Signet

A signet (Hebrew hotam, Greek sphragis) was a seal — typically a ring or cylinder — used to authenticate documents and attest authority by pressing it into clay or wax. Daniel 6:17 records that the king sealed the lion's den with his signet ring and with the signets of his lords so that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. Esther 3:10 and 8:8–10 describe Ahasuerus giving his signet ring to Haman for the decree against the Jews, and later to Mordecai and Esther to write the counter-decree.

In prophetic imagery the signet carried the highest value. God said to Zerubbabel: I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you (Haggai 2:23) — reversing the curse on Coniah/Jehoiachin who was told that even if he were God's signet ring, he would be pulled off and given to Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 22:24). The signet was an image of intimacy, authorization, and the mark of ownership.