3799. katham

Lexicon

katham: To seal, to mark, to inscribe

Original Word: כְּתַם
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: katham
Pronunciation: kah-tham'
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-tham')
Definition: To seal, to mark, to inscribe
Meaning: to carve, engrave, to inscribe indelibly

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

mark

A primitive root; properly, to carve or engrave, i.e. (by implication) to inscribe indelibly -- mark.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to be stained
NASB Translation
stain (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[כָּתַם] verb only

Niph`al be stained (Late Hebrew Niph`al id. (Jastr); כֶּתֶם blood-stain; ᵑ7 כְּתִים (blood-)stained Isaiah 1:18; כִּיתְמָא blood-stain Jeremiah 2:22; Syriac stain, defile, Participle, also Pa`el, Ethpa`al, and derive.; Arabic is cover, conceal, so Assyrian katâmu; Zinjirli כתם (?) DHM^{Sendsch. P. 37}); —

Niph`al Participle, figurative, נִכְתָּם עֲוֺנֵךְ לְפָנַי Jeremiah 2:22 stained is thine iniquity before me (compare English phrase iniquity of deepest dye).

II. כתם (√ of following; meaning unknown).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from a root word meaning to carve or engrave.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The concept of engraving or inscribing in the Hebrew Bible can be related to several Greek terms in the New Testament, such as χαράσσω (charassō • Strong's Greek 5482), which means to engrave or inscribe. This Greek term is used in contexts that similarly emphasize the permanence and significance of what is written or inscribed.

Usage: The word כְּתַם is used in contexts where the act of engraving or inscribing is described, often with a sense of permanence and significance. It is not frequently used in the Hebrew Bible, but when it appears, it emphasizes the enduring nature of what is being inscribed.

Context: The Hebrew term כְּתַם (ketham) is associated with the act of engraving or inscribing, often used metaphorically to describe the permanence of God's words or decrees. In the ancient Near Eastern context, engraving was a common practice for recording important texts, laws, or decrees on stone or metal, ensuring their preservation over time. This term underscores the enduring and unchangeable nature of what is inscribed, reflecting the belief that divine words and commands are eternal and unalterable.

In the biblical narrative, the concept of engraving is significant, as it often relates to the recording of covenants, laws, and divine instructions. The use of כְּתַם in the scriptures serves as a reminder of the lasting impact of God's word and the importance of adhering to His commands. The act of engraving is not merely a physical process but also a spiritual one, symbolizing the deep imprint of divine truth on the hearts and minds of believers.

Forms and Transliterations

נִכְתָּ֤ם נכתם nichTam niḵ·tām niḵtām

Englishman's Concordance

Jeremiah 2:22
HEB: לָ֖ךְ בֹּרִ֑ית נִכְתָּ֤ם עֲוֹנֵךְ֙ לְפָנַ֔י
NAS: soap, The stain of your iniquity
KJV: [yet] thine iniquity is marked before
INT: and use soap the stain of your iniquity is before

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 3799
1 Occurrence

niḵ·tām — 1 Occ.