Lexical Summary shaqat: To be quiet, to be at rest, to be undisturbed, to be tranquil Original Word: שָׁקַט Strong's Exhaustive Concordance appease, idleness, at, be at, be in, give quietness, be at, be in, A primitive root; to repose (usually figurative) -- appease, idleness, (at, be at, be in, give) quiet(-ness), (be at, be in, give, have, take) rest, settle, be still. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to be quiet or undisturbed NASB Translation been quiet (1), been undisturbed (1), calm (1), calmed (1), calms (1), careless (1), grant him relief (1), had rest (3), keep quiet (1), keeps quiet (1), pacified (1), peace (1), quiet (12), quietly (1), quietness (2), rest (2), still (3), undisturbed (7). Brown-Driver-Briggs שָׁקַט verb be quiet, undisturbed (ᵑ7 שְׁקַט (rare); Late Hebrew שׁקט is sink down; Arabic  is drop down); — Qal Perfect3masculine singular consecutive ׳וְשׁ Jeremiah 30:10; Jeremiah 46:27, 3feminine singular שָֽׁקְטָה Joshua 11:23 +, שָׁקָ֑טָה 2 Kings 11:20 +; 1 singular שָׁקַ֫טְתִּי Job 3:26, וְשָׁקַטְתִּ֫י Ezekiel 16:42; Imperfect3masculine singular יִשְׁקֹט Ruth 3:18; 2feminine singular תְּשְׁקֹ֑טִי Jeremiah 47:6,7; 1singular אֶשְׁקוֺט Isaiah 62:1; Job 3:13, אשׁקוטה Isaiah 18:4 Kt, Qr אֶשְָׁקָטָה (Ges§§ 10h, 48c); Participle שֹׁקֵט Judges 18:7 +, feminine singular שֹׁוֶ֫טֶת 1 Chronicles 4:40, שֹׁקָ֑טֶת Zechariah 1:11; plural הַשֹּׁקְטִים Ezekiel 38:11; — be quiet, undisturbed: 1 of land, at peace, absolute Judges 3:11,30; Judges 5:31; Judges 8:28; Isaiah 14:7 (+נָ֫חָה), 2 Chron 13:23; +מִמִּלְחָמָה Joshua 11:23; Joshua 14:15 (D ?), compare Joshua 14:5 (P); וּשְׁלֵוָה ׳וְשׁ 1 Chronicles 4:40; of earth, ׳ישֶׁבֶת וְשׁ Zechariah 1:11; absolute of city 2 Kings 11:20 2Chronicles 23:21, kingdom 2 Chronicles 20:30, +לִפְנֵי person 2 Chron 14:4; of people, וּבֹטֵחַ ׳שׁ in peace and security Judges 18:7,27, הַשֹּׁקְטִים ישְׁבֵי לָבֶ֑טַח Ezekiel 38:11; +שַׁאֲנַן Jeremiah 30:10 = Jeremiah 46:27; of Moab, שַׁאֲנַןוְ֗֗֗שֹׁקֵט אֶלשְֿׁמָרָיו Jeremiah 48:11 undisturbed upon its lees (figurative of wine); of Job, quiet in death Job 3:13, be at rest (from apprehensions of evil) Job 3:26 (+שָׁלַוְתִּי, נָ֫חְתִּי). 2 be quiet, inactive: of ׳וְאַבִּיטָהי֔ Isaiah 18:4 I will be quiet and gaze, i.e. gaze as an inactive spectator, Psalm 83:2 ("" דמה, חרשׁ be silent); = be pacified Ezekiel 16:42; of sword of ׳י Jeremiah 47:6,7; of Boaz Ruth 3:18 he will not be quiet until he has finished the matter; of prophet Isaiah 62:1 ("" חָשָׁה be silent). Hiph`il Imperfect3masculine singular יַשְׁקִיט Proverbs 15:18, יַשְׁקִט Job 34:29; Imperative masculine singular הַשְׁקֵט Isaiah 7:4; Infinitive absolute הַשְׁקֵט Isaiah 32:17 +; construct הַשְׁקִיט Psalm 94:13, קִט- Job 37:17, קֵט- Isaiah 57:20; Jeremiah 49:23; — 1 shew quietness (inner causative), of men Isaiah 7:4 (+אַלתִּֿירָא), of sea Isaiah 57:20 = Jeremiah 49:23, earth Job 37:17 ( +מִדָּרוֺם); hence Infinitive absolute = substantive, quietness, display of quietness Isaiah 30:15, עֲבֹדַת הַצְּדָקָה הַשְׁקֵט וָבֶ֫טַח Isaiah 32:17 the product of righteousness is quietness and security (Du CheHpt Marti strike out ׳הַצּ as dittograph from va, read הַמִּשְׁמָּט for הַשְׁקֵט, and strike out וָ: the product of justice is security); (presumptuous) security, שַׁלְוַת הַשְׁקֵט Ezekiel 16:49 (of Sodom). 2 cause quietness: subject ׳י Job 34:29, לְהַשְׁקִיט לוֺ מִימֵי רָ֑ע Psalm 94:13; pacify, allay, object רִיב Proverbs 15:18. Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Theological Nuanceשָׁקַט (shaqat) gathers into one Hebrew verb the ideas of being quiet, undisturbed, at rest, at ease, or pacified. Its usage reaches beyond mere absence of noise; it signals a settled calm in which hostile forces have been subdued, fear has been silenced, or God’s corrective hand has lifted. Because peace in Scripture is never merely negative, shaqat often portrays a positive state of covenant well-being granted by the Lord and enjoyed by His people, land, or leaders. Occurrences across the Old Testament Approximately forty-one verses employ shaqat. These passages occur most densely within Judges, Kings, Chronicles, and the Prophets, with a few appearances in poetic books. The distribution traces Israel’s checkered history of rest granted when they trusted the Lord and turmoil when they departed from Him. National and Territorial Rest 1. Conquest and Settlement After decisive victories Joshua “took the entire land… And the land had rest from war” (Joshua 11:23). Later, when the Levitical cities were assigned, “the Lord gave them rest on every side” (Joshua 21:44). Shaqat here marks the divinely secured cessation of external conflict that allowed Israel to dwell securely in the inheritance promised to Abraham. 2. Judges Era Cycles Shaqat punctuates the book of Judges as a refrain of grace. Following Othniel’s deliverance “the land had rest for forty years” (Judges 3:11). After Ehud, “the land had rest for eighty years” (Judges 3:30). Each period of tranquility depended on obedience; apostasy dissolved the serenity and ushered in oppression. Thus shaqat becomes an historical barometer of covenant faithfulness. 3. United and Divided Monarchies Solomon reaped the benefits of Davidic victories: “The Lord my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor misfortune” (1 Kings 5:4). Yet the divided kingdom quickly forfeited that calm. In the days of Asa, “there was no war in those years because the Lord gave him rest” (2 Chronicles 14:6), illustrating that even a southern king under the Davidic covenant received conditional tranquility. Conversely, after Jehu’s purging of Baal, “the house of Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the Lord… In those days the Lord began to reduce the borders of Israel” (2 Kings 10:31-32). Where covenant loyalty waned, rest receded. Prophetic Use: Peace Threatened and Rest Withdrawn 1. Impending Judgment Prophets frequently invert shaqat, warning that assumed peace would be shattered. Zechariah records the Lord’s indignation toward complacent nations who lived “at ease” (Zechariah 1:15). Jeremiah declares regarding Babylon, “Flee from the midst of Babylon… She has been proud against the Lord” (Jeremiah 50:16), indicating that the oppressor’s supposed rest would disappear as divine retribution advanced. 2. Post-Exilic Hope After the exile, Zechariah again speaks of the land being quieted by the Angel of the Lord’s intercession (Zechariah 1:11). Shaqat thus undergirds the promise that restoration will ultimately yield a secure calm rooted in God’s mercy rather than political alliances. Personal and Spiritual Calm 1. Inner Quietness Beyond geopolitical settings, shaqat touches private life. Job’s anguished complaint “I am not at ease, I am not quiet; I have no rest, but trouble comes” (Job 3:26) reveals the deep contrast between physical stillness and spiritual turmoil. Isaiah likewise comforts the weary: “You will keep in perfect peace the one whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3), echoing the heart of shaqat as God-centered repose. 2. Pastoral Application The preacher may press shaqat toward the call to “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). True rest flows from faith, not circumstances. Ministry that cultivates trust in the finished work of Christ leads believers into shared tranquility amid cultural upheaval. Covenant Conditions and Moral Dimension Shaqat is never portrayed as an unconditional entitlement. Deuteronomy 12:10 links rest to corporate obedience: “When you cross the Jordan and live in the land… He will give you rest from all your enemies.” Failure to walk in covenant fidelity forfeits peace. Prophets continually connect moral decay to the loss of quietness (Isaiah 32:17-18; Jeremiah 30:10). The principle stands: righteousness and rest are yoked; sin and strife travel together. Messianic and Eschatological Resonance 1. Davidic Anticipation The promise in 2 Samuel 7:11 that the Lord would give David rest from his enemies points ahead to the Messiah who embodies perfect tranquility. Shaqat thus foreshadows the Prince of Peace whose kingdom cannot be shaken. 2. Ultimate Fulfillment Isaiah envisions a future where “the desert and the parched land will be glad… and the ransom of the Lord will return… They will enter Zion with singing… and sorrow and sighing will flee” (Isaiah 35:1, 10). The eschaton will be the final shaqat—uninterrupted, irrevocable, and universal—secured by the Lamb. Patterns for Worship and Ministry 1. Reciprocal Relationship God grants rest; His people respond in worship and obedience. Sabbath observance institutionalized this rhythm, reminding Israel that rest is a gift to be received, not a right to be seized. 2. Leadership Responsibility Kings, judges, and prophets were stewards of the nation’s rest. Like Asa, spiritual leaders today are called to remove idols and reform worship so communities may enjoy peace (2 Chronicles 14:3-6). 3. Pastoral Care Shaqat counsels caregivers to shepherd souls toward the quiet waters of Psalm 23. Authentic ministry invites believers to lay down self-striving and find assurance in God’s sovereign care. Practical Exhortations for Contemporary Believers • Cultivate obedience-based peace: holiness maintains tranquility. Selected Key References Joshua 11:23; Judges 3:11, 30; 2 Samuel 7:11; 1 Kings 5:4; 2 Chronicles 14:6; Job 3:26; Isaiah 26:3; Jeremiah 30:10; Zechariah 1:11, 15. Conclusion Shqat threads through Scripture as both gift and gauge. It testifies to the Lord who subdues chaos, disciplines covenant breakers, and promises a final, everlasting rest in the reign of the Messiah. Until that day, the call remains: trust, obey, and enter His quietness. Forms and Transliterations אֶשְׁק֑וֹט אֶשְׁקֳטָ֖ה אשקוט אשקטה בְּהַשְׁקִ֥ט בְּהַשְׁקֵט֙ בהשקט הַשְׁקֵ֖ט הַשְׁקֵ֗ט הַשְׁקֵ֥ט הַשְׁקֵט֙ הַשֹּׁ֣קְטִ֔ים השקט השקטים וְאֶשְׁק֑וֹט וְהַשְׁקֵ֜ט וְשָׁ֣קַטְתִּ֔י וְשָׁקַ֥ט וְשָׁקָֽטָה׃ וְשֹׁקֵ֥ט וְשֹׁקֶ֖טֶת וְשֹׁקָֽטֶת׃ וַתִּשְׁקֹ֖ט וַתִּשְׁקֹ֥ט ואשקוט והשקט ושקט ושקטה׃ ושקטת ושקטת׃ ושקטתי ותשקט יִשְׁקֹט֙ יַשְׁקִ֥יט יַשְׁקִ֨ט ׀ ישקט ישקיט לְהַשְׁקִ֣יט להשקיט שָׁקְטָ֖ה שָׁקְטָ֣ה שָׁקְטָ֥ה שָׁקַ֥טְתִּי שָׁקָ֑טָה שֹׁקֵ֣ט שֹׁקֵ֣ט ׀ שקט שקטה שקטתי תִּשְׁקֹ֔טִי תִּשְׁקֹ֣ט תִשְׁקֹ֑טִי תשקט תשקטי ’eš·qo·ṭāh ’eš·qō·wṭ ’ešqoṭāh ’ešqōwṭ bə·haš·qêṭ bə·haš·qiṭ behashKet behashKit bəhašqêṭ bəhašqiṭ eshKot eshkoTah haš·qêṭ haš·šō·qə·ṭîm hashKet hashShokeTim hašqêṭ haššōqəṭîm lə·haš·qîṭ lehashKit ləhašqîṭ šā·qā·ṭāh šā·qaṭ·tî šā·qə·ṭāh šāqāṭāh šāqaṭtî šāqəṭāh shaKatah shaKatti shakeTah shoKet šō·qêṭ šōqêṭ tiš·qō·ṭî ṯiš·qō·ṭî tiš·qōṭ tishKot tishKoti tišqōṭ tišqōṭî ṯišqōṭî vattishKot veeshKot vehashKet veshaKat veshaKatah veShakatTi veshoKatet veshoKet veshoKetet wat·tiš·qōṭ wattišqōṭ wə’ešqōwṭ wə·’eš·qō·wṭ wə·haš·qêṭ wə·šā·qā·ṭāh wə·šā·qaṭ wə·šā·qaṭ·tî wə·šō·qā·ṭeṯ wə·šō·qe·ṭeṯ wə·šō·qêṭ wəhašqêṭ wəšāqaṭ wəšāqāṭāh wəšāqaṭtî wəšōqāṭeṯ wəšōqêṭ wəšōqeṭeṯ yaš·qiṭ yaš·qîṭ yashKit yašqiṭ yašqîṭ yiš·qōṭ yishKot yišqōṭLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 11:23 HEB: לְשִׁבְטֵיהֶ֑ם וְהָאָ֥רֶץ שָׁקְטָ֖ה מִמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ פ NAS: Thus the land had rest from war. KJV: And the land rested from war. INT: their tribes the land had war Joshua 14:15 Judges 3:11 Judges 3:30 Judges 5:31 Judges 8:28 Judges 18:7 Judges 18:27 Ruth 3:18 2 Kings 11:20 1 Chronicles 4:40 2 Chronicles 14:1 2 Chronicles 14:5 2 Chronicles 14:6 2 Chronicles 20:30 2 Chronicles 23:21 Job 3:13 Job 3:26 Job 34:29 Job 37:17 Psalm 76:8 Psalm 83:1 Psalm 94:13 Proverbs 15:18 Isaiah 7:4 41 Occurrences |
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