Original Word: שָׁחַח
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: shachach
Pronunciation: shah-khakh
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-khakh')
KJV: bend, bow (down), bring (cast) down, couch, humble self, be (bring) low, stoop
NASB: despair, bowed down, humbled, crouch, been humbled, bow down, bowing
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to sink or depress (reflexive or causative)

bend, bow down, bring cast down, humble self, be bring low, stoop

A primitive root; to sink or depress (reflexive or causative) -- bend, bow (down), bring (cast) down, couch, humble self, be (bring) low, stoop.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to bow, be bowed down, crouch
NASB Translation
been humbled (1), bow down (1), bowed down (3), bowing (1), bows down (1), bring down (1), brought low (1), collapsed (1), crouch (2), despair (4), humbled (3), prostrate (1), sing softly (1).

[שָׁחַח] verb bow, be bowed down,

crouch (Late Hebrew id.; Tel Amarna ša—âhu (Wkl^{TelAm. Vocab}.), prostrate oneself, probably Canaanism; Assyrian ša—â—u is oppress, torment); —

Qal Perfect3masculine singular consecutive וְשַׁח Isaiah 2:11,17, 1singular שַׁחִ֫וֺתִי Psalm 38:7, שַׁחֹ֫תִי Psalm 35:14, 3plural ˜שׁחֲחוּ Job 9:13, שַׁחוּ Habakkuk 3:6; Proverbs 14:19; Imperfect3masculine singular יָשֹׁחַ Psalm 10:10, 3masculine plural יָשֹׁ֫חוּ Job 38:40, וַיָּשֹׁ֫חוּ Psalm 107:39; Infinitive construct (= absolute, as adverb, Ges^{§ 118q} Kö^{ii. 2, §§ 221, 402 d} compare also Ba^{NB 164}) שְׁחוֺחַ Isaiah 60:14; —

1 be bowed down, prostrated, humbled, by ׳י, Isaiah 2:11,17 (both "" שָׁפֵל), Habakkuk 3:6 (of hills), Job 9:13 (׳תַּחְתָּו שׁ), Psalm 107:39 (+ מָעַט); by man Psalm 10:10.

2 bow in homage, לִפְנֵי person Proverbs 14:19; וְהָֽלְבוּ אֵלַיִח שְׁחוֺחַ Isaiah 60:14 ("" הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ).

3 bow, of mourner (קֹדֵר), Psalm 35:14; Psalm 38:7.

4 crouch, of wild beast in lair Job 38:40.

Niph`al Imperfect be prostrated, humbled: וַיִּשַּׁח אָדָם Isaiah 2:9 ("" שָׁפֵל) = Isaiah 5:15 ("" id.); be reduced, weakened, יִשַּׁ֫חוּ כָּלבְּֿנוֺת הַשִּׁיר Ecclesiastes 12:4; = proceed humbly, of words מֵעָפָר Isaiah 29:4 ("" שָׁפֵל).

Hiph`il prostrate, lay low, city, walls, etc.; Perfect3masculine singular הֵךְַ Isaiah 25:12; Isaiah 26:5 (both "" הִשְׁמִּיל).

Hithpo`el be cast down, despairing: Imperfect3feminine singular תִּשְׁתּוֺחָ֑ח Psalm 42:7, 2feminine singular תִּשְׁתּוֺחֲחִי Psalm 42:6; Psalm 42:12; Psalm 43:5 (all with subject נַפְשִׁי).

Root Concept and Biblical Imagery

The verb שָׁחַח (Strong 7817) paints the picture of bending low—whether bodies, cities, or spirits. Scripture employs the word to describe anything that must yield: lions crouching in their lairs (Job 38:40), arrogant nations bowing under judgment (Habakkuk 3:6), or a believer’s soul sagging under grief (Psalm 42:5). In every setting, the downward motion highlights helplessness before a stronger force, setting the stage for God’s supremacy or His promised reversal.

Physical Posture of Creatures and People

• Job 38:40 presents lions that “crouch in their dens,” capturing the instinctive lowering of beasts dependent on their Creator’s provision.
• Proverbs 14:19 extends the image to moral order: “The evil bow before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.” Even when human history seems to contradict it, divine wisdom guarantees that unrighteousness must ultimately stoop before righteousness.
• Isaiah 60:14 prophesies that oppressors will “come bowing at your feet,” a future acknowledgment of Zion’s divinely granted honor.

Emotional and Spiritual Despondency

The term frequently registers inward collapse. David confesses, “I am bent and brought low; all day long I go about mourning” (Psalm 38:6). The Sons of Korah cry repeatedly, “Why are you downcast, O my soul?” (Psalm 42:5, 11; Psalm 43:5). These laments show that external enemies are not the only force that can press one down; sorrow, guilt, and unanswered questions can make the soul bow as surely as divine judgment.

Corporate Humbling under Divine Judgment

Isaiah clusters the verb in his vision of the Day of the Lord: “The pride of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day” (Isaiah 2:11; cf. Isaiah 2:9, 17; 5:15). God’s purpose is twofold: to topple human arrogance and to display His unrivaled majesty. The fall of ancient fortified cities (Isaiah 25:12; 26:5) stands as historical proof that no societal structure can resist His hand.

Covenantal Reversal and Eschatological Hope

Psalm 107:39 balances humiliation with hope: “When they are diminished and humbled by oppression, evil, and sorrow.” The psalm immediately moves to God’s deliverance, revealing that He humbles in order to restore. Isaiah 60:14 turns the tables entirely—those once bowed down will be honored, and former oppressors will bend. Shachach thus participates in the larger biblical rhythm: God brings low that He might raise up (cf. 1 Samuel 2:7–8; Luke 1:52).

Worship and Humility before God

Though the verb often depicts involuntary collapse, it also invites voluntary submission. Job 9:13 notes that the “helpers of Rahab cower beneath Him,” yet the wise choose that posture willingly, turning disaster imagery into a model for worship. A bowed heart recognizes God’s sovereignty, aligns with His purposes, and becomes the soil in which grace flourishes (James 4:6).

Christological Perspective

In the Incarnation the eternal Son “emptied Himself” and “humbled Himself” unto death (Philippians 2:7–8). While the Greek New Testament uses a different term, the conceptual link is clear: the Messiah accepts the downward path that sinners and proud nations resist. His voluntary shachach secures the exaltation promised in the Hebrew prophets, guaranteeing that every knee “in heaven and on earth and under the earth” will one day bow (Philippians 2:10).

Pastoral and Homiletical Applications

1. Call to Humility: Preach Isaiah 2 alongside Philippians 2 to urge believers to choose now what every creature must eventually perform—bow before the Lord.
2. Comfort for the Crushed: The repeated refrain “Why are you downcast, O my soul?” licenses honest lament while steering the sufferer toward hope in God.
3. Assurance of Divine Justice: Proverbs 14:19 and Isaiah 60:14 promise that evil’s current ascendancy is temporary; righteousness will be vindicated.
4. Corporate Repentance: National or congregational pride invites divine lowering. Shachach texts warn leaders to shepherd with contrition, not presumption.

The arc of שָׁחַח stretches from dens of lions to eschatological Zion, always reminding readers that true security and honor lie not in resisting the downward pull but in embracing humility under the mighty hand of God, who in due time will lift up the lowly.

הֵשַׁ֥ח הֵשַׁח֙ השח וְיִשַּׁ֖חוּ וְשַׁ֖ח וְשַׁח֙ וַיִּשַּׁ֥ח וַיָּשֹׁ֑חוּ וישח וישחו ושח חחו יָשֹׁ֑חַ יָשֹׁ֥חוּ ישח ישחו שְׁח֙וֹחַ֙ שַׁח֖וּ שַׁח֣וּ שַׁחֹ֣תִי שַׁחֽוֹתִי׃ שָׁ֝חֲח֗וּ שחו שחוח שחותי׃ שחתי תִּשְׁתּ֬וֹחֲחִ֨י ׀ תִּשַּׁ֣ח תִשְׁתּ֫וֹחָ֥ח תשח תשתוחח תשתוחחי chaChu ḥă·ḥū ḥăḥū hê·šaḥ hêšaḥ heShach ša·ḥō·ṯî ša·ḥō·w·ṯî ša·ḥū šaḥōṯî šaḥōwṯî šaḥū šə·ḥō·w·aḥ šəḥōwaḥ shaChoti shaChu sheChoach tiš·šaḥ tiš·tō·w·ḥă·ḥî ṯiš·tō·w·ḥāḥ tishShach tishToChach tishTochaChi tiššaḥ ṯištōwḥāḥ tištōwḥăḥî vaiyaShochu vaiyishShach veShach veyishShachu way·yā·šō·ḥū way·yiš·šaḥ wayyāšōḥū wayyiššaḥ wə·šaḥ wə·yiš·ša·ḥū wəšaḥ wəyiššaḥū yā·šō·aḥ yā·šō·ḥū yaShoach yaShochu yāšōaḥ yāšōḥūInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts