חָשָׁה (cha.shah)
cha.shah
be silent
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 14 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb chāshâ describes a state of silence or stillness that goes beyond mere quiet speech. It encompasses physical inactivity and a deliberate withholding of action. In the Psalms, it often appears when the psalmist waits patiently for God’s intervention, choosing not to act hastily but to remain still (Psalm 37:7). This silence is active trust rather than passive resignation.
In prophetic literature like Isaiah, the word takes on a judicial or divine tone. It can describe God silencing nations or remaining silent in judgment, creating an atmosphere of awe or impending decision (Isaiah 42:14). The term also appears in historical books like II Kings to depict moments where characters fall silent before authority or disaster. The root suggests a cessation of noise and movement, marking a pause for reflection or divine action.
Translators render chāshâ as "be silent," "keep quiet," or "remain still" depending on context. Its usage highlights the theological value of silence in Hebrew thought—not as emptiness, but as a space where God speaks or acts. This contrasts with noise and chaos, offering a model of faithful waiting that prioritizes attentiveness over immediate response.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word chāshâ invites us into a posture of active trust rather than passive resignation. It is not merely about keeping quiet, but about withholding our own frantic actions to make room for God’s intervention. In Psalm 37:7, the psalmist urges us to be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him. This silence is a deliberate choice to stop striving when circumstances feel chaotic or uncertain.
When we face delays or confusion, this word reminds us that God is not absent; He is often working in the space where our noise ceases. Isaiah 42:14 shows even God Himself restraining His power until the right moment for action. We are called to similar restraint, trusting that our stillness is not wasted time but a sacred pause where faith deepens and perspective clears.
This practice does not require us to ignore reality, but to view it through the lens of divine sovereignty. By choosing silence over hasty reaction, we align our hearts with God’s timing. It is an invitation to rest in the assurance that He hears our cries and will act in His perfect wisdom, even when the path forward seems unclear.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 14 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- be silent2×
- [are] inactive2×
- I will be silent2×
- you should be silent1×
- to/ be silent1×
- they will be silent1×
- silent1×
- and/ they were still1×
- [were] making quiet1×
- [are] silent1×
- I have been silent1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַחְשִׁ֔ים2×
- הֶחֱשֽׁוּ\׃2×
- תֶּֽחֱשֶׁ֥ה1×
- מַחְשֶׁה֙1×
- מַחְשִׁ֤ים1×
- מַחְשִׁ֗ים1×
- לַ/חֲשׁ֖וֹת1×
- יֶחֱשׁ֑וּ1×
- וַ֝/יֶּחֱשׁ֗וּ1×
- הֶחֱשֵׁ֙יתִי֙1×
- אֶחֱשֶׂה֙1×
- אֶחֱשֶׁ֔ה1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 42:14
“I have been silent a long time. I have been quiet and restrained myself. Now I will cry out like a travailing woman. I will both gasp and pant.
Here God describes His own long silence before acting, showing that divine restraint is purposeful and leads to powerful intervention.
-
Nehemiah 8:11
So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Hold your peace, for the day is holy. Don’t be grieved.”
The Levites use this concept to calm the people, linking silence with reverence for the holy day rather than grief.
-
Ecclesiastes 3:7
a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
This verse places silence within God’s ordered timeline, acknowledging that there are specific seasons for quiet reflection and others for speech.