שְׁחִית (she.chit)
she.chit
pit
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun shechit refers to a pit or a hole, specifically one that is deep and often dangerous. In the Hebrew Bible, it appears only twice, both times in poetic books where it serves as a vivid metaphor for sudden destruction or death. The word evokes an image of someone falling into a hidden trap, unable to escape on their own.
Its most striking usage occurs in Psalm 7:15 and Lamentations 3:6. In these contexts, the pit is not merely a physical hole but a symbol of divine judgment or extreme distress. The imagery suggests being buried alive or trapped in darkness, emphasizing helplessness and the gravity of the situation. Translators often render it as "pit" to preserve this sense of sudden, inescapable peril.
The rarity of shechit highlights its power when used. By appearing only in these two passages, it leaves a lasting impression of vulnerability and the need for deliverance. Its presence in both a psalm of lament and a book of mourning underscores how ancient readers understood suffering as a descent into darkness from which only God could rescue them.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word shechit describes a deep pit, often hidden and dangerous. In Scripture, it appears only twice, both times in moments of intense sorrow. It paints a picture of sudden danger, where one might fall into darkness without warning. This imagery reminds us that life can bring unexpected trials, leaving us feeling trapped or helpless.
Yet these verses do not end in despair. They point to the reality that deliverance comes from God alone. When we face situations that feel like a bottomless pit, we are invited to look upward for rescue. The Bible acknowledges our vulnerability while offering hope in divine intervention.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in/ pits/ their1×
- from/ pits/ their1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִ/שְּׁחִיתוֹתָֽ/ם\׃1×
- בִּ/שְׁחִיתוֹתָ֑/ם1×
Key Verses
-
Lamentations 4:20
The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Yahweh, was taken in their pits; of whom we said, under his shadow we will live among the nations.
This verse uses the word to describe the capture of the king, highlighting how even the most protected can fall into sudden destruction.