← H7844 H7846 →

שַׁחַת

𐤔𐤇𐤕

shachath

H7845 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שוח to sink down, bow low, make a pit

Definition

A pit or hole in the ground, often dug intentionally, either as a trap for animals or humans or for the purpose of disposal. In figurative or poetic texts, refers to a place or state of destruction, ruin, or death—a metaphor for the grave or the netherworld. The word can denote both a literal physical pit and an abstract state of collapse, corruption, or annihilation.

Semantic Range

pit, hole, trap, place of destruction, grave, corruption, ruin, the netherworld

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root שוח (sh-w-ch), which generally carries the sense 'to bow down, sink low, be bent down.' שחת as a noun draws from this root meaning of descent or depression and develops into concrete and abstract uses: a physical pit or place of lowering and, metaphorically, a state of being brought low or destroyed.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In early Israelite literature (e.g. Torah, Former Prophets), שַׁחַת is used primarily for physical pits, commonly as traps for wild animals (Ps 7:16; Jer 48:28) or as places of execution or imprisonment (Prov 26:27; Isa 51:14). Over time, especially in poetic and wisdom literature, its usage expands to signify the grave or Sheol—the abode of the dead (Ps 16:10; Job 33:18, 22). In these metaphorical senses, שַׁחַת conveys not just physical descent but existential peril: destruction, decay, or ruination of life. This semantic broadening is notable in later biblical texts, where it overlaps conceptually with terms like קבר (grave), שְׁאוֹל (Sheol), and אֲבַדּוֹן (Abaddon). English translations often render שַׁחַת as 'pit,' 'grave,' 'corruption,' or 'destruction,' but some contexts require careful attention to whether a literal or figurative meaning is intended. In translation history, 'corruption' reflects the idea of decay associated with the grave, though this is a secondary sense to the physical pit. The term remains distinct from קבר, which denotes the constructed burial place, focusing instead on the destructive aspect of death or the abyss.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שׁוּחַ; a pit (especially as a trap); figuratively, destruction; corruption, destruction, ditch, grave, pit.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

שוח (sh-w-ḥ) — sink down, bow low, make a pit

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3439 יְשׁוֹחָיָה Yahweh will bring low
H7744 שׁוּחַ Shuach
H7745 שׁוּחָה sunken pit
H7878 שִׂיחַ Meditate!
H7882 שִׁיחָה trap-pits

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7845-07 שָֽׁחַת shachat HNcfsa the pit he sank down 9
H7845-05 לַ/שַּׁ֔חַת lashachat HRd/Ncfsa to the pit to the pit 4
H7845-06 מִ/שַּׁ֣חַת mishachat HR/Ncfsc from the pit from a sinking-pit of 3
H7845-03 בְּ/שַׁחְתָּ֣/ם beshachetam HR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp in their pit in their pit 2
H7845-01 בַּ/שַּׁ֣חַת bashachat HRd/Ncfsa in the pit in the pit 2
H7845-02 בְּ/שַׁ֣חַת beshachat HR/Ncfsa in the pit in a sinking-pit 2
H7845-04 הַ/שָּֽׁחַת hashachat HTd/Ncfsa the pit the sinking-pit 1

Occurrences in Scripture

23 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7845-06 Isaiah 38:17 מִ/שַּׁ֣חַת mishachat HR/Ncfsc from the pit from a sinking-pit of
H7845-05 Isaiah 51:14 לַ/שַּׁ֔חַת lashachat HRd/Ncfsa in the pit to the pit
H7845-03 Ezekiel 19:4 בְּ/שַׁחְתָּ֣/ם beshachetam HR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp in their pit in their pit
H7845-03 Ezekiel 19:8 בְּ/שַׁחְתָּ֥/ם beshachetam HR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp in their pit in their pit
H7845-05 Ezekiel 28:8 לַ/שַּׁ֖חַת lashachat HRd/Ncfsa to the pit to the pit
H7845-06 Jonah 2:7 מִ/שַּׁ֛חַת mishachat HR/Ncfsa from the pit from a sinking-pit of
H7845-02 Psalms 7:16 בְּ/שַׁ֣חַת beshachat HR/Ncfsa into-the-ditch in a sinking-pit
H7845-02 Psalms 9:16 בְּ/שַׁ֣חַת beshachat HR/Ncfsa in the pit in a sinking-pit
H7845-07 Psalms 16:10 שָֽׁחַת shachat HNcfsa the pit he sank down
H7845-07 Psalms 30:10 שָׁ֥חַת shachat HNcfsa helper he sank down
← H7844 Hebrew Lexicon H7846 →