What does חָתַן mean in the Bible?
חָתַן is a Hebrew word meaning "to give (a daughter) away in marriage ; hence (generally) to contract affinity by marriage".
Hebrew · H2859
חָתַן
To give (a daughter) away in marriage ; hence (generally) to contract affinity by marriage
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חָתַןH2859
What does חָתַן mean in the Bible?
חָתַן is a Hebrew word meaning "to give (a daughter) away in marriage ; hence (generally) to contract affinity by marriage".
Full entry for חָתַן (H2859) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2859?
The BSB source-word alignment has 33 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include father-in-law (8), his father-in-law (4), son-in-law (3), to his father-in-law (2), - (1).
Where does חָתַן appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 34:9. Its strongest book concentrations include Exodus (15), 1 Samuel (5), Judges (5), Deuteronomy (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itfather-in-law8×Exodus 18:1, Exodus 18:2, Exodus 18:12, Exodus 18:14
his father-in-law4×Exodus 4:18, Exodus 18:7, Judges 19:4, Judges 19:9
son-in-law3×1 Samuel 18:22, 1 Samuel 18:26, 1 Samuel 18:27
to his father-in-law2×Exodus 18:8, Exodus 18:24
-1×Exodus 18:15
and if you intermarry1×Joshua 23:12
and intermarry1×Ezra 9:14
but his father-in-law1×Judges 19:7
by marriage1×2 Chronicles 18:1
formed an alliance1×1 Kings 3:1
his father-in-law {on his way}1×Exodus 18:27
his mother-in-law1×Deuteronomy 27:23
intermarry1×Deuteronomy 7:3
Intermarry with us1×Genesis 34:9
Moses’ father-in-law1×Exodus 18:5
of his father-in-law1×Exodus 3:1
the father-in-law1×Judges 4:11
to be the son-in-law1×1 Samuel 18:23
you can be my son-in-law1×1 Samuel 18:21
your father-in-law1×Exodus 18:6
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 34:9וְהִֽתְחַתְּנ֖וּtoIntermarry with usConjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Imperative - masculine pluralExodus 3:1חֹתְנ֖וֹtoof his father-in-lawNoun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularExodus 4:18חֹֽתְנ֗וֹtohis father-in-lawNoun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularExodus 18:1חֹתֵ֣ןtofather-in-lawNoun - masculine singular constructExodus 18:2חֹתֵ֣ןtofather-in-lawNoun - masculine singular constructExodus 18:5חֹתֵ֥ןtoMoses’ father-in-lawNoun - masculine singular constructExodus 18:6חֹתֶנְךָ֥toyour father-in-lawNoun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularExodus 18:7חֹֽתְנ֗וֹtohis father-in-lawNoun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularExodus 18:8לְחֹ֣תְנ֔וֹtoto his father-in-lawPreposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularExodus 18:12חֹתֵ֥ןtofather-in-lawNoun - masculine singular construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 34:9
Aligned rows33
Books represented10
Genesis1Exodus15Numbers1Deuteronomy2Joshua1Judges51 Samuel51 Kings12 Chronicles1Ezra1
Source forms
חֹתֵ֣ן5xḥō·ṯênExodus 18:1, Exodus 18:2, Exodus 18:14, Numbers 10:29
חֹתֵ֥ן4xḥō·ṯênExodus 18:5, Exodus 18:12, Exodus 18:17
חֹֽתְנ֗וֹ2xḥō·ṯə·nōwExodus 4:18, Exodus 18:7
חֹתְנ֑וֹ2xḥō·ṯə·nōwExodus 18:24, Exodus 18:27
לְהִתְחַתֵּ֖ן2xlə·hiṯ·ḥat·tên1 Samuel 18:26, 1 Samuel 18:27
הִתְחַתֵּ֥ן1xhiṯ·ḥat·tên1 Samuel 18:22
הִתְחַתֵּ֣ן1xhiṯ·ḥat·tên1 Samuel 18:23
וְהִֽתְחַתְּנ֖וּ1xwə·hiṯ·ḥat·tə·nūGenesis 34:9
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine singular construct10xExodus 18:1, Exodus 18:2, Exodus 18:5, Exodus 18:12
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular8xExodus 3:1, Exodus 4:18, Exodus 18:7, Exodus 18:24
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular2x1 Kings 3:1, 2 Chronicles 18:1
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular2xExodus 18:8, Exodus 18:15
Preposition-l | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct2x1 Samuel 18:26, 1 Samuel 18:27
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine singular2xDeuteronomy 7:3, 1 Samuel 18:21
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural1xJoshua 23:12
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Imperative - masculine plural1xGenesis 34:9
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. to give (a daughter) away in marriage ; hence (generally) to contract affinity by marriage
Source Gloss
to give (a daughter) away in marriage ; hence (generally) to contract affinity by marriage
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
to give (a daughter) away in marriage; hence (generally) to contract affinity by marriage BDB: make oneself a daughter's husband Usage: join in affinity, father in law, make marriages, mother in law, son in law.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms14
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense10×
Participle activeExod 18:1 · Exod 18:2 · Exod 18:5 · Exod 18:12 · Exod 18:14 · Exod 18:17 · Judg 1:16 · Judg 4:11 · Num 10:2910×
Hithpaelreflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others4×
Perfect1Sam 18:211×
Sequential imperfect1Sam 18:221×
Infinitive construct1Sam 18:231×
ImperfectDeut 7:31×
Word Origins
חָתַן is a primitive root - no further derivation.