Lexical Summary shachat: To destroy, to corrupt, to ruin Original Word: שָׁחַט Strong's Exhaustive Concordance kill, offer, shoot out, slay, slaughter A primitive root; to slaughter (in sacrifice or massacre) -- kill, offer, shoot out, slay, slaughter. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to slaughter, beat NASB Translation beaten (5), deadly (1), kill (2), killed (1), kills (1), offer (1), slain (5), slaughter (17), slaughtered (28), slaughtering (1), slaughters (2), slay (16), slew (5). Brown-Driver-Briggs שָׁחַט verb slaughter, beat (originally beat, flay? compare Assyrian ša—â‰u, flay, take off dress; Arabic  slay (but  = —; is this loan-word in Arabic ?); Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew, especially in ritual); — Qal Perfect3masculine singular ׳שׁ Jeremiah 39:6 +, suffix וּשְׁחָטוֺ consecutive Leviticus 3:2, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יִשְׁחַט Leviticus 4:24 +, 2 feminine singular וַתִּשְׁחֲטִי Ezekiel 16:21, 3masculine plural suffix וַיִּשְׁחָט֫וּהוּ Judges 12:6; Imperative masculine plural שַׁחֲטוּ Exodus 12:21; 2Chronicles 35:6; Infinitive absolute שָׁחֹט Isaiah 22:13; construct לִשְׁחֹט Genesis 22:10, וֺט- Ezekiel 40:39, suffix שַׁחֲטָם (Ges§ 64a) Ezekiel 23:39; Participle active שׁוֺחֵט Isaiah 66:3, etc.; passive שָׁחוּט 1 Kings 10:16 +, etc.; — slaughter: 1 beast for food 1 Samuel 14:32,34 (twice in verse); Isaiah 22:13 ("" הָרַג), compare Leviticus 17:3 (twice in verse), for blood Genesis 37:31 (E). 2 usually (51 t.; Hexateuch only P, 38 t.) technical term of killing sacrifice (BJacobZAW xvii (1897), 5i), 1 Samuel 1:25; Exodus 29:11; Leviticus 1:5,11; Leviticus 4:24; Leviticus 9:8; Numbers 19:3; 2Chronicles 29:22 (twice in verse); 2Chronicles 29:24 +; absolute Ezekiel 40:41 (אֶל location); bird Leviticus 14:5,6,50,51; beast in illicit sacrifice Isaiah 66:3; with accusative of sacrifice (עוֺלָה, אָשָׁם, חַטָאת, etc.) Ezekiel 40:39 (אֶל location), Ezekiel 40:42; Ezekiel 44:11; Leviticus 4:24; Leviticus 7:2; Leviticus 14:13 +; passover lamb Exodus 12:6, accusative הַמֶּסַח Exodus 12:21; 2Chronicles 30:15; 35:1,6,11; Ezra 6:20. 3 slaughter person Judges 12:6; 1 Kings 18:40; 2 Kings 10:7,14 (אֶל location), 2 Kings 25:7 = Jeremiah 39:6a = Jeremiah 52:10a, Jeremiah 39:6b = Jeremiah 52:10b, 41:7; ׳י subject Numbers 14:16 (JE); in human sacrifice Genesis 22:10 (E), to false gods Ezekiel 16:21; Ezekiel 23:39; Isaiah 57:5. 4 passive participle = beaten, hammered, זָהָב שָׁחוּט 1 Kings 10:16,17 2Chronicles 9:15a 2 Chronicles 9:16, of shekels 2 Chronicles 9:15; so also Jeremiah 9:7 Qr חֵץשָׁחוּט (> Kt שׁוֺחֵט) hammered (i.e. sharpened) arrow. Niph`al Imperfect3masculine singular יִשָּׁחֵט Numbers 11:22 (J) be slaughtered for food (subject beast); 3 feminine singular תִּשָּׁחֵט Leviticus 6:18 (twice in verse) (P) be slain, of sacrifice. שְׁחֲטָה noun feminine ( Qal Infinitive construct Köi. 263) doubtful word; — שֵׂטִים הֶעְמִיקוּ ׳וְשׁ Hosea 5:2 RV (compare AV) the revolters are gone deep in slaughtering ['Opferschlächterei' Köii. 1. 590, n. 1], Ew Now (formerly), Che in corrupting (read then שַׁחֲתָה); We Now GASm Marti שַׁחַת הַשִּׁטִּים have made deep the pit of Shittim (as place of idolatry). שְׁחִין see שׁחן. שְׁחִיף see [ שָׂחִיף]. below, שָׁחִיס Isaiah 37:30 = סָחִישׁ (in "" 2 Kings 19:29), q. v. שׁחל (√ of following; DlProl.34 compare Assyrian ša—âlu, call, proclaim; perhaps both onomatopoetic, as Arabic Topical Lexicon Root Meaning and Scope The verb denotes the deliberate cutting of the throat of a living creature, whether animal or human. It appears about eighty-one times, most densely in the Pentateuch and prophetic books, and always stresses an intentional, often ceremonially regulated, taking of life. Ritual Sacrifice in the Torah 1. Passover: “ You must keep it until the fourteenth day of the month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel will slaughter it at twilight” (Exodus 12:6). The initial corporate use fixes the word in Israel’s redemptive memory. Atonement and Covenant Significance Every sanctioned act of slaughter reinforced the principle that “the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Leviticus 17:11). The word therefore serves as a linguistic thread binding covenant forgiveness to substituted life, previewing the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ (Hebrews 9:12-14). Daily Temple Service and Priesthood Priestly ministry began where the worshiper’s knife ended. By requiring the layman to slaughter and the priest to handle the blood, the verb underscores shared responsibility: sin costs life; reconciliation requires mediation. This rhythm dominated morning and evening offerings, festival convocations, and individual vows. Slaughter in Warfare and Judgment The term also describes divinely sanctioned military executions: “When the letter arrived, these men took the sons of the king, slaughtered all seventy of them” (2 Kings 10:7). Prophets widen the scope to eschatological judgment: “He will devote them to destruction, giving them over to slaughter” (Isaiah 34:2; cf. Jeremiah 25:34; Ezekiel 9:6). In each setting, slaughter signals that the LORD’s holiness will not tolerate persistent rebellion. Illicit Killing and Ethical Implications Where worship is corrupted, slaughter becomes profanity. Malachi indicts deceptive priests: “Cursed be the deceiver … who sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord” (Malachi 1:14). Zechariah portrays oppressive rulers as butchers: “Whose buyers slaughter them and go unpunished” (Zechariah 11:4-5). Such misuse of power distorts a verb meant for ordered worship into an image of covenant breach. Prophetic and Poetic Imagery Jeremiah laments, “Drag them away like sheep to the slaughter” (Jeremiah 12:3), merging pastoral and martial scenes to dramatize national doom. The metaphor of sheep being slaughtered reappears in Jeremiah 51:40 and anticipates messianic reflection on the suffering Servant. Typological Foreshadowing of Christ The Passover lamb (Exodus 12), the continual burnt offering (Exodus 29:38-42), and the red heifer (Numbers 19) converge in the crucifixion. The New Testament repeatedly evokes Old Testament slaughter language (e.g., Revelation 5:12) to proclaim Jesus as the “Lamb who was slain,” the ultimate fulfillment of every prior shedding of blood. Practical Ministry Applications • Preaching: The verb supplies vivid vocabulary for illustrating sin’s cost and Christ’s propitiation. Representative References Genesis 22:10; Exodus 12:6; Leviticus 1:5; Numbers 19:3; Deuteronomy 12:21; 1 Samuel 28:24; 2 Kings 10:7; 2 Chronicles 29:22; Isaiah 34:2; Jeremiah 25:34; Ezekiel 21:12; Zechariah 11:4-5; Malachi 1:14. Theological Reflection The verb’s trajectory moves from altar to cross to final judgment. It exposes the gravity of sin, sustains the logic of substitution, and urges reverent obedience. In worship, war, or warning, the word ultimately exalts the holiness and mercy of God who provides the perfect sacrifice to end all slaughter. Forms and Transliterations הַשְּׁחֻטָ֔ה הַשְּׁחוּטָ֔ה השחוטה השחטה וְשַׁחֲט֖וּ וְשַׁחֲט֥וּ וְשַׁחֲטָ֥ה וְשָׁחֲט֣וּ וְשָׁחַ֖ט וְשָׁחַ֛ט וְשָׁחַ֞ט וְשָׁחַ֣ט וְשָׁחַ֤ט וְשָׁחַ֥ט וְשָׁחַ֨ט וְשָׁחַט֙ וְשָׁחַט֮ וְשָׁחַטְתָּ֖ וְשָׁחַטְתָּ֣ וְשָׁחַטְתָּ֥ וְשָׁחֹ֣ט וַֽיִּשְׁחֲט֖וּ וַֽיִּשְׁחֲטוּ֙ וַֽיִּשְׁחָט֞וּם וַֽתִּשְׁחֲטִ֖י וַיִּשְׁחֲט֣וּ וַיִּשְׁחֲט֤וּ וַיִּשְׁחֲטוּ־ וַיִּשְׁחַ֖ט וַיִּשְׁחַ֛ט וַיִּשְׁחַ֤ט וַיִּשְׁחַ֧ט וַיִּשְׁחַט֩ וַיִּשְׁחָ֑ט וַיִּשְׁחָ֓ט ׀ וַיִּשְׁחָ֗ט וַיִּשְׁחָט֖וּהוּ וַיִּשְׁחָטֵ֖ם וַיִּשְׁחָטֵ֞ם וַיִּשְׁחָטֵ֥הוּ וַיִּשְׁחָטוּם֙ וּֽבְשַׁחֲטָ֤ם וּשְׁחַטְתֶּ֤ם וּשְׁחָט֕וֹ ובשחטם וישחט וישחטהו וישחטו וישחטו־ וישחטוהו וישחטום וישחטם ושחט ושחטה ושחטו ושחטת ושחטתם ותשחטי יִשְׁחֲט֖וּ יִשְׁחֲט֧וּ יִשְׁחֲט֨וּ יִשְׁחֲטוּ֙ יִשְׁחַ֔ט יִשְׁחַ֖ט יִשְׁחַ֜ט יִשְׁחַ֥ט יִשְׁחַ֧ט יִשְׁחָֽטוּ׃ יִשָּׁחֵ֥ט ישחט ישחטו ישחטו׃ לִשְׁח֤וֹט לִשְׁחֹ֖ט לשחוט לשחט שָׁחֲט֖וּ שָׁחַ֖ט שָׁחַ֥ט שֹׁחֲטֵ֤י שָׁח֛וּט שׁוֹחֵ֨ט שוחט שחוט שחט שחטו שחטי תִּשָּׁחֵ֤ט תִּשָּׁחֵ֨ט תִשְׁחֲט֖וּ תִשְׁחַ֥ט תשחט תשחטו haš·šə·ḥu·ṭāh haš·šə·ḥū·ṭāh hashshechuTah haššəḥuṭāh haššəḥūṭāh liš·ḥō·wṭ liš·ḥōṭ lishChot lišḥōṭ lišḥōwṭ šā·ḥă·ṭū šā·ḥaṭ šā·ḥūṭ šāḥaṭ šāḥăṭū šāḥūṭ shaChat shachaTu shaChut shochaTei shoChet šō·ḥă·ṭê šō·w·ḥêṭ šōḥăṭê šōwḥêṭ ṯiš·ḥă·ṭū ṯiš·ḥaṭ tiš·šā·ḥêṭ ṯišḥaṭ ṯišḥăṭū tishChat tishchaTu tishshaChet tiššāḥêṭ ū·ḇə·ša·ḥă·ṭām ū·šə·ḥā·ṭōw ū·šə·ḥaṭ·tem ūḇəšaḥăṭām ūšəḥāṭōw ūšəḥaṭtem ushechaTo ushechatTem uveshachaTam vaiyishChat vaiyishchaTehu vaiyishchaTem vaiyishchaTu vaiyishchaTuhu vaiyishchaTum vattishchaTi veshaChat veshachaTah veshachatTa veshachaTu veshaChot wat·tiš·ḥă·ṭî wattišḥăṭî way·yiš·ḥā·ṭê·hū way·yiš·ḥā·ṭêm way·yiš·ḥă·ṭū way·yiš·ḥă·ṭū- way·yiš·ḥā·ṭū·hū way·yiš·ḥā·ṭūm way·yiš·ḥaṭ way·yiš·ḥāṭ wayyišḥaṭ wayyišḥāṭ wayyišḥāṭêhū wayyišḥāṭêm wayyišḥăṭū wayyišḥăṭū- wayyišḥāṭūhū wayyišḥāṭūm wə·ša·ḥă·ṭāh wə·ša·ḥă·ṭū wə·šā·ḥă·ṭū wə·šā·ḥaṭ wə·šā·ḥaṭ·tā wə·šā·ḥōṭ wəšāḥaṭ wəšaḥăṭāh wəšāḥaṭtā wəšaḥăṭū wəšāḥăṭū wəšāḥōṭ yiš·ḥă·ṭū yiš·ḥā·ṭū yiš·ḥaṭ yiš·šā·ḥêṭ yišḥaṭ yišḥăṭū yišḥāṭū yishChat yishchaTu yishshaChet yiššāḥêṭLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 22:10 HEB: אֶת־ הַֽמַּאֲכֶ֑לֶת לִשְׁחֹ֖ט אֶת־ בְּנֽוֹ׃ NAS: and took the knife to slay his son. KJV: and took the knife to slay his son. INT: and took the knife to slay his son Genesis 37:31 Exodus 12:6 Exodus 12:21 Exodus 29:11 Exodus 29:16 Exodus 29:20 Exodus 34:25 Leviticus 1:5 Leviticus 1:11 Leviticus 3:2 Leviticus 3:8 Leviticus 3:13 Leviticus 4:4 Leviticus 4:15 Leviticus 4:24 Leviticus 4:24 Leviticus 4:29 Leviticus 4:33 Leviticus 4:33 Leviticus 6:25 Leviticus 6:25 Leviticus 7:2 Leviticus 7:2 Leviticus 8:15 81 Occurrences |
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bray (of ass), compare NöZMG xi (1886), 725).