שַׁח
𐤔𐤇
shach
H7807 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Depressed, dejected, or cast down, typically describing a state or posture of emotional or physical abasement. Used of people or entities to depict being brought low, discouraged, or humbled, either physically, emotionally, or metaphorically.
Semantic Range
sunk, downcast, humbled, dejected in spirit, brought low (in position or status), cast down, abased
Root / Etymology
From the root שָׁחַח, meaning 'to bow down, be brought low, sink.' שַׁח is an adjective or substantive derived by internal vowel change, indicating a resultant state from the action of the root: one who or that which is brought low or made downcast.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שַׁח appears in poetic and prophetic contexts in the Hebrew Bible, often describing a person, group, or even land that is abased—figuratively or literally cast down. It may connote emotional distress, humiliation, or social lowering, such as a people made low after defeat (Isaiah 5:15). Occasionally it expresses physical posture, as in bowing one's head or body in distress or submission. The term differs from other Hebrew words for humility (such as עָנָו) by emphasizing the state of being brought low, rather than a character trait or voluntary posture. In later Jewish literature, the nuance of emotional dejection becomes further emphasized. Standard English translations such as 'humble' or 'downcast' capture part, but not all, of the term's force, sometimes missing its passive or imposed sense.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׁחַח; sunk, i.e. downcast; [phrase] humble.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׁחח (sh-ḥ-ḥ) — to bow down, to sink, to be brought low
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7817 | שָׁחַח | he caused to bow down |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7807-01 |
וְ/שַׁ֖ח | veshach | HC/Aamsc |
and-humble | and he was brought low | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7807-01 |
Job 22:29 | וְ/שַׁ֖ח | veshach | HC/Aamsc |
and-humble | and he was brought low |