סְחָבָה (se.cha.vah)
se.cha.vah
rag
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun sechavah refers to a rag or tattered piece of cloth, specifically one that has been pulled, dragged, or worn down to its frayed edges. The word carries an inherent sense of wear and tear, describing material that is no longer whole but exists as scraps or remnants.
This term appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both within the narrative of Jeremiah’s imprisonment in Jeremiah 38:11-12. In this context, Ebed-melech provides old rags and worn-out clothes to cushion Jeremiah’s ropes against his skin. The image is visceral: it highlights the physical suffering of the prophet and the desperate, makeshift nature of his rescue.
Its etymology suggests something dragged about or pulled in pieces, reinforcing the idea of decay and poverty. Translators typically render it as "old rags" or "worn-out clothes," capturing the texture of a fabric that has lost its original strength and integrity through prolonged use and neglect.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sechavah describes a rag or tattered cloth, something worn down to its frayed edges through neglect and use. In Jeremiah 38:11-12, Ebed-melech the Ethiopian uses these scraps to cushion the prophet’s ropes while he hangs in a muddy cistern. This small detail reveals how God often works through humble, overlooked people to bring relief to those who suffer.
When life feels like you are hanging by thin cords, surrounded by mud and despair, remember that God sees your pain. He does not require grand gestures or perfect resources to care for you. Even worn-out rags can become instruments of mercy when placed in willing hands. Your current struggles do not define your worth; they are seen by a God who notices the smallest details of your endurance.
This story invites us to look at our own limitations with fresh eyes. What feels like brokenness or insufficiency might be the very place where grace enters. You are held, even when you feel frayed. The same God who provided for Jeremiah provides for you, often in ways that surprise us with their simplicity and depth.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ clothes1×
- clothes1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- סְחָב֔וֹת1×
- הַ/סְּחָב֤וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 38:11
So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took from there rags and worn-out garments, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah.
This verse introduces the rags as a practical tool for mercy, showing how Ebed-melech used available scraps to alleviate Jeremiah's physical pain.
-
Jeremiah 38:12
Ebedmelech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, “Now put these rags and worn-out garments under your armpits under the cords.” Jeremiah did so.
Here the rags are actively placed under the armpits, demonstrating the immediate relief they provided against the cutting cords.