Lexical Summary chatuboth: Inscriptions, engravings Original Word: חֲטֻבָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance carved Feminine passive participle of chatab; properly, a carving; hence, a tapestry (as figured) -- carved. see HEBREW chatab NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition dark-hued stuffs NASB Translation colored (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs חֲטֻבוֺת noun feminine plural dark-hued stuffs, only in חֲטֻבֿוֺת אֵטוּן מִצְרַיִם Proverbs 7:16 dark-hued stuffs (of) yarn of Egypt ("" מַרְבַֿדִּים), see De Now; מְחֻטָּבוֺת Psalm 144:12 derived from this √ by De (q. v., and Wetzst's note), but see I. חטב. Topical Lexicon General Definition and Context חֲטֻבָה refers to elaborately worked bed-coverings or tapestries. Its single biblical appearance is in the warning narrative of Proverbs 7, where the adulterous woman lures a naïve youth with the promise, “I have decked my bed with coverings, with colored linens from Egypt” (Proverbs 7:16). The term thus denotes fine, decorative fabric whose craftsmanship and costliness heighten the seductive atmosphere of the passage. Old Testament Usage Only occurrence: Proverbs 7:16. The rarity underscores its literary function—this word is chosen specifically to convey luxury, exotic beauty, and the deliberate preparation of sin’s snare. In the wider context (Proverbs 7:6-27) the coverings symbolize the outward attractiveness of temptation that masks destructive consequences. Cultural and Historical Background 1. Imported Luxury. Egyptian linen was prized throughout the ancient Near East for superior quality and vibrant dyeing techniques. Possessing such fabric testified to wealth and status (compare Ezekiel 27:7). Theological and Ethical Implications • Seduction’s Coverings. Sin often wraps itself in beauty. The ornate bedspread advances the theme that moral danger is not always blatant; it is frequently camouflaged by aesthetic or material appeal (Proverbs 9:17-18). Practical Ministry Applications 1. Teaching Purity. Youth and adults alike must recognize the deceptive packaging of immorality. Illustrations drawn from Proverbs 7:16 help expose modern equivalents—media imagery, consumer luxury, emotional flattery—that function as today’s “coverings.” Christological and New Testament Echoes • True Covering. Where sinful allure employs ornate sheets, Christ offers the flawless “robe of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10) fulfilled in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). Conclusion חֲטֻבָה, though appearing only once, powerfully conveys how temptation disguises itself in beauty and opulence. Recognizing this pattern equips God’s people to pursue wisdom, guard holiness, and find true satisfaction in the righteous garments supplied by the Lord. Forms and Transliterations חֲ֝טֻב֗וֹת חטבות chatuVot ḥă·ṭu·ḇō·wṯ ḥăṭuḇōwṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Proverbs 7:16 HEB: רָבַ֣דְתִּי עַרְשִׂ֑י חֲ֝טֻב֗וֹת אֵט֥וּן מִצְרָֽיִם׃ NAS: with coverings, With colored linens KJV: with coverings of tapestry, with carved [works], with fine linen INT: have spread my couch colored linens of Egypt 1 Occurrence |
    |