חָתָן

“Bridegroom” in Hebrew is Chatan (חָתָן), pronounced “kha-TAN.” Chatan comes from a root ח-ת-ן related to forming a marriage alliance. It means both 'bridegroom' and 'son-in-law,' reflecting the new family bond created by marriage. The 'chatunah' (wedding) shares this root.

Chatan (חָתָן) means “Bridegroom, son-in-law” in Biblical Hebrew. Chatan appears approximately 20 times in the Hebrew Bible. It describes human bridegrooms (Psalm 19:5, Isaiah 61:10), God as Israel's bridegroom (Isaiah 62:5), and in the mysterious passage where Zipporah calls Moses a 'chatan damim' — bridegroom of blood (Exodus 4:25).

Chatan is pronounced “kha-TAN.” The word comes from the Hebrew root ח-ת-ן.

When asked why His disciples didn't fast, Jesus replied, 'Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the chatan is with them?' (Matthew 9:15). By calling Himself the bridegroom, Jesus was claiming to be the divine Husband prophesied in Isaiah and Hosea — the God who comes to wed His people. This was an implicit claim to divinity that His Jewish audience would have recognized.

In the mysterious passage of Exodus 4:24-26, Zipporah circumcises her son and calls Moses a 'chatan damim' (bridegroom of blood). The exact meaning is debated, but it connects circumcision, marriage, blood covenant, and divine encounter. Some scholars see it as foreshadowing the Passover — where blood on the doorposts saves the firstborn, and the covenant between God and Israel is sealed.

In ancient Jewish weddings, the chatan would go to his father's house to prepare a room (cheder) for his bride, then return to take her to the wedding feast. When Jesus said 'I go to prepare a place for you... I will come again and take you to myself' (John 14:2-3), His Jewish disciples would have immediately recognized the language of a bridegroom preparing for his wedding. Jesus was promising to return for His bride.