כָּתַם
properly, to carve or engrave, i.e. (by implication) to inscribe indelibly
Definition
The Hebrew word כָּתַם (kâtham) is a verb meaning to carve, engrave, or inscribe indelibly. It describes the act of making a permanent mark, often by cutting into a surface. In its sole biblical occurrence in Jeremiah 2:22, it is used metaphorically to describe sin as a stain or indelible mark that cannot be removed by ordinary means. The imagery powerfully conveys the deep, ingrained nature of human guilt before God.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Jeremiah 2:22. The prophet Jeremiah employs it in a poetic accusation against Judah: 'For though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain (כְּתָמֵךְ) of your guilt is still before me, declares the Lord GOD.' Here, the word is used in a figurative sense for a moral stain or indelible mark of iniquity, contrasting physical cleansing with spiritual defilement.
Etymology
כָּתַם is a primitive root verb. It is related to the concept of cutting or engraving to create a lasting impression. Cognates in other Semitic languages support the meaning of marking or staining. The development from a physical act (engraving) to a metaphorical one (staining with guilt) is evident in its biblical usage.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it provides a vivid metaphor for the nature of sin. It teaches that sin is not a superficial flaw but an indelible stain on the human soul that human effort cannot erase (Jeremiah 2:22). This concept points directly to the need for divine forgiveness and cleansing, which is a central theme of the gospel, ultimately fulfilled in the atoning work of Christ.
In the ancient Near East, stains on clothing were notoriously difficult to remove with the rudimentary soaps (lye) and cleaning agents available. A permanent stain could ruin a garment. Jeremiah uses this everyday reality to illustrate a spiritual truth: the profound and persistent nature of moral corruption, which is beyond human remedy.
חָטָא (chata', H2398) — to miss the mark, sin; a broader term for wrongdoing. טָמֵא (tame', H2930) — to be or become unclean, ritually defiled. עָווֹן (avon, H5771) — iniquity, perversity, implying guilt.
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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