Lexical Summary shachath: pit, undergo decay, destruction Original Word: שַׁחַת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance corruption, destruction, ditch, grave, pit From shuwach; a pit (especially as a trap); figuratively, destruction -- corruption, destruction, ditch, grave, pit. see HEBREW shuwach NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom shuach Definition a pit NASB Translation destruction (1), dungeon (1), hole (1), pit (18), undergo decay (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs שַׁ֫חַת noun feminine pit; — absolute ׳שׁ Psalm 7:16 +; שָׁ֑חַת Psalm 16:10 +; construct שַׁ֫תַת Isaiah 38:17; Psalm 35:7; suffix שַׁחְתָּם Ezekiel 19:4,8 (+ שַׁחְתֹּה Psalm 35:8b We); — 1 pit, for catching lion (in figurative) Ezekiel 19:4,8; figurative ׳פעל שׁ Psalm 7:16; with עשׂה Psalm 9:16; with חפר Psalm 35:7 (trasnp. ׳שׁ to vb); with ברת Psalm 94:13; Proverbs 26:27; + Psalm 35:8b ᵑ6 We (for שׁוֺאֶה); ׳טָבַל בּשׁ Job 9:31. 2 pit of Sh®°ôl, ׳ירר שׁ Job 33:24; ׳ראה (ה)שׁ Psalm 16:10 ("" שִׁאוֺל), Psalm 49:10; ׳לשׁ, with הוֺרִיד Ezekiel 28:8, and Psalm 55:24 (׳לִבְאֵר שׁ); קָרֵב Job 33:22; יָמוּת Isaiah 51:14; ׳עָבַר בֵשּׁ Job 33:28; ׳יָרַד אֶלשֿׁ Psalm 30:10; ׳מִשּׁ, with חשׁק Isaiah 38:17 (poem), with חשׂח Job 33:18 (מִנִּיֿ); with העלה Jonah 2:7; with הֵשִׁיב Job 33:30 (מִנִּיֿ); with נאל Psalm 103:4; personified Job 17:14 ("" רִמָּה). — ׳שׁ here either = שְׁאוֺל (hollow place, cavern), or < = pit in שְׁאוֺל (compare, from Ezek. on, בּוֺר 5; also אֲבַדּוֺן, p. 2, and עִמְקֵי שְׁאוֺל Proverbs 9:18. This distinction of two parts of שְׁאוֺל became important in Jewish and Christian theology). Topical Lexicon Primary Range of Imageryשַׁחַת is consistently rendered “pit,” “destruction,” or “corruption,” evoking a place where life ends, bodies decay, and hope appears extinguished. Whether literal (a grave or cistern) or figurative (ruin, moral decay, or judgment), it speaks of the low point to which sin and mortality drive the human race. Human Mortality and the Cry for Rescue (Job) Job employs the term more than any other book (Job 9:31; 17:14; 33:18, 22, 24, 28, 30). In his laments the “pit” embodies the despair of undeserved suffering. Yet Elihu also uses it to highlight divine mercy: “He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and my life shall see the light” (Job 33:28). Here שַׁחַת is the nadir from which God alone can lift a person, foreshadowing the gospel promise of deliverance from both physical death and spiritual ruin. The Fate of the Wicked (Psalms of Judgment) Psalms often connect שַׁחַת with just retribution. “He dug a pit and hollowed it out; but he fell into the hole he had made” (Psalm 7:15). Likewise, “The nations have fallen into a pit of their making” (Psalm 9:15). The word functions as poetic justice: evildoers descend into the very destruction they prepared for others, vindicating divine righteousness. Personal Deliverance and Praise (Psalms of Thanksgiving) In contrast, the faithful experience rescue: “O LORD, You brought my soul up from Sheol; You spared me from descending into the Pit” (Psalm 30:3); “He redeems your life from the Pit; He crowns you with loving devotion and compassion” (Psalm 103:4). Believers celebrate not only survival but transformation—being lifted from corruption into covenant love. Messianic Hope (Psalm 16:10) David’s confession, “You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay” (Psalm 16:10), applies שַׁחַת to Messiah’s triumph over bodily corruption. Peter cites this verse in Acts 2:31 as proof of Christ’s resurrection. The Pit could not hold the “Holy One,” securing everlasting assurance for those united to Him. Wisdom Instruction (Proverbs 26:27) Proverbs universalizes the justice principle: “He who digs a pit will fall into it.” שַׁחַת warns every generation that schemes of harm recoil on their authors, shaping ethical teaching for family, community, and nation. Prophetic Oracles and National Collapse (Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jonah) Isaiah turns the image toward corporate exile: “Surely You have cast all my sins behind Your back… You have delivered my soul from the Pit of destruction” (Isaiah 38:17). Later he promises oppressed captives that they “will not die in the pit” (Isaiah 51:14). Ezekiel pronounces שַׁחַת upon princes of Israel and Tyre (Ezekiel 19:4, 8; 28:8), signaling unavoidable political downfall. Jonah, swallowed by the great fish, prays from “the roots of the mountains… the earth with its bars was around me forever, but You brought my life up from the pit” (Jonah 2:6), modeling repentance and renewal. Theological Significance 1. Universality of Death: שַׁחַת reminds that all humanity faces decay apart from divine intervention. Ministry and Discipleship Implications • Preaching: Use שַׁחַת texts to proclaim both the seriousness of sin and the richness of salvation. Summary שַׁחַת spans the account arc from mankind’s lowest depths to God’s highest deliverance. From Job’s anguish to David’s praise, from prophetic warnings to Messianic resurrection, the Pit becomes the backdrop against which divine grace shines brightest—calling every generation to trust the LORD who “redeems your life from the Pit” and guarantees that, in Christ, corruption will give way to incorruptible glory. Forms and Transliterations בְּשַׁ֣חַת בְּשַׁחְתָּ֣ם בְּשַׁחְתָּ֥ם בַּשַּׁ֣חַת בַּשָּׁ֑חַת בשחת בשחתם הַשָּֽׁחַת׃ השחת׃ חת לַשַּׁ֔חַת לַשַּׁ֖חַת לַשַּׁ֣חַת לשחת מִשַּׁ֛חַת מִשַּׁ֣חַת משחת שַּׁ֭חַת שַׁ֗חַת שַׁ֣חַת שָֽׁחַת׃ שָׁ֑חַת שָׁ֗חַת שָׁ֥חַת שחת baš·ša·ḥaṯ baš·šā·ḥaṯ bashShachat baššaḥaṯ baššāḥaṯ bə·ša·ḥaṯ bə·šaḥ·tām bəšaḥaṯ bəšaḥtām beShachat beshachTam chat haš·šā·ḥaṯ hashShachat haššāḥaṯ ḥaṯ laš·ša·ḥaṯ lashShachat laššaḥaṯ miš·ša·ḥaṯ mishShachat miššaḥaṯ ša·ḥaṯ šā·ḥaṯ šaḥaṯ šāḥaṯ ShachatLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 9:31 HEB: אָ֭ז בַּשַּׁ֣חַת תִּטְבְּלֵ֑נִי וְ֝תִֽעֲב֗וּנִי NAS: You would plunge me into the pit, And my own clothes KJV: shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes INT: Yet the pit plunge abhor Job 17:14 Job 33:18 Job 33:22 Job 33:24 Job 33:28 Job 33:30 Psalm 7:15 Psalm 9:15 Psalm 16:10 Psalm 30:9 Psalm 35:7 Psalm 49:9 Psalm 55:23 Psalm 94:13 Psalm 103:4 Proverbs 26:27 Isaiah 38:17 Isaiah 51:14 Ezekiel 19:4 Ezekiel 19:8 Ezekiel 28:8 Jonah 2:6 23 Occurrences |
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