתֶמֶת v 25), or (later?) worn on (finger of) right hand Je 22:24, (BenzArchäol. 106);…