חוֹתָם

I. חֹתָם, חוֺתָם noun masculine^{Job 41,7} seal, signet-ring (Aramaic ; Ethiopic — see Lag^{BN 116}) — absolute חֹתָם 2 Mos 28,11 + 2 t.; חוֺתָם Jer 22,24 + 8 t.; suffix חֹתָֽמְךָ 1 Mos 38,18, חֹתָמוֺ 1 Kong 21,8 — on supposed construct חוֺתַם see foregoing; — seal, signet-ring, hung by a cord (פָּתִיל) about the neck 1 Mos 38,18 (J; = חֹתֶמֶת v1 Mos 38,25), or (later ?) worn on (finger of) right hand Jer 22,24, (Benz^{Archäol. 106}); the two customs apparently combined Hoj 8,6 (עַללִֿבֶֹּךָ, עַלזְֿרוֺעֶךָ); used to attest a royal missive 1 Kong 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 2 Mos 28,11; 2 Mos 28,21; 2 Mos 28,26; 2 Mos 39,6; 2 Mos 39,14; 2 Mos 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.