Original Word: חָתַף
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: chathaph
Pronunciation: khaw-thaf'
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-thaf')
Definition: To seize, snatch away, take away
Meaning: to clutch

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct one-to-one correspondence in the Greek Septuagint for every Hebrew word, the concept of seizing or snatching can be related to Greek words such as "ἁρπάζω" (harpazo), which means to seize or snatch away, as seen in the New Testament (e.g., 1 Thessalonians 4:17).

Usage: The Hebrew verb "chathaph" primarily conveys the action of seizing or snatching something away quickly and forcefully. It implies a sudden and often unexpected action, capturing the sense of urgency or immediacy in the act of taking something.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Hebrew culture, the concept of seizing or snatching was often associated with both physical and metaphorical actions. It could refer to the literal act of taking something by force or to more abstract ideas such as the suddenness of divine intervention or judgment. The cultural context of the ancient Near East, where power dynamics and swift actions were common in both warfare and daily life, provides a backdrop for understanding the use of "chathaph."

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to seize, snatch away
NASB Translation
snatch away (1).

[חָתַף] verb seize, snatch away (compare Aramaic Pa`el break in, pieces; Arabic death) —

Qal Imperfect no object expressed הֵן יַחְתֹּף וּמִי יְשִׁיבֶנּוּ Job 9:12 lo ! he seizeth, and who shall turn him back ?

take away

A primitive root; to clutch -- take away.

יַ֭חְתֹּף יחתף Yachtof yaḥ·tōp̄ yaḥtōp̄Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts