שַׁ֫חַת (sha.chat)

sha.chat

Pit: hell

H7845 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 14 verses

H:N-F

Language: Biblical Hebrew
Testament: Old Testament
Occurrences: 14 verses
Root: —
Part of speech: H:N-F

Word Overview

The noun shachat refers to a pit or a deep hole in the ground. In the Hebrew Bible it appears fourteen times, primarily within Job, Psalms, and Isaiah. It serves as a concrete image for the place of the dead, functioning as a synonym for Sheol. The word captures the physical reality of a grave or a dungeon, emphasizing the depth and darkness associated with death.

Its meaning is straightforward: a pit. Unlike abstract terms for spiritual realms, shachat grounds the concept of the afterlife in tangible geography. When Job speaks of being cast into the pit (Job 30:14), he uses this word to describe his state of abandonment and decay. It is not merely a metaphor but a description of descent into the earth.

Translators often render shachat as "pit" or "hell," depending on the context. The distinction lies in its physicality. While Sheol can feel more like a generalized shadowy realm, shachat evokes the specific image of being trapped below ground. This usage highlights the fear of being swallowed by the earth, a common ancient Near Eastern motif for death and divine judgment.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The word shachat paints a vivid picture of the human condition when we feel trapped by circumstances, illness, or despair. It describes a deep hole or pit, evoking the terrifying sensation of being buried alive or lost in darkness. In the ancient world, this was not just a metaphor for sadness; it was a concrete fear of death and abandonment. When biblical writers used this term, they were speaking about the ultimate depth of human vulnerability.

Yet, the hope found in these texts is that God sees us in our deepest pits. Scripture records that He actively intervenes to pull souls out of destruction and bring them back into the light of life. This imagery reminds us that no situation is too deep for divine rescue. The promise is not that we will never face darkness, but that we are not left there alone.

For your faith, this offers a profound comfort. It suggests that God’s power is most evident when He redeems what seems lost. You can trust that the same God who delivers from the pit is present with you in your current struggles, offering restoration and hope beyond the darkness.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 14 verses where it appears, by frequency.

[the] pit4×
to the/ pit3×
a pit2×
in the/ pit1×
in <the>/ pit1×
from/ a pit1×
from/ [the] pit of1×
[the] pit of1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

שָֽׁחַת\׃2×
שָׁ֑חַת2×
מִ/שַּׁ֣חַת2×
לַ/שַּׁ֣חַת2×
שַּׁ֭חַת1×
שָׁ֗חַת1×
שַׁ֣חַת1×
לַ/שַּׁ֔חַת1×
בַּ/שָּׁ֑חַת1×
בַּ/שַּׁ֣חַת1×

Key Verses

Job 33:24
then God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’

This verse explicitly links the concept of redemption to rescue from the pit, showing God providing a ransom to prevent descent into death.
Job 33:28
He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life will see the light.’

Here the deliverance is personal and complete, resulting in the redeemed soul seeing the light of life again.
Isaiah 38:17
Behold, for peace I had great anguish, but you have in love for my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption; for you have cast all my sins behind your back.

Hezekiah credits God with casting his sins away while simultaneously delivering his soul from the pit of corruption.
Psalms 35:7
For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.

This occurrence shifts the imagery to a trap set by enemies, highlighting the danger of unjust persecution leading to destruction.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does shachat mean in the Bible?

Shachat is a Hebrew noun that literally means a pit or a deep hole. In the Old Testament, it is used to describe the place of the dead, emphasizing the darkness and depth associated with death and destruction.

How is shachat different from Sheol?

While both terms refer to the realm of the dead, shachat specifically evokes the image of a physical pit or grave. Sheol is a more general term for the shadowy underworld, whereas shachat highlights the concrete reality of being trapped below ground.

Why do translators sometimes use 'hell' for this word?

Translators may use 'hell' or 'destruction' to convey the finality and severity of the pit in certain contexts. However, 'pit' is often more accurate because it retains the physical imagery of a hole in the ground rather than a place of eternal torment.

What hope is associated with this word?

The biblical narrative frequently pairs shachat with God’s deliverance. Verses like Job 33:28 show that God can redeem a soul from the pit, bringing it back to see the light of life, offering hope even in the deepest despair.

Every Occurrence (14 verses across 4 books)

Job 7 verses

Job 9:31

yet you will plunge me in the ditch. My own clothes will abhor me.

Job 17:14

if I have said to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ and ‘My sister,’

Job 33:18

He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

Job 33:22

Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.

Job 33:24

then God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’

Job 33:28

He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life will see the light.’

Job 33:30

to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

Psalms 4 verses

Proverbs 1 verse

Isaiah 2 verses