John D. Brey
Well-Known Member
In what system do you claim this took place? It certainly wasn't in Judaism or under any Mosaic code. In what language would one find the word "xother" or "xathan"?
The Hebrew word for a Jewish "bridegroom" is hatan חתן. The same word is used for the "father-in-law," and the word is directly associated with circumcision:
חָתַן (1) TO GIVE ONE’S DAUGHTER IN MARRIAGE (verhehrathen). Hence part. Kal חֹתֵן a father-in-law, the wife’s father (a husband’s father is called חָם), who gives his daughter in marriage. חֹתֵן משֶׁה the father-in-law of Moses, Ex. 18:1; Jud. 19:4, seq. Fem. חֹתֶנֶת a mother-in-law, wife’s mother. Deu. 27:25.
(2) to take in marriage, hehrathen. Hence חָתָן, חֲתֻנָּה.
HITHPAEL, to give daughters in marriage to one another, [“to give or receive a daughter in marriage”]; to join affinity, followed by אֵת, with any one, Gen. 34:9; 1 Ki. 3:1; בְּ Deut. 7:3; Josh. 23:12; 1 Sam. 18:22, 23, 26, 27; Ezr. 9:14; לְ 2 Ch. 18:1. (Arab. ختن Conj. III. id., خَتَنُ a son-in-law, connection by marriage [“father-in-law”].) [“Further this root signifies, Conj. I. to circumcise an infant; خِتَانُ circumcision, place of circumcision خَتِينُ, مختون a circumcised infant. These significations are shown to be joined together by a common bond, not only by Ex. 4:25 (see below in חָתָן) but also by ختن Conj. I. to provide a nuptial feast, or a feast at the circumcision of an infant, خَتَنُ, خِتَانُ a feast at a circumcision. The primary and genuine meaning may be to cut off, to circumcise, another trace of which is in ختن to diminish, خَتْنُ a cutting off (comp. the roots קָטַן, חָתַךְ, and others which begin with the syllable kat); and then the word used for the festival of circumcision was applied to that of a marriage.” Thes.]
Gesenius, W., & Tregelles, S. P. (2003). Gesenius’ Hebrew and Chaldee lexicon to the Old Testament Scriptures. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software (Emphasis mine).
(2) to take in marriage, hehrathen. Hence חָתָן, חֲתֻנָּה.
HITHPAEL, to give daughters in marriage to one another, [“to give or receive a daughter in marriage”]; to join affinity, followed by אֵת, with any one, Gen. 34:9; 1 Ki. 3:1; בְּ Deut. 7:3; Josh. 23:12; 1 Sam. 18:22, 23, 26, 27; Ezr. 9:14; לְ 2 Ch. 18:1. (Arab. ختن Conj. III. id., خَتَنُ a son-in-law, connection by marriage [“father-in-law”].) [“Further this root signifies, Conj. I. to circumcise an infant; خِتَانُ circumcision, place of circumcision خَتِينُ, مختون a circumcised infant. These significations are shown to be joined together by a common bond, not only by Ex. 4:25 (see below in חָתָן) but also by ختن Conj. I. to provide a nuptial feast, or a feast at the circumcision of an infant, خَتَنُ, خِتَانُ a feast at a circumcision. The primary and genuine meaning may be to cut off, to circumcise, another trace of which is in ختن to diminish, خَتْنُ a cutting off (comp. the roots קָטַן, חָתַךְ, and others which begin with the syllable kat); and then the word used for the festival of circumcision was applied to that of a marriage.” Thes.]
Gesenius, W., & Tregelles, S. P. (2003). Gesenius’ Hebrew and Chaldee lexicon to the Old Testament Scriptures. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software (Emphasis mine).
John