7845. shachath
Lexical Summary
shachath: pit, undergo decay, destruction

Original Word: שַׁחַת
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: shachath
Pronunciation: shah-khath'
Phonetic Spelling: (shakh'-ath)
KJV: corruption, destruction, ditch, grave, pit
NASB: pit, undergo decay, destruction, dungeon, hole
Word Origin: [from H7743 (שׁוַּח - bowed down)]

1. a pit (especially as a trap)
2. (figuratively) destruction

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 Origin
from 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 Imagery

שַׁחַת 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.
2. Retributive Justice: The righteous Judge ensures that destructive schemes boomerang on the perpetrator.
3. Mercy Surpassing Judgment: God delights to ransom souls from the pit, illustrating grace that exceeds guilt.
4. Resurrection Hope: The term frames Old Testament anticipation of bodily redemption, fulfilled in Jesus Christ and securing believers’ future resurrection.

Ministry and Discipleship Implications

• Preaching: Use שַׁחַת texts to proclaim both the seriousness of sin and the richness of salvation.
• Counseling: Offer sufferers Job 33 and Psalm 103 to anchor hope when circumstances resemble a “pit.”
• Evangelism: Point skeptics to Psalm 16’s prophetic fulfillment as evidence of Scripture’s reliability and Christ’s victory over corruption.
• Worship: Incorporate songs and prayers celebrating deliverance “from the pit,” fostering gratitude and humility.

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 Shachat
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman'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
HEB: לַשַּׁ֣חַת קָ֭רָאתִי אָ֣בִי
NAS: If I call to the pit, 'You are my father;
KJV: I have said to corruption, Thou [art] my father:
INT: to the pit call Thou my father

Job 33:18
HEB: נַ֭פְשׁוֹ מִנִּי־ שָׁ֑חַת וְ֝חַיָּת֗וֹ מֵעֲבֹ֥ר
NAS: his soul from the pit, And his life
KJV: his soul from the pit, and his life
INT: his soul from the pit and his life passing

Job 33:22
HEB: וַתִּקְרַ֣ב לַשַּׁ֣חַת נַפְשׁ֑וֹ וְ֝חַיָּת֗וֹ
NAS: draws near to the pit, And his life
KJV: draweth near unto the grave, and his life
INT: draws to the pit his soul and his life

Job 33:24
HEB: פְּ֭דָעֵהוּ מֵרֶ֥דֶת שָׁ֗חַת מָצָ֥אתִי כֹֽפֶר׃
NAS: him from going down to the pit, I have found
KJV: him from going down to the pit: I have found
INT: Deliver going to the pit have found A ransom

Job 33:28
HEB: ק) מֵעֲבֹ֣ר בַּשָּׁ֑חַת [וְחַיָּתִי כ]
NAS: from going to the pit, And my life
KJV: from going into the pit, and his life
INT: any going to the pit age the light

Job 33:30
HEB: נַ֭פְשׁוֹ מִנִּי־ שָׁ֑חַת לֵ֝א֗וֹר בְּא֣וֹר
NAS: his soul from the pit, That he may be enlightened
KJV: his soul from the pit, to be enlightened
INT: his soul from the pit may be enlightened the light

Psalm 7:15
HEB: וַֽיַּחְפְּרֵ֑הוּ וַ֝יִּפֹּ֗ל בְּשַׁ֣חַת יִפְעָֽל׃
NAS: it out, And has fallen into the hole which he made.
KJV: it, and is fallen into the ditch [which] he made.
INT: and hollowed fallen the hole made

Psalm 9:15
HEB: טָבְע֣וּ ג֭וֹיִם בְּשַׁ֣חַת עָשׂ֑וּ בְּרֶֽשֶׁת־
NAS: have sunk down in the pit which they have made;
KJV: are sunk down in the pit [that] they made:
INT: have sunk the nations the pit have made the net

Psalm 16:10
HEB: חֲ֝סִידְךָ֗ לִרְא֥וֹת שָֽׁחַת׃
NAS: Your Holy One to undergo decay.
KJV: thine Holy One to see corruption.
INT: your Holy to see to undergo

Psalm 30:9
HEB: בְּרִדְתִּ֪י אֶ֫ל־ שָׁ֥חַת הֲיוֹדְךָ֥ עָפָ֑ר
NAS: if I go down to the pit? Will the dust
KJV: when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust
INT: go about corruption praise ashes

Psalm 35:7
HEB: טָֽמְנוּ־ לִ֭י שַׁ֣חַת רִשְׁתָּ֑ם חִ֝נָּ֗ם
NAS: they dug a pit for my soul.
KJV: for me their net [in] a pit, [which] without cause
INT: without hid A pit their net cause

Psalm 49:9
HEB: לֹ֖א יִרְאֶ֣ה הַשָּֽׁחַת׃
NAS: on eternally, That he should not undergo decay.
KJV: for ever, [and] not see corruption.
INT: not see undergo

Psalm 55:23
HEB: תּוֹרִדֵ֬ם ׀ לִבְאֵ֬ר שַׁ֗חַת אַנְשֵׁ֤י דָמִ֣ים
NAS: to the pit of destruction; Men
KJV: into the pit of destruction: bloody
INT: will bring to the pit of destruction men of bloodshed

Psalm 94:13
HEB: יִכָּרֶ֖ה לָרָשָׁ֣ע שָֽׁחַת׃
NAS: Until a pit is dug
KJV: of adversity, until the pit be digged
INT: is dug the wicked A pit

Psalm 103:4
HEB: הַגּוֹאֵ֣ל מִשַּׁ֣חַת חַיָּ֑יְכִי הַֽ֝מְעַטְּרֵ֗כִי
NAS: your life from the pit, Who crowns
KJV: thy life from destruction; who crowneth
INT: redeems the pit life crowns

Proverbs 26:27
HEB: כֹּֽרֶה־ שַּׁ֭חַת בָּ֣הּ יִפֹּ֑ל
NAS: He who digs a pit will fall
KJV: Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall
INT: digs A pit will fall rolls

Isaiah 38:17
HEB: חָשַׁ֤קְתָּ נַפְשִׁי֙ מִשַּׁ֣חַת בְּלִ֔י כִּ֥י
NAS: my soul from the pit of nothingness,
KJV: to my soul [delivered it] from the pit of corruption:
INT: has kept my soul the pit of nothingness for

Isaiah 51:14
HEB: וְלֹא־ יָמ֣וּת לַשַּׁ֔חַת וְלֹ֥א יֶחְסַ֖ר
NAS: and will not die in the dungeon, nor
KJV: and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread
INT: nor die the dungeon nor be lacking

Ezekiel 19:4
HEB: אֵלָ֛יו גּוֹיִ֖ם בְּשַׁחְתָּ֣ם נִתְפָּ֑שׂ וַיְבִאֻ֥הוּ
NAS: him; He was captured in their pit, And they brought
KJV: of him; he was taken in their pit, and they brought
INT: about nations their pit was captured brought

Ezekiel 19:8
HEB: עָלָ֛יו רִשְׁתָּ֖ם בְּשַׁחְתָּ֥ם נִתְפָּֽשׂ׃
NAS: him; He was captured in their pit.
KJV: over him: he was taken in their pit.
INT: over their net their pit was captured

Ezekiel 28:8
HEB: לַשַּׁ֖חַת יֽוֹרִד֑וּךָ וָמַ֛תָּה
NAS: They will bring you down to the pit, And you will die
KJV: They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die
INT: to the pit will bring the death

Jonah 2:6
HEB: לְעוֹלָ֑ם וַתַּ֧עַל מִשַּׁ֛חַת חַיַּ֖י יְהוָ֥ה
NAS: up my life from the pit, O LORD
KJV: my life from corruption, O LORD
INT: forever have brought the pit my life LORD

23 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7845
23 Occurrences


baš·ša·ḥaṯ — 2 Occ.
bə·ša·ḥaṯ — 2 Occ.
bə·šaḥ·tām — 2 Occ.
ḥaṯ — 1 Occ.
haš·šā·ḥaṯ — 1 Occ.
laš·ša·ḥaṯ — 4 Occ.
miš·ša·ḥaṯ — 3 Occ.
šā·ḥaṯ — 8 Occ.

7844
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