What does יָשֵׁן · מָוֶת mean in the Bible?
יָשֵׁן · מָוֶת is a Hebrew phrase meaning "sleep of death, die".
Hebrew · H3462, H4194
אִישַׁן הַמָּוֶת
Properly, to be slack or languid , i.e. (by implication) sleep (figuratively, to die ); also to grow old , stale or inveterate · death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead , their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence , ruin
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
יָשֵׁןH3462properly, to be slack or languid , i.e. (by implication) sleep (figuratively, to die ); also to grow old , stale or inveterate
מָוֶתH4194death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead , their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence , ruin
Pronunciationmavet
Death as ultimate enemy and boundary: encompasses natural mortality, violent end, and the abode of the dead as theological threat to covenant life
Open lexicon entry →What does אִישַׁן הַמָּוֶת (ishan hammavet) mean in the Bible?
יָשֵׁן · מָוֶת is a Hebrew phrase meaning "sleep of death, die".
Full entry for אִישַׁן הַמָּוֶת (H3462, H4194) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H3462, H4194?
H3462, H4194 is connected to 179 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. sleep of death, die
Source Gloss
sleep of death, die
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms10
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense6×
ImperfectIsa 5:27 · Ps 121:4 · Prov 4:16 · Ps 13:4 · Ps 44:245×
PerfectJob 3:131×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action2×
Participle activeLev 13:111×
Participle passiveLev 26:101×
Word Origins
אִישַׁן הַמָּוֶת is a primitive root - no further derivation.