שְׁחִיטָה (she.chi.tah)
she.chi.tah
slaughtering
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun shechiṭah refers specifically to the act of slaughtering or killing. In the Hebrew Bible, it is a rare term that appears only once, in 2 Chronicles 30:17. The context describes the Passover celebration under King Hezekiah, where many people had not purified themselves but still ate the sacred meal.
This single usage highlights the word’s focus on the physical act of slaughter rather than the ritual purity of the participants. The text uses shechiṭah to describe how these unclean individuals partook in the feast, emphasizing the tangible reality of the sacrifice despite their spiritual state. Translators typically render it as "slaughter" or "killing," capturing the directness of the action without adding theological commentary.
Because the word is so scarce, its meaning is tightly bound to this specific historical moment. It serves as a linguistic marker for the communal eating of the Passover lamb, distinguishing the act itself from the broader concepts of sacrifice or offering found elsewhere in Scripture.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shechiṭah appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, found in 2 Chronicles 30:17 during King Hezekiah’s Passover celebration. It refers specifically to the physical act of slaughtering the lamb. In this moment, many people had not purified themselves according to the strict ritual laws, yet they still participated in the feast. The text notes that Levites were responsible for the shechiṭah, or killing, of the Passover lambs for those who were unclean.
This rare term highlights a tension between ritual purity and communal participation. While the law required cleanliness to approach God, Hezekiah’s prayer allowed for mercy in this specific instance. The focus on the act of slaughter reminds us that God looks at the heart. Even when our outward state is not perfect, His grace covers our shortcomings.
For your faith life, this word offers comfort. It shows that God values sincere participation over rigid perfectionism. You do not need to be flawless to draw near to Him. Instead, you can come with a humble heart, trusting in His mercy rather than your own ritual cleanliness. This assurance allows for genuine worship without the burden of shame.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] slaughter of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שְׁחִיטַ֣ת1×
Key Verses
-
II Chronicles 30:17
For there were many in the assembly who had not sanctified themselves; therefore the Levites were in charge of killing the Passovers for everyone who was not clean, to sanctify them to Yahweh.
This verse uses shechiṭah to describe the Levites' role in slaughtering lambs for unclean participants, highlighting God's mercy during Hezekiah's reform.