שָׁחַת
To decay , i.e. (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)
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.
Canonical witness: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
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What does שָׁחַת (shachat) mean in the Bible?
שָׁחַת (shachat) is a Hebrew word meaning "to decay , i.e. (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)". to decay, i. The word emphasizes the damaging power of destructive speech. This term runs through the canonical themes of Revelation.
Meaning
Destruction through decay or corruption; often describes moral/spiritual ruin, not merely physical damage.
to decay, i.e. (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively) BDB: go to ruin Usage: batter, cast off, corrupt(-er, thing), destroy(-er, -uction), lose, mar, perish, spill, spoiler, × utterly, waste(-r).
Why This Word Matters
The word emphasizes the damaging power of destructive speech. Hosea 13:9-16
Frames Israel’s self-inflicted collapse. Hosea 9:7-9
Highlights entrenched moral decay. Proverbs 11:9
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 42×
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 14×
Hophal causative passive — the subject is caused to perform the action 2×
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 3×
Canonical Themes
Biblical Occurrences
Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.
Showing 8 of 147 occurrences in the biblical text.
Appears In
Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.