Lexical Summary shachath: To destroy, corrupt, ruin, spoil Original Word: שָׁחַת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance batter, cast off, corrupter, thing, destroyer lose, mar, perish, spill, A primitive root; to decay, i.e. (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively) -- batter, cast off, corrupt(-er, thing), destroy(-er, -uction), lose, mar, perish, spill, spoiler, X utterly, waste(-r). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition perhaps to go to ruin NASB Translation act corruptly (4), act...corruptly (1), acted corruptly (3), acted...corruptly (1), acting corruptly (1), blemished animal (1), corrupt (8), corrupted (4), depravity (1), destroy (69), destroyed (14), destroyer (4), destroyers (1), destroying (7), destroys (5), destruction (2), devastate (1), felled (2), go to ruin (1), harm (2), jeopardize (1), laid waste (1), polluted (1), raiders (2), ravage (1), ravaged (1), ruin (1), ruined (4), set (1), spoiled (1), stifled (1), waste (1), wasted (1), wreaking destruction (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שָׁחַת]151 verb go to ruin (?), only derived species (Late Hebrew Hiph`il = Biblical Hebrew, Ecclus. שחיתה Ecclesiasticus 30:11 corrupt act; Arabic  extirpate; Ethiopic  injure, violate; Tel Amarna ša—âtu is fall (especially of city), be prostrate (? of land), perhaps Canaanism (see WklTelAm. Vocab.), Assyrian possibly šêtu, flee, escape (compare אבד); Old Aramaic (Zinjirli) שחת destroy Lzb374, Aramaic שְׁחַת,  (assimilation of  ), multilate; — very improbable Gerber179denominative from שַׁחַת); — Niph`al be marred, spoiled, Perfect3masculine singular נִשְׁחַת, of waistcloth Jeremiah 13:7, vessel Jeremiah 18:4; be injured, or even (hyperb.) ruined, Imperfect3feminine singular תִּשָּׁחֵת Exodus 8:20 (J) of land (מִפְנֵי הֶעָרֹב); be corrupted, corrupt, in mnorals and rel., of earth, Perfect3feminine singular נִשְׁחָ֑תָה Genesis 6:12 (P), Imperfect3feminine singular ׳לִפְנֵי הָא ׳וַתִּשּׁ Genesis 6:11 (P); so Participle feminine plural as adjective נִשְׁחָתוֺת Ezekiel 20:44. Pi`el Perfect3masculine singular שִׁחֵת Exodus 32:7 +, suffix שִׁחֶתְךָ Hosea 13:9; 2masculine singular שִׁחַתָּ Isaiah 14:20 +, etc.; Imperative masculine plural שַׁחֵ֑תוּ Jeremiah 5:10; Infinitive construct שַׁחֵת Genesis 13:10 +, etc.; — 1 spoil, ruin, accusative of eye Exodus 21:26 (E), vineyard Jeremiah 12:10 (figurative), branches Nahum 2:3 (figurative), also = destroy, accusative of person 2 Samuel 1:14; 2 Samuel 14:11 (accusative omitted), Ezekiel 5:16; Ezekiel 20:17, כָּלבָֿשָׂר Genesis 6:17; Genesis 9:15 (P), city, fortress, etc., Genesis 13:10; Genesis 19:13,29 (all J), 2 Samuel 24:16; Jeremiah 5:10 (accusative omitted), Jeremiah 48:18; Ezekiel 26:4; Ezekiel 43:3; Lamentations 2:5, ruin temple Lamentations 2:6, nation Hosea 11:9; Hosea 13:9 (read perhaps שִׁחַתִּךָ Oort Now), land 2 Kings 19:12 (Hiph`il in "" Isaiah 37:12), Judges 6:5; Joshua 22:33 (P), Ezekiel 22:30; Ezekiel 30:11, earth Genesis 9:11 (P); with ל object (ל 3b), city 1 Samuel 23:10, person Numbers 32:15 (P); with accusative רַחֲמָיו Amos 1:11, destroyed (stifled) his compassion (or, RSK 28 and others, the bonds of kinship, see רַחֲמִים), בְּרִית Malachi 2:8, i.e. violate it, see especially אַרְצָה ׳וְשׁ (that is, semen) Genesis 38:9 (J) he spoiled (it) upon the ground, made it ineffective, = waste words Proverbs 23:8. 2 pervert, corrupt, accusative wisdom Ezekiel 28:17, absolute = deal corruptly, הֶעֱמִיקוּ שִׁחֵתוּ Hosea 9:9 (compare [עָמֹק], p.770:b; but We Now read שַׁחְתּוֺ, √ שׁוח), Exodus 32:7 (JE), Deuteronomy 9:12, so לוֺ ׳שׁ Deuteronomy 32:5. Hiph`il103 Perfect3masculine singular הִשְׁחִית Genesis 6:12 +; 1 singular וְהִשְׁחַתִּ֫י Jeremiah 51:20, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יַשְׁחִית Daniel 8:24 +, יַשְׁחִת Malachi 3:11 +, וַיַּשְׁחֵת 1 Chronicles 20:1; 2feminine singular וַתַּשְׁחִתִי Ezekiel 16:47, 2masculine plural תַּשְׁחִתוּן Deuteronomy 4:16; Deuteronomy 31:29; Imperative masculine singular suffix הַשְׁחִיתָהּ 2 Kings 18:25 = Isaiah 36:10; Infinitive absolute הַשְׁחֵת Deuteronomy 31:29; construct הַשְׁחִית 1 Samuel 26:15 +, etc.; Participle מַשְׁחִית Genesis 19:14 +, etc.; — 1 spoil, ruin, accusative crop Judges 6:4; Malachi 3:11, trees Deuteronomy 20:19,20; Jeremiah 11:19 (figurative), vessels 2Chronicles 36:19, houses 2 Chronicles 34:11, palaces Jeremiah 6:5 compare Isaiah 65:8; Leviticus 19:27 (H), Ruth 4:6; דַּיָּם ׳הִשׁ Jeremiah 49:9 thieves damage as much as they want; accusative of person = ruin, destroy, 1 Samuel 26:9,15; Judges 20:21,25 (+ אַ֫רְצָה), Judges 20:35; Judges 20:42; 2 Kings 13:23; 2Chronicles 24:23 (+ מִן separ.), + 12 t., + (accusative of person omitted) Isaiah 51:13 4t., accusative בֵּית דָּוִד2Chronicles 21:7, absolute Isaiah 11:9 = Isaiah 65:25; also ruin one (by words) Proverbs 11:9; accusative עַם 2 Samuel 24:16; Deuteronomy 9:26; land 1 Samuel 6:5; Jeremiah 36:29; Daniel 11:17 (see Dr); city wall 2 Samuel 20:15 (Ew Th here denominative from שַׁחַת they were making a pit; < ᵐ5 We (?) Klo Dr Bu HPS Now מְחַשְּׁבִים were devising), Lamentations 2:8, cities and nations Genesis 18:28 (twice in verse) (J, accusative omitted), Genesis 19:13,14 (J), Isaiah 37:12 (Pi`el in "" 2 Kings 19:12), 2Ki 36:10 (twice in verse) = 2 Kings 18:25 (twice in verse) + 11 t. + (Israel personified) Deuteronomy 4:31; Deuteronomy 10:10; 2 Kings 8:19, pride of Judah Jeremiah 13:9, earth Jeremiah 51:1; absolute with adverb accusative Daniel 8:24 (see Dr; Bev conjecture יְשׂחֵחַ or יָשִׂיחַ utter monstrous things), compare 1 Chronicles 21:12; Participle as adjective, of lion Jeremiah 2:30, angel 1 Chronicles 21:15; = destroyer Exodus 12:23 (J), Jeremiah 22:7; Isaiah 54:16, גּוֺיִם ׳מ Jeremiah 4:7, ׳רוּחַ מ Jeremiah 51:1; singular collective (׳הַמּ Ges§ 126l; the destroying band, compare Dr Bu Now) 1 Samuel 13:17; 1 Samuel 14:15 (spoilers, ravagers); figurative for snare, trap, Jeremiah 5:26. 2 pervert, corrupt, morally, accusative דֶּרֶךְ Genesis 6:12 (P; see דֶּרֶךְ 6), נַפְשׁוֺ Proverbs 6:32, compare Zephaniah 3:7; Ezekiel 23:11 (מִן compare); ׳הִשׁ הִתְעִיבוּ עֲלִילָה Psalm 14:1 = Psalm 53:2; ׳הַשְׁחֵת תַּשְׁח (+ verb of particular act) Deuteronomy 4:16; Deuteronomy 31:29; declar. = act corruptly, Isaiah 1:4; Deuteronomy 4:28 (+ verb of act), 2Chronicles 27:2, + מִן compare Judges 2:19; Ezekiel 16:47; Participle as substantive Jeremiah 6:28, ׳אִישׁ מַשׁ Proverbs 28:24 (Proverbs 18:9 see infra). — אַלתַּֿשְׁחֵת destroy not (catchword of old song or melody ?) in Psalm-titles: Prov 57:1; Prov 58:1; Prov 59:1; Prov 75:1. Hoph`al Participle מָשְׁחָת spoiled, ruined, of a spring, מָקוֺר Proverbs 25:26 ("" מַעְיָן נִרְמָּשׂ); as substantive Malachi 1:14 sacrificing a spoiled thing. Topical Lexicon Scope and Semantic ThemesThe verb שָׁחַת occurs roughly one-hundred-forty-seven times in the Hebrew Scriptures and gathers around four interwoven ideas: (1) moral corruption or depravity, (2) physical ruin or devastation, (3) the spoiling or marring of objects, persons, or plans, and (4) the finality of destruction when God executes judgment. Its range stretches from an internal decay of character to the outward collapse of civilizations and ecosystems. The word therefore functions as an indispensable link between human sin, the forfeiture of covenant blessing, and the righteous intervention of the LORD. Representative Old Testament Occurrences 1. Moral corruption 2. Physical destruction 3. Spoiling or marring 4. The “pit of destruction” nuance (root connections) Though the noun “pit” is formally separate (שַׁחַת, Strong 7845), its shared root reinforces the concept of irreversible ruin and provides a backdrop for resurrection hope. Narrative Flow of Biblical History • Primeval Era – Humanity’s universal corruption precipitates the flood (Genesis 6–9); the verb frames the story’s moral indictment and the catastrophic remedy. • Patriarchal Period – The ruin of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 13:10; 19:29) warns subsequent generations that unchecked sin invites decisive overthrow. • Exodus and Conquest – Israel’s rapid corruption at Sinai (Exodus 32:7) demonstrates that even the redeemed community stands in need of continual grace. Later, the verb appears in conquest narratives where the Canaanite nations are “destroyed” under divine command (Joshua 23:13–16). • Monarchy – Prophets indict Judah and Israel for “destroying” the land through injustice (Isaiah 14:20) and for “corrupting” covenant worship (Hosea 13:9). Kings who shed innocent blood or pervert justice are said to ruin their people (Jeremiah 12:10). • Exilic and Post-exilic – The destruction of Jerusalem is interpreted through שָׁחַת as covenant curse (Lamentations 2:11). Daniel 9:26 looks forward to yet another act of ruin against the city, pushing the theme toward eschatology. Patterns of Corruption Versus Preservation 1. Human action initiates corruption; divine action answers with either restorative discipline or irreversible devastation. Theological Significance • Total Depravity: Genesis 6 anchors the doctrine that sin permeates every sphere when left unchecked. Christological Trajectory While the verb generally announces doom, its root becomes the foil against which the Resurrection stands out. The burial of Christ seemed to consign Him to the pit of corruption, yet Psalm 16 assures the faithful that God would not allow His Holy One to undergo decay. The empty tomb therefore marks the definitive victory over both moral corruption and the grave’s destruction. Ministry and Homiletical Application 1. Preaching Holiness – Highlight the link between secret sin and eventual public ruin (Proverbs 6:32–33; Isaiah 1:4). Pastoral Warning and Comfort Warn: Persistent corruption invites unavoidable judgment (Deuteronomy 29:18–28; Hebrews 10:26–27). Comfort: Those who trust in the risen Christ are promised preservation from ultimate ruin (John 10:28; 1 Peter 1:4–5). Missiological and Eschatological Outlook The nations that “destroy the earth” will themselves be destroyed when the kingdom is consummated (Revelation 11:18), completing the Old Testament trajectory of שָׁחַת. Yet the new heavens and new earth shine as a place “where destruction is unknown” (Isaiah 65:17–25), fulfilling God’s purpose to reverse every work of corruption and to dwell with a redeemed people forever. Forms and Transliterations אַשְׁחִ֔ית אַשְׁחִ֖ית אַשְׁחִ֞ית אַשְׁחִֽית׃ אַשְׁחִיתֵ֑ם אשחית אשחית׃ אשחיתם בְּשַׁחֵ֤ת בשחת הֲמַשְׁחִ֣ית הֲתַשְׁחִ֥ית הִֽ֝שְׁחִ֗יתוּ הִֽשְׁחִ֗יתוּ הִשְׁחִ֔יתוּ הִשְׁחִ֖יתוּ הִשְׁחִ֣יתוּ הִשְׁחִ֥יתוּ הִשְׁחִ֧ית הַֽשְׁחִ֥ית הַמַּשְׁחִ֔ית הַמַּשְׁחִ֖ית הַמַּשְׁחִ֛ית הַמַּשְׁחִ֤ית הַמַּשְׁחִית֙ הַמַּשְׁחִיתִם֙ הַנִּשְׁחָתוֹת֙ הַשְׁחִיתֶֽךָ׃ הַשְׁחִיתָ֔ם הַשְׁחֵ֣ת המשחית המשחיתם הנשחתות השחית השחיתו השחיתך׃ השחיתם השחת התשחית וְ֝שִׁחַ֗תָּ וְהִשְׁחִ֣יתוּ וְהִשְׁחִ֥ית וְהִשְׁחִית֙ וְהִשְׁחַתִּ֥י וְהִשְׁחַתֶּ֗ם וְהַמַּשְׁחִ֔ית וְהַשְׁחִיתָֽהּ׃ וְנִשְׁחַ֣ת וְנַשְׁחִ֖יתָה וְשִֽׁחֲתָ֑הּ וְשִֽׁחַתֶּ֖ם וְשִׁחֲת֞וּ וְשִׁחֵ֣ת וְשַׁחֵ֔תוּ וַיַּשְׁחִ֙יתוּ֙ וַיַּשְׁחִ֙תוּ֙ וַיַּשְׁחִ֛יתוּ וַיַּשְׁחִ֨יתוּ וַיַּשְׁחִיתוּ֩ וַיַּשְׁחֵ֣ת ׀ וַתִּשָּׁחֵ֥ת וַתַּשְׁחִ֥תִי וַתַּשְׁחִיתֵֽם׃ וַתַּשְׁחֵ֥ת וָֽאַשְׁחִיתֵ֔ךְ וּכְהַשְׁחִ֗ית וּלְהַשְׁחִֽית׃ וּמַשְׁחִ֣ית ואשחיתך והמשחית והשחית והשחיתה׃ והשחיתו והשחתי והשחתם וישחיתו וישחת וישחתו וכהשחית ולהשחית׃ ומשחית ונשחיתה ונשחת ושחת ושחתה ושחתו ושחתם ותשחיתם׃ ותשחת ותשחתי יַ֠שְׁחִית יַ֫שְׁחִ֥ית יַשְׁחִ֖ית יַשְׁחִ֖יתוּ יַשְׁחִ֛יתוּ יַשְׁחִ֣ית יַשְׁחִ֣ת יַשְׁחִ֥ת יַשְׁחִיתֶ֑ךָ יַשְׁחִיתֶֽךָ׃ ישחית ישחיתו ישחיתך ישחיתך׃ ישחת לְהַשְׁחִ֑ית לְהַשְׁחִ֔ית לְהַשְׁחִ֖ית לְהַשְׁחִ֣ית לְהַשְׁחִֽית׃ לְהַשְׁחִית֙ לְהַשְׁחִיתֶ֔ךָ לְהַשְׁחִיתָ֑הּ לְהַשְׁחִיתָ֔הּ לְהַשְׁחִיתָהּ֒ לְהַשְׁחִת֑וֹ לְשַֽׁחֶתְכֶ֑ם לְשַׁחֲתָֽהּ׃ לְשַׁחֲתָהּ֒ לְשַׁחֵ֔ת לְשַׁחֵ֖ת לְשַׁחֵ֣ת לְשַׁחֵ֥ת לְשַׁחֵת֙ להשחית להשחית׃ להשחיתה להשחיתך להשחתו לשחת לשחתה לשחתה׃ לשחתכם מִֽשַּׁחֲתָ֑ם מֵֽהַשְׁחִֽית׃ מֵהַשְׁחִיתָֽם׃ מַֽשְׁחִ֥ית מַשְׁחִ֖ית מַשְׁחִ֥ית מַשְׁחִֽית׃ מַשְׁחִיתִ֑ים מַשְׁחִיתִ֖ים מַשְׁחִיתִ֖ם מַשְׁחִיתִ֥ים מַשְׁחִיתִֽים׃ מַשְׁחִיתָ֖ם מַשְׁחִתִ֖ים מַשְׁחִתִ֣ים מָשְׁחָ֑ת מָשְׁחָ֖ת מהשחית׃ מהשחיתם׃ משחית משחית׃ משחיתים משחיתים׃ משחיתם משחת משחתים משחתם נִשְׁחַ֣ת נִשְׁחָ֑תָה נַשְׁחִ֨יתָה נשחיתה נשחת נשחתה שִֽׁחֲת֣וּ שִֽׁחֶתְךָ֥ שִֽׁחַתֶּם֙ שִׁחֲת֣וּ שִׁחֵ֖ת שִׁחֵ֖תוּ שִׁחֵ֣ת שִׁחֵ֥ת שִׁחֵֽתוּ׃ שִׁחַ֖תָּ שִׁחַ֥תָּ שַׁחֲתָ֑הּ שַׁחֵ֣ת שחת שחתה שחתו שחתו׃ שחתך שחתם תִּשָּׁחֵ֥ת תַּשְׁחִיתֵ֑הוּ תַּשְׁחִיתֵ֔הוּ תַּשְׁחִת֔וּן תַּשְׁחֵ֤ת תַשְׁחִ֔ית תַשְׁחִ֖ית תַשְׁחִ֤ית תשחית תשחיתהו תשחת תשחתון ’aš·ḥî·ṯêm ’aš·ḥîṯ ’ašḥîṯ ’ašḥîṯêm ashChit ashchiTem bə·ša·ḥêṯ bəšaḥêṯ beshaChet hă·maš·ḥîṯ hă·ṯaš·ḥîṯ ham·maš·ḥî·ṯim ham·maš·ḥîṯ hamashChit hămašḥîṯ hammashChit hammashchiTim hammašḥîṯ hammašḥîṯim han·niš·ḥā·ṯō·wṯ hannišḥāṯōwṯ hannishchatOt haš·ḥêṯ haš·ḥî·ṯām haš·ḥî·ṯe·ḵā haš·ḥîṯ hashChet hashChit hashchiTam hashchiTecha hašḥêṯ hašḥîṯ hašḥîṯām hašḥîṯeḵā hatashChit hăṯašḥîṯ hiš·ḥî·ṯū hiš·ḥîṯ hishChit hishChitu hišḥîṯ hišḥîṯū lə·haš·ḥî·ṯāh lə·haš·ḥî·ṯe·ḵā lə·haš·ḥi·ṯōw lə·haš·ḥîṯ lə·ša·ḥă·ṯāh lə·ša·ḥêṯ lə·ša·ḥeṯ·ḵem lehashChit lehashchiTah lehashchiTecha lehashchiTo ləhašḥîṯ ləhašḥîṯāh ləhašḥîṯeḵā ləhašḥiṯōw ləšaḥăṯāh ləšaḥêṯ ləšaḥeṯḵem leshachaTah leshaChet leshachetChem mā·šə·ḥāṯ maš·ḥî·ṯām maš·ḥi·ṯîm maš·ḥî·ṯim maš·ḥî·ṯîm maš·ḥîṯ māšəḥāṯ mashChit mashchiTam mashchiTim masheChat mašḥîṯ mašḥîṯām mašḥiṯîm mašḥîṯim mašḥîṯîm mê·haš·ḥî·ṯām mê·haš·ḥîṯ MehashChit mehashchiTam mêhašḥîṯ mêhašḥîṯām miš·ša·ḥă·ṯām mishshachaTam miššaḥăṯām naš·ḥî·ṯāh nashChitah našḥîṯāh niš·ḥā·ṯāh niš·ḥaṯ nišḥaṯ nišḥāṯāh nishChat nishChatah ša·ḥă·ṯāh ša·ḥêṯ šaḥăṯāh šaḥêṯ shachaTah shaChet shiChata shichatTem shichaTu shiChet shichetCha shiChetu ši·ḥa·tā ši·ḥă·ṯū ši·ḥat·tem ši·ḥê·ṯū ši·ḥêṯ ši·ḥeṯ·ḵā šiḥatā šiḥattem šiḥăṯū šiḥêṯ šiḥeṯḵā šiḥêṯū taš·ḥêṯ taš·ḥî·ṯê·hū taš·ḥi·ṯūn ṯaš·ḥîṯ tashChet tashChit tashchiTehu tashchiTun tašḥêṯ ṯašḥîṯ tašḥîṯêhū tašḥiṯūn tiš·šā·ḥêṯ tishshaChet tiššāḥêṯ ū·ḵə·haš·ḥîṯ ū·lə·haš·ḥîṯ ū·maš·ḥîṯ uchehashChit ūḵəhašḥîṯ ulehashChit ūləhašḥîṯ umashChit ūmašḥîṯ vaashchiTech vaiyashChet vaiyashChitu vattashChet vattashchiTem vattashChiti vattishshaChet vehammashChit vehashchiTah vehishchatTem vehishchatTi vehishChit vehishChitu venashChitah venishChat veshaChetu veshiChata veshichaTah veshichatTem veshichaTu veshiChet wā’ašḥîṯêḵ wā·’aš·ḥî·ṯêḵ wat·taš·ḥêṯ wat·taš·ḥî·ṯêm wat·taš·ḥi·ṯî wat·tiš·šā·ḥêṯ wattašḥêṯ wattašḥîṯêm wattašḥiṯî wattiššāḥêṯ way·yaš·ḥêṯ way·yaš·ḥi·ṯū way·yaš·ḥî·ṯū wayyašḥêṯ wayyašḥiṯū wayyašḥîṯū wə·ham·maš·ḥîṯ wə·haš·ḥî·ṯāh wə·hiš·ḥat·tem wə·hiš·ḥat·tî wə·hiš·ḥî·ṯū wə·hiš·ḥîṯ wə·naš·ḥî·ṯāh wə·niš·ḥaṯ wə·ša·ḥê·ṯū wə·ši·ḥa·tā wə·ši·ḥă·ṯāh wə·ši·ḥă·ṯū wə·ši·ḥat·tem wə·ši·ḥêṯ wəhammašḥîṯ wəhašḥîṯāh wəhišḥattem wəhišḥattî wəhišḥîṯ wəhišḥîṯū wənašḥîṯāh wənišḥaṯ wəšaḥêṯū wəšiḥatā wəšiḥăṯāh wəšiḥattem wəšiḥăṯū wəšiḥêṯ yaš·ḥî·ṯe·ḵā yaš·ḥî·ṯū yaš·ḥiṯ yaš·ḥîṯ yashChit yashchiTecha yashChitu yašḥiṯ yašḥîṯ yašḥîṯeḵā yašḥîṯūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 6:11 HEB: וַתִּשָּׁחֵ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ לִפְנֵ֣י NAS: Now the earth was corrupt in the sight KJV: The earth also was corrupt before God, INT: was corrupt now the earth the sight Genesis 6:12 Genesis 6:12 Genesis 6:13 Genesis 6:17 Genesis 9:11 Genesis 9:15 Genesis 13:10 Genesis 18:28 Genesis 18:28 Genesis 18:31 Genesis 18:32 Genesis 19:13 Genesis 19:13 Genesis 19:14 Genesis 19:29 Genesis 38:9 Exodus 8:24 Exodus 12:23 Exodus 21:26 Exodus 32:7 Leviticus 19:27 Numbers 32:15 Deuteronomy 4:16 Deuteronomy 4:25 147 Occurrences |
    |