שָׁחַח (H7817) — Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁחַח

𐤔𐤇𐤇

shâchach

H7817 verb

SILEX Entry

Root שׁחח to bow down, to be brought low, to sink

Definition

To bend or bow down, primarily describing a physical lowering of oneself or something else; by extension, used metaphorically for being brought low, humbled, or subdued, whether by external force, misfortune, or as an act of deference or humility. The verb encompasses both literal acts of stooping or sinking, as well as figurative experiences of humiliation or despair.

Semantic Range

to sink, to stoop, to bow or bend down physically, to humble or abase oneself, to be oppressed or afflicted, to be brought low in status or spirit, to suffer humiliation

Root / Etymology

Root שָׁחַח (sh-ḥ-ch), meaning 'to bend down' or 'to be lowered.' The root denotes a motion or condition of being pressed downwards or brought into a lowly position. From this root, the verb שָׁחַח is formed in the qal stem and is used in both active and passive senses across contexts.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, שָׁחַח frequently describes physical actions such as bowing the head or body, particularly in contexts of grief, mourning, or oppression (e.g., Psalm 35:14, Isaiah 58:5). It also appears metaphorically for emotional or social states, such as humiliation, being brought low by adversity, or humbling oneself before a higher authority or the divine. Its usage is especially prominent in poetic or lament settings, where physical posture expresses inward feeling. Unlike other Hebrew verbs for bowing (e.g., חָוָה, which often refers to worship or obeisance), שָׁחַח typically emphasizes abasement, distress, or powerlessness. In later biblical and post-biblical texts, the term retains the association with humiliation and downward physical or social movement. Standard English translations often use 'bow down,' 'stoop,' 'be humbled,' or 'be brought low,' but may not fully capture the strong connotations of misery or oppression found in many biblical occurrences.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to sink or depress (reflexive or causative); bend, bow (down), bring (cast) down, couch, humble self, be (bring) low, stoop.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׁחח (sh-ḥ-ḥ) — to bow down, to be brought low, to sink

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H7807	שַׁח	and he was brought low

Word Forms

14 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H7817-08`	תִּשְׁתּ֬וֹחֲחִ֨י	tishetochachi	`HVri2fs`	are you cast down	you bow yourself down	3
`H7817-04`	שַׁח֖וּ	shachu	`HVqp3cp`	bow down	they bowed down	2
`H7817-11`	וְ/שַׁ֖ח	veshach	`HC/Vqp3ms`	and shall be humbled	and he bowed down	2
`H7817-10`	וַ/יִּשַּׁ֥ח	vayishach	`HC/VNw3ms`	and bows down	and he was brought low	2
`H7817-03`	שַׁחֽוֹתִי	shachoti	`HVqp1cs`	I am brought low	I sank low	2
`H7817-01`	הֵשַׁ֥ח	heshach	`HVhp3ms`	he has brought down	he caused to bow down	2
`H7817-14`	יָשֹׁ֥חוּ	yashochu	`HVqi3mp`	they crouch	they bow down	1
`H7817-06`	תִּשַּׁ֣ח	tishach	`HVNi3fs`	will be brought low	she will be brought low	1
`H7817-02`	שָׁ֝חֲח֗וּ	shachachu	`HVqp3cp`	have bowed down	they bowed down	1
`H7817-05`	שְׁח֨וֹחַ֙	shechocha	`HVqc`	bowing low	to bow down	1
`H7817-07`	תִשְׁתּ֫וֹחָ֥ח	tishetochach	`HVri3fs`	pours itself out	she will bow herself down	1
`H7817-12`	וְ/יִשַּׁ֖חוּ	veyishachu	`HC/VNi3mp`	and are brought low	and they will be brought low	1
`H7817-09`	וַ/יָּשֹׁ֑חוּ	vayashochu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they bowed down	and they bowed down	1
`H7817-13`	יָשֹׁ֑חַ	yashocha	`HVqi3ms`	he-bows-down	he will bow down	1

Occurrences in Scripture

21 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H7817-10`	Isaiah 2:9	וַ/יִּשַּׁ֥ח	vayishach	`HC/VNw3ms`	and bows down	and he was brought low
`H7817-11`	Isaiah 2:11	וְ/שַׁ֖ח	veshach	`HC/Vqp3ms`	and will be bowed down	and he bowed down
`H7817-11`	Isaiah 2:17	וְ/שַׁח֙	veshach	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and shall be humbled	and he bowed down
`H7817-10`	Isaiah 5:15	וַ/יִּשַּׁ֥ח	vayishach	`HC/VNw3ms`	and shall be brought down	and he was brought low
`H7817-01`	Isaiah 25:12	הֵשַׁ֥ח	heshach	`HVhp3ms`	he-brought-down	he caused to bow down
`H7817-01`	Isaiah 26:5	הֵשַׁח֙	heshach	`HVhp3ms`	he has brought down	he caused to bow down
`H7817-06`	Isaiah 29:4	תִּשַּׁ֣ח	tishach	`HVNi3fs`	will be brought low	she will be brought low
`H7817-05`	Isaiah 60:14	שְׁח֨וֹחַ֙	shechocha	`HVqc`	bowing low	to bow down
`H7817-04`	Habakkuk 3:6	שַׁח֖וּ	shachu	`HVqp3cp`	bowed down	they bowed down
`H7817-13`	Psalms 10:10	יָשֹׁ֑חַ	yashocha	`HVqi3ms`	he-bows-down	he will bow down
`H7817-03`	Psalms 35:14	שַׁחֽוֹתִי	shachoti	`HVqp1cs`	I bowed down	I sank low
`H7817-03`	Psalms 38:7	שַׁחֹ֣תִי	shachoti	`HVqp1cs`	I am brought low	I sank low
`H7817-08`	Psalms 42:6	תִּשְׁתּ֬וֹחֲחִ֨י	tishetochachi	`HVri2fs`	are you cast down	you bow yourself down
`H7817-07`	Psalms 42:7	תִשְׁתּ֫וֹחָ֥ח	tishetochach	`HVri3fs`	pours itself out	she will bow herself down
`H7817-08`	Psalms 42:12	תִּשְׁתּ֬וֹחֲחִ֨י	tishetochachi	`HVri2fs`	do you bow down	you bow yourself down
`H7817-08`	Psalms 43:5	תִּשְׁתּ֬וֹחֲחִ֨י	tishetochachi	`HVri2fs`	are you cast down	you bow yourself down
`H7817-09`	Psalms 107:39	וַ/יָּשֹׁ֑חוּ	vayashochu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they bowed down	and they bowed down
`H7817-04`	Proverbs 14:19	שַׁח֣וּ	shachu	`HVqp3cp`	bow down	they bowed down
`H7817-02`	Job 9:13	שָׁ֝חֲח֗וּ	shachachu	`HVqp3cp`	have bowed down	they bowed down
`H7817-14`	Job 38:40	יָשֹׁ֥חוּ	yashochu	`HVqi3mp`	they crouch	they bow down
`H7817-12`	Ecclesiastes 12:4	וְ/יִשַּׁ֖חוּ	veyishachu	`HC/VNi3mp`	and are brought low	and they will be brought low

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