Lexical Summary chatam: To seal, to close up, to make an end Original Word: חָטַם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance refrain A primitive root; to stop -- refrain. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to hold in, restrain NASB Translation restrain (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs חָטַם verb hold in, restrain (Arabic  strike the nose, attach the  = camel-halter,  noun muzzle, nose of beast; Late Hebrew חֲטָם nose-ring of camel, חוֺטָם; Aramaic חוּטְמָא nose; compare חטם, Inscription Zinjirli; according to DHMSendsch. 34, of taming wild beasts) — Qal Imperfect אֶחֱטָםלָֿ֑ךְ לְבִלְתִּי הַכְרִיֶתךָ ׃ Isaiah 48:9 I will restrain for thee (mine anger), not to cut thee off ("" אַאֲרִיךְ אַמִּי). Topical Lexicon Biblical SettingThe single appearance of חָטַם in the Old Testament is Isaiah 48:9, where the prophet conveys the Lord’s explanation for His remarkable forbearance with a rebellious Israel: “For the sake of My name I delay My wrath, and for the sake of My praise I restrain it for you, so that I may not cut you off” (Isaiah 48:9). The verb pictures divine anger being “sealed,” shut in, or stopped up—an intentional, authoritative containment. Covenantal Significance 1. Protection within judgment By “sealing” His wrath, the Lord guards His covenant people from the full consequences they deserve, while still preserving the integrity of His justice. The move echoes earlier covenant moments—such as the marking of doorposts in Egypt (Exodus 12:13) or the ram in place of Isaac (Genesis 22:13)—where the deserving party is spared through a divinely imposed limit. 2. Preservation of the divine Name The restraint is “for the sake of My name.” The verb underscores that reputation and holiness are inseparable. God’s self–imposed enclosure of wrath ensures that His redemptive purposes for Israel, and ultimately for the nations, are not nullified by immediate destruction. Historical Background In the ancient Near East, a seal (signet, cylinder, or impression) spoke of ownership, authenticity, and inviolability. Legal documents, storerooms, and tombs were sealed to prevent tampering. Isaiah’s audience would grasp the metaphor: the Sovereign Lord has set an unbreakable seal on the surge of His wrath until His redemptive plan comes to full term. Later Jewish usage retained this imagery; for example, the sealing of the lion’s den (Daniel 6:17) or the tomb of Jesus (Matthew 27:66) employs cognate language to portray authority and finality. Theological Trajectory 1. Temporary containment, ultimate release Isaiah 48:9 is not a denial of judgment; it is a postponement that allows space for repentance (cf. Romans 2:4). The same chapter proceeds to announce refining discipline (Isaiah 48:10–11). The seal will one day be removed if unrepentance persists. 2. Anticipation of a greater sealing The New Testament speaks of believers being “sealed for the day of redemption” by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). The motif shifts from wrath withheld to salvation guaranteed. What Isaiah glimpsed in promise the apostles proclaim in fulfillment: in Christ, judgment is not merely delayed but satisfied, and the believer is marked with a seal of permanence. 3. Eschatological consummation Revelation describes servants of God receiving a seal on their foreheads (Revelation 7:3), contrasting with the mark of the beast. Just as wrath was sealed in Isaiah’s day, wrath will again be bounded until God’s servants are secured, after which final judgment will proceed (Revelation 9:4–5). Ministry Applications • Intercession: Knowing that divine anger can be “sealed” encourages prayer for mercy on peoples and nations under judgment, following the pattern of Moses (Exodus 32:11–14) and Paul (Romans 9:1–3). Scripture for Further Study Exodus 12:13; Isaiah 48:9–11; Daniel 6:17; Romans 2:4–5; Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 4:30; 2 Timothy 2:19; Revelation 7:3; Revelation 9:4. Forms and Transliterations אֶחֱטָם־ אחטם־ ’e·ḥĕ·ṭām- ’eḥĕṭām- echetomLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 48:9 HEB: אַפִּ֔י וּתְהִלָּתִ֖י אֶחֱטָם־ לָ֑ךְ לְבִלְתִּ֖י NAS: And [for] My praise I restrain [it] for you, In order not to cut you off. KJV: and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off. INT: my wrath and my praise restrain not to cut 1 Occurrence |
    |