Lexical Summary Chatipha: Snatching, Seizure Original Word: חֲטִיפָּא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Hatipha From chataph; robber; Chatipha, one of the Nethinim -- Hatipha. see HEBREW chataph NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chataph Definition one of the Nethinim NASB Translation Hatipha (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs חֲטִיפָא proper name, masculine head of a family of Nethinim, post-exile, Ezra 2:54 ᵐ5 Ατουφα, A Ατιφα = Nehemiah 7:56 ᵐ5 Ατειφα; ᵐ5L both Ατουφα. חטר (√ of following; compare Arabic Topical Lexicon Name and Meaning חֲטִיפָּא (Ḥaṭîpā) is the name of a family line whose members were counted among the Nethinim, the hereditary temple servants. Although the etymology suggests ideas of being “snatched” or “seized,” Scripture presents the family primarily in terms of its covenant service rather than its linguistic nuance. Occurrences in Scripture • Ezra 2:54 – “the descendants of Neziah, and the descendants of Hatipha.” Both occurrences appear in lists that detail those returning from Babylon to Judah after the exile. Historical Setting The first mention (Ezra 2) belongs to the register of approximately forty–nine thousand exiles who accompanied Zerubbabel and Jeshua back to Jerusalem around 538 BC. Nearly one hundred years later, Nehemiah’s census (Nehemiah 7) confirms that the family line was still intact and serving in the newly fortified city. The preservation of the name across generations demonstrates God’s providence in maintaining even the least–known branches of His covenant people. Identity with the Nethinim The Nethinim trace back to arrangements made in the time of David and the chiefs of the Levites (compare 1 Chronicles 9:2; Ezra 8:20). They performed labor essential to temple function—drawing water, gathering wood, maintaining facilities, and supporting Levites in their sacrificial duties. The sons of Hatipha embraced that calling, returning to a ruined Jerusalem not for land or privilege, but for humble service in the house of the LORD. Spiritual Significance 1. Faithful Obedience: Leaving comfortable lives in Babylon to face hardship in Judah mirrored Abraham’s obedience (Genesis 12:1) and foreshadowed New Testament calls to lose one’s life for Christ’s sake (Matthew 16:25). Ministry Applications • Valuing Hidden Labor – Modern ministry often celebrates visible leadership, yet the sons of Hatipha remind the church that unseen, routine acts sustain corporate worship. Foreshadowing Redemption The return from exile prefigures the greater redemption accomplished in Jesus Christ. The dedication of the Nethinim anticipates the Savior who “took the very nature of a servant” (Philippians 2:7). Just as the sons of Hatipha enabled atonement sacrifices to proceed, so Christ’s ultimate sacrifice enables believers to serve as “living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1). Rabbinic and Post-Biblical Notes Later Jewish tradition classified the Nethinim among groups with restricted marriage rights (Mishnah Kiddushin 4:1), yet upheld their indispensable temple role. This tension highlights how God often uses the marginalized for His central purposes. New Testament Echoes While the name Hatipha does not reappear after Nehemiah, the ethos of their service resonates in Acts 6, where deacons handle practical needs so that the Word may spread, and in 1 Corinthians 12, where seemingly weaker members are deemed indispensable. Summary Strong’s Hebrew 2412, חֲטִיפָּא, represents more than a footnote in Israel’s genealogical record. The family’s quiet faithfulness during the fragile years of restoration illustrates how God remembers, preserves, and employs every willing servant to advance His redemptive plan—then and now. Forms and Transliterations חֲטִיפָֽא׃ חטיפא׃ chatiFa ḥă·ṭî·p̄ā ḥăṭîp̄āLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 2:54 HEB: נְצִ֖יחַ בְּנֵ֥י חֲטִיפָֽא׃ NAS: of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha. KJV: of Neziah, the children of Hatipha. INT: of Neziah the sons of Hatipha Nehemiah 7:56 2 Occurrences |
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lash with the tail, move spear up and down, shake, quiver (said of spear), etc.; Aramaic 
, חוּטְרָא, Assyrian —utartu, all = staff, SchrCOT Gloss and on