חָתַן
to give (a daughter) away in marriage; hence (generally) to contract affinity by marriage
Definition
The Hebrew verb חָתַן (châthan) fundamentally means 'to become a son-in-law' or 'to contract a marriage alliance.' It describes the action of marrying into a family, primarily from the perspective of the man joining his wife's family. In its most specific sense, it refers to the act of giving a daughter in marriage, as seen when Shechem's family proposes to 'intermarry' with Jacob's family (Genesis 34:9). More broadly, it denotes forming any familial bond through marriage, creating the relationships of father-in-law, mother-in-law, and son-in-law. For example, Jethro is called Moses's חֹתֵן (choten, 'in-law') because Moses married his daughter (Exodus 3:1).
Biblical Usage
חָתַן is used 32 times in the Old Testament, primarily in narrative books like Genesis, Exodus, and Samuel. It often appears in contexts of forging political or social alliances through marriage (e.g., Genesis 34:9, 1 Kings 3:1). A significant pattern is its use in the Exodus story, where it frequently describes the relationship between Moses and his father-in-law Jethro (Exodus 3:1, 4:18, 18:1-7). The verb and its related noun forms (like חֹתֵן for 'in-law') are used interchangeably to indicate these familial bonds created by marriage.
Etymology
חָתַן is a primitive root. Its basic meaning relates to forming a bond through marriage. The noun חָתָן (chathan) means 'son-in-law' or 'bridegroom,' derived from this root. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Arabic (hatana, 'to circumcise,' hinting at a marriage-related rite) and Aramaic, supporting the core idea of alliance or joining by marriage.
Semantic Range
This word is significant for understanding the biblical concept of covenant and kinship. Marriage alliances were not merely social but often had theological and covenantal implications, binding families and nations together. The relationship between Moses and Jethro, framed by this term, shows how God used familial bonds to provide Moses with critical wisdom and support (Exodus 18). Understanding חָתַן enriches reading by highlighting how key biblical relationships and national stories are built upon these divinely orchestrated family connections.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, marriage was foremost a covenant between families, establishing political, economic, and social alliances. To 'become a son-in-law' (חָתַן) meant integrating into the wife's kinship group, which often involved obligations to her father's household. This differs from modern Western emphasis on the couple's independence. The frequent biblical warnings against intermarriage with foreign nations (e.g., Deuteronomy 7:3) stem from this understanding that marriage created a binding, holistic alliance, not just a personal relationship.
בָּעַל (ba'al, H1166) — to marry, rule over as a husband; focuses on the husband's role/mastery. לָקַח (laqach, H3947) — to take (a wife); emphasizes the action of taking in marriage. אִשָּׁה (ishshah, H802) — woman/wife; the noun for the female partner in the marriage bond.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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