שָׁחַת (sha.chat)
sha.chat
to ruin
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 121 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb shaḥat describes a process of going to ruin, whether through physical decay or moral corruption. It covers a wide spectrum of destruction, from the literal battering down of city walls and the wasting of fields to the internal rotting of character. The word appears in Genesis when God sees that the earth is filled with violence and corruption before the flood (Genesis 6:11-12), establishing it as a term for deep-seated brokenness.
Its meaning shifts subtly depending on the grammatical form used. In the Piel stem, it often carries a moral weight, describing the act of perverting justice or corrupting one’s ways, as seen when Israel is accused of corrupting their conduct in Exodus 32:7. The Hiphil stem makes this causative, meaning to actively destroy or spoil something else, such as a land or a people. This dual focus on external ruin and internal decay gives the word significant theological depth.
Translators often render shaḥat with various English words like "destroy," "corrupt," or "perish" depending on context. The noun form derived from this root, shechat, is famously used to describe the "destroyer" in Exodus 12:23 who passes over Egypt. This lexical family underscores a consistent biblical theme: that sin leads inevitably to a state of ruin, affecting both the moral character of individuals and the physical stability of communities.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word shaḥat describes a state of ruin, whether it is the physical decay of a structure or the moral corruption of a community. In Genesis 6, we see this term used to describe the earth as filled with violence and brokenness before the flood. This shows that sin does not just hurt individuals; it spreads outward, affecting the world around us until it reaches a point where restoration is needed.
Yet this word also highlights God’s mercy. In Exodus 32, when Israel corrupted their ways by worshiping the golden calf, Moses pleaded with God not to destroy them. The text reveals that God listened and chose to spare His people. This reminds us that while our actions can lead to ruin, God’s covenant love is stronger than our failures.
For your faith life, this word invites honesty about the consequences of sin while pointing to the hope of grace. You do not have to carry the weight of past mistakes alone. God sees the brokenness in the world and in us, but He also offers a way out through repentance and His enduring promise.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 121 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to/ destroy15×
- to/ destroy/ it7×
- and/ they destroyed6×
- they destroyed3×
- the/ destroyer3×
- I will destroy [it]3×
- you will destroy2×
- they will destroy2×
- it will destroy2×
- it has acted corruptly2×
- he will destroy2×
- he has ruined2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שִׁחֵ֖ת3×
- מַשְׁחִֽית\׃3×
- אַשְׁחִ֔ית3×
- תַּשְׁחִת֔וּ/ן2×
- שִׁחֵ֣ת2×
- מַשְׁחִ֖ית2×
- לְ/שַׁחֵ֥ת2×
- לְ/שַׁחֵ֣ת2×
- לְ/שַׁחֵ֖ת2×
- לְ/שַׁחֲתָֽ/הּ\׃2×
- לְ/הַשְׁחִיתָ֑/הּ2×
- לְ/הַשְׁחִית֙2×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 6:11
The earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
This verse establishes the root meaning of shaḥat as deep-seated corruption that fills the earth, setting the stage for God’s judgment.
-
Exodus 32:7
Yahweh spoke to Moses, “Go, get down; for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves!
Here the word carries moral weight, accusing Israel of perverting their conduct through idolatry after being delivered from Egypt.
-
Deuteronomy 9:26
I prayed to Yahweh, and said, “Lord Yahweh, don’t destroy your people and your inheritance that you have redeemed through your greatness, that you have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
Moses uses this concept to plead for mercy, reminding God that destroying His people would contradict His own redemptive purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does shaḥat mean in the Bible?
How is shaḥat different from other words for destruction?
Where does this word appear most significantly?
Every Occurrence (121 verses across 23 books)
Genesis 14 verses
The earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
Genesis 6:12God saw the earth, and saw that it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.
Genesis 6:13God said to Noah, “I will bring an end to all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will…
Genesis 6:17I, even I, will bring the flood of waters on this earth, to destroy all flesh having the breath of life from under the…
Genesis 9:11I will establish my covenant with you: All flesh will not be cut off any more by the waters of the flood. There will…
Genesis 9:15I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters will no…
Genesis 13:10Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, before Yahweh…
Genesis 18:28What if there will lack five of the fifty righteous? Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?” He said, “I will…
Genesis 18:31He said, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?” He said, “I…
Genesis 18:32He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He said, “I…
Genesis 19:13for we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown so great before Yahweh that Yahweh has sent…
Genesis 19:14Lot went out, and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters, and said, “Get up! Get out of this…
Genesis 19:29When God destroyed the cities of the plain, God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the middle of the overthrow,…
Genesis 38:9Onan knew that the offspring wouldn’t be his; and when he went in to his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the…