חֹתָם

I. חֹתָם, חוֺתָם noun masculine^{Job 41:7} seal, signet-ring (Aramaic ; Ethiopic — see Lag^{BN 116}) — absolute חֹתָם Exod 28:11 + 2 t.; חוֺתָם Jer 22:24 + 8 t.; suffix חֹתָֽמְךָ Gen 38:18, חֹתָמוֺ 1Kgs 21:8 — on supposed construct חוֺתַם see foregoing; — seal, signet-ring, hung by a cord (פָּתִיל) about the neck Gen 38:18 (J; = חֹתֶמֶת vGen 38:25), or (later ?) worn on (finger of) right hand Jer 22:24, (Benz^{Archäol. 106}); the two customs apparently combined Song 8:6 (עַללִֿבֶֹּךָ, עַלזְֿרוֺעֶךָ); used to attest a royal missive 1Kgs 21:8 (instrumental of verb חתם); a precious article Hag 2:23 (simile of Zerubbabel); ׳פִּתּוּחֵי ח engravings of a seal, as model for cutting names and inscription on precious stones and gold plate Exod 28:11; Exod 28:21; Exod 28:26; Exod 39:6; Exod 39:14; Exod 39:30 (all P; see Benz^{258 ff.}); ׳חֹמֶר ח Job 38:14 = clay of (under) a signet; צָ֑ר ׳ח Job 41:7 a close signet, i.e. one that is closely pressed down, simile of closely joined (סָגוּר) scales of crocodile.