2814. chashah

Lexicon

chashah: To be silent, to be still, to hold peace

Original Word: חָשָׁה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: chashah
Pronunciation: khaw-SHAH
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-shaw')
Definition: To be silent, to be still, to hold peace
Meaning: to hush, keep quiet

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

hold peace, keep silence, be silent, be still

A primitive root; to hush or keep quiet -- hold peace, keep silence, be silent, (be) still.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to be silent, inactive, or still
NASB Translation
calmed (1), hushed (1), keep silent (4), keeping silent (1), kept (1), kept silent (1), refrained (1), silent (3), sit still (1), still (2), still doing nothing (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[חָשָׁה] verb be silent, inactive, still (chiefly in poetry and late) (Late Hebrew id., Aramaic in derivatives) —

Qal Imperfect2masculine singular תֶּחֱשֶׁה Psalm 28:1; Isaiah 64:11; אֶחֱשֶׁה Isaiah 62:1; Isaiah 65:6; יֶחֱשׁוּ Isaiah 62:6; וַיֶּחֱשׁוּ Psalm 107:29; — be silent Ecclesiastes 3:7 (opposed to לְדַבֵּר); Isaiah 62:1,6 (= neglect to speak); of ׳י i.e. be unresponsive Psalm 28:1 ("" חרשׁ); Isaiah 64:11 ("" הִתְאַמַּק); but Isaiah 65:6 of ׳י's keeping silence at iniquity, i.e. overlooking it (compare Isaiah 57:11 Hiph`il); of waves, be still Psalm 107:29 (subject גַּלֵּיהֶם).

Hiph`il Perfect הֶחֱשֵׁיתִי Psalm 39:3; Isaiah 42:14; Imperative הֶחֱשׁוּ 2 Kings 2:3,5; Participle מַחְשֶׁה Isaiah 57:11; plural מַחְשִׁים Judges 18:9 3t.; —

1 exhibit silence, be silent 2 Kings 2:3,5; 2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 39:3 (followed by מִטּוֺב, "" נֶאֱלַמְתִּי), figurative Isaiah 42:14 ("" אחרישׁ); of ׳י's being silent at iniquity Isaiah 57:11 (i.e. overlooking it, compare Qal Isaiah 65:5), possibly also is be silent, opposed to rescue, Ges Che Di Du.

2 shew inactivity Judges 18:9, מִקַּחַת ׳הח 1 Kings 22:3 Gilead is ours, and we shew inactivity so as not to take it.

3 causat. make still, quiet, followed by לְ, of direct object Nehemiah 8:11 (v:b הַסּוּ q. v.)

חֻשִׁים, חֻשָם see above.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G2270 (ἡσυχάζω, hēsychazō): To be still, to rest, to be quiet
• G4601 (σιγάω, sigaō): To be silent, to hold one's peace
• G4623 (σιωπάω, siōpaō): To be silent, to keep silence
• G4704 (σπουδάζω, spoudazō): To make haste, to be diligent (though not directly related to silence, it can imply a focused effort that may include silence)

These Greek terms reflect similar themes of silence, rest, and quietness found in the Hebrew חָשָׁה (chashah), illustrating a consistent biblical motif of silence as a form of trust and reverence.

Usage: The verb חָשָׁה (chashah) is used in the Hebrew Bible to denote the act of being silent or refraining from speech. It often implies a deliberate choice to remain quiet or to withhold speech in a situation where one might otherwise speak.

Context: • The Hebrew verb חָשָׁה (chashah) appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, often conveying the idea of silence or stillness in the face of adversity or divine intervention. It is used both in literal and metaphorical senses, indicating physical silence or a state of inner peace and trust.
• In Exodus 14:14, the Israelites are instructed to remain silent as the LORD fights for them: "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." (BSB)
• In 2 Kings 2:3, the sons of the prophets urge Elisha to keep silent about Elijah's impending departure: "Do you know that the LORD will take your master away from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied, “but do not speak of it.” (BSB)
• The term is also used in the Psalms to express a posture of waiting and trust in God, as seen in Psalm 62:5: "Rest in God alone, O my soul, for my hope comes from Him." (BSB)
• In Isaiah 42:14, God declares a period of silence before taking action: "I have kept silent from ages past; I have been quiet and restrained Myself. But now I will groan like a woman in labor, gasping and panting at once." (BSB)
• The concept of silence in these passages often underscores themes of faith, patience, and the anticipation of divine action.

Forms and Transliterations

אֶחֱשֶׁ֔ה אֶחֱשֶׂה֙ אחשה הֶחֱשֵׁ֙יתִי֙ הֶחֱשֵׁ֣יתִי הֶחֱשֽׁוּ׃ החשו׃ החשיתי וַ֝יֶּחֱשׁ֗וּ ויחשו יֶחֱשׁ֑וּ יחשו לַחֲשׁ֖וֹת לחשות מַחְשִׁ֔ים מַחְשִׁ֗ים מַחְשִׁ֤ים מַחְשֶׁה֙ מחשה מחשים תֶּחֱשֶׁ֥ה תחשה ’e·ḥĕ·śeh ’e·ḥĕ·šeh ’eḥĕśeh ’eḥĕšeh echeSeh echeSheh he·ḥĕ·šê·ṯî he·ḥĕ·šū hecheSheiti hecheShu heḥĕšêṯî heḥĕšū la·ḥă·šō·wṯ lachaShot laḥăšōwṯ machSheh machShim maḥ·šeh maḥ·šîm maḥšeh maḥšîm te·ḥĕ·šeh techeSheh teḥĕšeh vaiyecheShu way·ye·ḥĕ·šū wayyeḥĕšū ye·ḥĕ·šū yecheShu yeḥĕšū

Englishman's Concordance

Judges 18:9
HEB: מְאֹ֑ד וְאַתֶּ֣ם מַחְשִׁ֔ים אַל־ תֵּעָ֣צְל֔וּ
NAS: good. And will you sit still? Do not delay
KJV: good: and [are] ye still? be not slothful
INT: is very and will you sit nay slothful

1 Kings 22:3
HEB: גִּלְעָ֑ד וַאֲנַ֣חְנוּ מַחְשִׁ֔ים מִקַּ֣חַת אֹתָ֔הּ
NAS: that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we are still doing nothing to take
KJV: in Gilead [is] ours, and we [be] still, [and] take
INT: Gilead we are still to take of the hand

2 Kings 2:3
HEB: אֲנִ֥י יָדַ֖עְתִּי הֶחֱשֽׁוּ׃
NAS: Yes, I know; be still.
KJV: Yea, I know [it]; hold ye your peace.
INT: I know be still

2 Kings 2:5
HEB: אֲנִ֥י יָדַ֖עְתִּי הֶחֱשֽׁוּ׃
NAS: Yes, I know; be still.
KJV: Yea, I know [it]; hold ye your peace.
INT: I know be still

2 Kings 7:9
HEB: ה֔וּא וַאֲנַ֣חְנוּ מַחְשִׁ֗ים וְחִכִּ֛ינוּ עַד־
NAS: of good news, but we are keeping silent; if we wait
KJV: of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry
INT: he we are keeping wait until

Nehemiah 8:11
HEB: וְהַלְוִיִּ֞ם מַחְשִׁ֤ים לְכָל־ הָעָם֙
NAS: So the Levites calmed all the people,
KJV: So the Levites stilled all the people,
INT: the Levites calmed all the people

Psalm 39:2
HEB: נֶאֱלַ֣מְתִּי ד֭וּמִיָּה הֶחֱשֵׁ֣יתִי מִטּ֑וֹב וּכְאֵבִ֥י
NAS: and silent, I refrained [even] from good,
KJV: with silence, I held my peace, [even] from good;
INT: was mute and silent refrained good and my sorrow

Psalm 107:29
HEB: סְ֭עָרָה לִדְמָמָ֑ה וַ֝יֶּחֱשׁ֗וּ גַּלֵּיהֶֽם׃
NAS: So that the waves of the sea were hushed.
KJV: so that the waves thereof are still.
INT: the storm to be still were hushed the waves

Ecclesiastes 3:7
HEB: לִתְפּ֔וֹר עֵ֥ת לַחֲשׁ֖וֹת וְעֵ֥ת לְדַבֵּֽר׃
NAS: A time to be silent and a time
KJV: a time to keep silence, and a time
INT: to sew A time to be silent time to speak

Isaiah 42:14
HEB: הֶחֱשֵׁ֙יתִי֙ מֵֽעוֹלָ֔ם אַחֲרִ֖ישׁ
NAS: I have kept silent for a long time,
KJV: I have long time holden my peace; I have been still,
INT: have kept A long still

Isaiah 57:11
HEB: הֲלֹ֨א אֲנִ֤י מַחְשֶׁה֙ וּמֵ֣עֹלָ֔ם וְאוֹתִ֖י
NAS: [Me] a thought? Was I not silent even for a long time
KJV: [it] to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old,
INT: Nor I hold peace A long Nor

Isaiah 62:1
HEB: צִיּוֹן֙ לֹ֣א אֶחֱשֶׁ֔ה וּלְמַ֥עַן יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם
NAS: sake I will not keep silent, And for Jerusalem's
KJV: For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's
INT: Zion's I will not keep sake Jerusalem's

Isaiah 62:6
HEB: תָּמִ֖יד לֹ֣א יֶחֱשׁ֑וּ הַמַּזְכִּרִים֙ אֶת־
NAS: they will never keep silent. You who remind
KJV: [which] shall never hold their peace day
INT: shall never will never keep remind the LORD

Isaiah 64:12
HEB: תִתְאַפַּ֖ק יְהוָ֑ה תֶּחֱשֶׁ֥ה וּתְעַנֵּ֖נוּ עַד־
NAS: O LORD? Will You keep silent and afflict
KJV: thyself for these [things], O LORD? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict
INT: restrain Jehovah silent and afflict beyond

Isaiah 65:6
HEB: לְפָנָ֑י לֹ֤א אֶחֱשֶׂה֙ כִּ֣י אִם־
NAS: before Me, I will not keep silent, but I will repay;
KJV: before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense,
INT: before I will not keep for but

15 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 2814
15 Occurrences

’e·ḥĕ·śeh — 1 Occ.
’e·ḥĕ·šeh — 1 Occ.
he·ḥĕ·šê·ṯî — 2 Occ.
he·ḥĕ·šū — 2 Occ.
la·ḥă·šō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
maḥ·šeh — 1 Occ.
maḥ·šîm — 4 Occ.
te·ḥĕ·šeh — 1 Occ.
way·ye·ḥĕ·šū — 1 Occ.
ye·ḥĕ·šū — 1 Occ.