Lexical Summary chathunnah: Marriage, wedding Original Word: חֲתֻנָּה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance espousal From chathan; a wedding -- espousal. see HEBREW chathan NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as chathan Definition a marriage, wedding NASB Translation wedding (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [חֲתֻנָּה] noun feminine marriage, wedding (Late Hebrew חִיתּוּן id.; Aramaic חִיתּוּנָא id.; Arabic  marriage-alliance, marriage) — only בְּיוֺם חֲתֻנָּתו Songs 3:11 on the day of his marriage. Topical Lexicon Biblical occurrence The noun appears a single time, in Song of Songs 3:11: “Go forth, O daughters of Zion, and behold King Solomon with the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, the day of the gladness of his heart”. Within the Song this moment forms the literary and theological peak of the book’s first half, portraying the public celebration of covenantal love. Cultural background In ancient Israel a wedding was more than personal joy; it was a covenant-making event that joined families, secured inheritances, and reaffirmed communal stability. The betrothal (erusin) could last up to a year, culminating in a processional in which the groom went in festal attire to bring his bride home (Psalm 45:8-15; Matthew 25:6). The arrival at the groom’s house inaugurated a week-long banquet (Judges 14:10-12; John 2:1-10). Royal weddings, such as Solomon’s, were state occasions that displayed the prosperity of the kingdom and the favor of God upon David’s dynasty (1 Kings 3:1; Psalm 45). Theological themes 1. Covenant joy. Song of Songs 3:11 links the wedding day to “the gladness of his heart.” Scripture repeatedly casts covenant fidelity in terms of joy (Deuteronomy 28:47; John 15:11). Christological and ecclesiological significance Jesus appropriates wedding imagery to describe His own mission (Matthew 9:15) and kingdom consummation (Matthew 22:2; 25:1-13). Solomon—“the son of David”—points ahead to the greater Son whose mother Mary likewise rejoices at covenant fulfillment (Luke 1:47). The Church is portrayed as the Bride being prepared in purity (Ephesians 5:25-27; Revelation 19:7-8). Thus the single Old Testament appearance of the term becomes a lens through which to view the whole redemptive arc: from creation’s first marriage (Genesis 2:24) to the new creation’s final union (Revelation 21:2). Pastoral and ministry applications • Marriage counseling. Song of Songs 3:11 urges couples to cherish the public, covenantal dimensions of their vows and to pursue joy that flows from steadfast love. Key associated passages Psalm 45; Isaiah 62:4-5; Jeremiah 33:11; Hosea 2:19-20; Matthew 22:1-14; John 3:29; Ephesians 5:22-33; Revelation 19:6-9; Revelation 21:2. Forms and Transliterations חֲתֻנָּת֔וֹ חתנתו chatunnaTo ḥă·ṯun·nā·ṯōw ḥăṯunnāṯōwLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Songs 3:11 HEB: אִמּוֹ֙ בְּי֣וֹם חֲתֻנָּת֔וֹ וּבְי֖וֹם שִׂמְחַ֥ת NAS: him On the day of his wedding, And on the day KJV: him in the day of his espousals, and in the day INT: his mother the day of his wedding the day of his gladness 1 Occurrence |
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