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H8367

שָׁתַק

shâthaq /shaw-thak'/ Ask about this word
a primitive root
to subside
be calm, cease, be quiet.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shâthaq — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word shâthaq, represented by H8367, is a primitive root meaning to subside, be calm, cease, or be quiet. It appears 4 times in 4 unique verses, often depicting a transition from a state of turmoil to one of peace or stillness.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H8367 is used both literally and figuratively to describe the end of turmoil. A prominent example is in the book of Jonah, where the sailors ask how to make the tempestuous sea be calm Jonah 1:11, and Jonah acknowledges that casting him overboard will cause the sea to be calm Jonah 1:12. This same imagery appears in Psalms, where those caught in a storm are glad because they be quiet, and God brings them to their "desired haven" Psalms 107:30. Figuratively, the term is used in Proverbs to describe the cessation of social conflict: where there is no talebearer, the "strife ceaseth" Proverbs 26:20.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words expand upon the concept of turmoil and the subsequent calm:

  • H5590 çaʻar (to be tempestuous): This word describes the violent state of the sea that precedes the calm. In Jonah's account, the sea "wrought, and was tempestuous" Jonah 1:11, creating a direct contrast with the desired state of being calm H8367.
  • H4066 mâdôwn (strife): This term defines the social or relational chaos that is stilled by the absence of a "talebearer." It is the strife that "ceaseth" H8367, extending the concept from a natural storm to human conflict Proverbs 26:20.
  • H5148 nâchâh (to guide, bring): This verb describes God's action following the quietness. After the people are quiet H8367, God bringeth them to their desired destination, showing that the calm is often a precursor to divine guidance and deliverance Psalms 107:30.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H8367 is significant, connecting divine power to the restoration of order.

  • Divine Sovereignty over Chaos: The use of H8367 underscores God's power over both natural and human turmoil. He is the one who ultimately brings a storm to a state of quiet, guiding his people to a "desired haven" Psalms 107:30. The calming of the sea in Jonah is a direct result of following a divine instruction.
  • The Cessation of Strife: The application of H8367 in Proverbs moves the concept from the natural world to the relational sphere. Peace and quiet in a community are contingent on removing sources of discord, such as a "talebearer" Proverbs 26:20. This illustrates that spiritual and social calm requires actively addressing the root causes of conflict.
  • Calm as a Precursor to Safety: In both Jonah and Psalms, the state of being calm H8367 is directly linked to deliverance and arrival at a place of safety. The quiet is not merely an absence of noise or motion but a necessary condition for rescue and the fulfillment of a journey.

Summary

In summary, H8367 encapsulates the powerful concept of a transition from chaos to tranquility. Whether describing a raging sea becoming calm or social strife that ceaseth, the word points to a restored state of peace. It illustrates that such quiet is often brought about by divine action and is a necessary step toward deliverance and safety.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 4 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • יִשְׁתֹּק
  • יִשְׁתֹּקוּ
  • יִשְׁתֹּק

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 4 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Jonah (2 verses); never once in the other 36.

1
Psalms
1
Proverbs
2
Jonah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.