Lexical Summary chatham: sealed Original Word: חֲתַם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance seal (Aramaic) a root corresponding to chatham; to seal -- seal. see HEBREW chatham NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to chatham Definition to seal NASB Translation sealed (1). Topical Lexicon Root and Conceptual Background The word conveys the action of inscribing or impressing an official mark upon an object to render it closed, protected, or authenticated. In Ancient Near Eastern practice a seal established finality, ownership, and the authority of the one who stamped it. Scripture adopts the practice to communicate the certainty of royal decrees and, by extension, the irrevocable resolve of God Himself. Old Testament Usage The term appears once, in Daniel 6:17: “Then a stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that nothing concerning Daniel would be changed”. Although singular in attestation, the verb’s force is unmistakable: the sealing fixes the decree, safeguards its contents, and proclaims the king’s sovereign intent. Historical Context in Daniel 6:17 Darius, having been pressured by officials jealous of Daniel, cast the prophet into a den of lions. The monarch’s sealing of the stone mirrors Persian legal custom wherein a royal edict could not be revoked (Daniel 6:8, Daniel 6:12, Daniel 6:15). The combined signets of both king and nobles heightened the legal permanence, preventing tampering by any party and underscoring the gravity of the situation. Ironically, the seal that aimed to ensure Daniel’s demise becomes the stage for God’s deliverance, showcasing divine supremacy over human law. Theological Significance of Sealing 1. Certainty and Irrevocability: The seal in Daniel testifies that what is sealed is settled. This motif anticipates the broader biblical principle that what God seals cannot be undone by man (Isaiah 55:11). Inter-Testamental and New Testament Echoes While Strong’s 2857 itself does not reappear, the theology of sealing surges forward: Ministerial Implications Preaching Daniel 6:17 can highlight: Application for Believers Today Believers may rest in the certainty that God’s promises to them are sealed. Just as no Persian noble could break Darius’ seal without penalty, no spiritual adversary can annul God’s salvific decree. The narrative encourages steadfast obedience, confident intercession, and hope in divine deliverance regardless of outward “seals” that appear to confine or condemn. Related Themes • Divine Sovereignty over Human Decrees (Psalm 2:1–6). Forms and Transliterations וְחַתְמַ֨הּ וחתמה vechatMah wə·ḥaṯ·mah wəḥaṯmahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 6:17 HEB: פֻּ֣ם גֻּבָּ֑א וְחַתְמַ֨הּ מַלְכָּ֜א בְּעִזְקְתֵ֗הּ NAS: and the king sealed it with his own signet KJV: and the king sealed it with his own signet, INT: the mouth of the den sealed and the king signet 1 Occurrence |
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