חָשָׁה

châshâh /khaw-shaw'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto hush or keep quiet
KJV usagehold peace, keep silence, be silent, (be) still.
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Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word châshâh, represented by H2814, is a primitive root meaning to hush or keep quiet. It appears 16 times in 16 unique verses. Its usage encapsulates the concepts of holding one's peace, keeping silence, being silent, or being still, applying to God, people, and even the natural world.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H2814 is used to describe both divine and human silence. God is depicted as having held his peace for a long time before resolving to act Isaiah 42:14, and He vows He will not keep silence but will bring recompense Isaiah 65:6. Conversely, the psalmist pleads with God, "be not silent to me" Psalms 28:1. For humans, there is a proper time to keep silence Ecclesiastes 3:7, such as when Elisha commands the sons of the prophets to hold ye your peace 2 Kings 2:3. However, silence can also be a failure to act, as when the lepers realize it is wrong to hold our peace on a day of good news 2 Kings 7:9. The term is even used to describe the waves of a storm being made still Psalms 107:29.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help define the nuances of being silent or speaking:

  • H2790 chârash (to be silent, to let alone): This word often appears alongside H2814 to reinforce the idea of silence. In Isaiah 42:14, God states, "I have long time holden my peace H2814; I have been still H2790."
  • H1696 dâbar (to speak): This word serves as a direct antonym. Ecclesiastes 3:7 establishes a clear dichotomy between "a time to keep silence H2814, and a time to speak H1696."
  • H662 'âphaq (to contain, abstain): This term describes the act of self-control associated with silence. God describes holding His peace and being still, adding that He has refrained Himself before crying out Isaiah 42:14.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H2814 centers on the profound implications of silence.

  • The Deliberate Silence of God: God's silence is not passive but is a period of purposeful restraint, often preceding a great act of judgment or salvation. His decision to no longer hold my peace for Zion's sake signifies the start of redemption Isaiah 62:1. His past silence is contrasted with his future action Isaiah 57:11.
  • Silence as a Human Response: The word illustrates that silence can be an act of wisdom and reverence 2 Kings 2:5 or an act of cowardice and inaction. The men of Dan are urged not to be still but to go and possess the land they desire Judges 18:9.
  • The Morality of Breaking Silence: The decision to stop being silent carries significant weight. For God, it means fulfilling his promises Isaiah 62:1, while for humanity, it can be a moral imperative to share good news 2 Kings 7:9.

Summary

In summary, H2814 is a dynamic term that explores the power and meaning of quiet. It is not merely the absence of sound, but an intentional state with significant consequences. Whether describing God's strategic patience, humanity's choice between wisdom and inaction, or the calming of a storm, châshâh demonstrates that silence in scripture is a profound and active force.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 16 occurrences, inflected in 9 grammatical forms.

  • Hiphil Participle Plural Masculine Absolute 4×
  • Hiphil Imperative 2nd Plural Masculine 2×
  • Hiphil Perfect 1st Singular common gender 2×
  • Qal Imperfect 1st Singular common gender 2×
  • Qal Imperfect 2nd Singular Masculine 2×
  • Hiphil Participle Singular Masculine Absolute 1×
  • Qal Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Qal Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Qal Infinitive Construct 1×
Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
common gender
Either gender — the form does not distinguish.
1st
First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd
Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect
Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Perfect
A completed act whose results continue.
Imperative
A command or entreaty.
Infinitive
The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle
A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.
Qal
The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Hiphil
The causative stem — the subject causes the action.
Consecutive Imperfect
Imperfect with vav — carries narrative forward ("and he…").
Absolute
The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).
Construct
Bound to a following noun — "the X of…".

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 16 verses across 7 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (6 verses).

1
Judges
1
1 Kings
3
2 Kings
1
Nehemiah
3
Psalms
1
Ecclesiastes
6
Isaiah

Verse Explorer

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