שָׂחָה
to swim; causatively, to inundate
Definition
The Hebrew verb שָׂחָה (sâchâh) primarily means 'to swim' or 'to move through water by one's own effort.' In its causative stem (Hiphil), it means 'to cause to swim' or 'to inundate,' implying a forceful covering with water. In Psalm 6:6, the psalmist uses it metaphorically, describing his bed as 'swimming' with tears, a vivid image of profound grief and weeping. In Isaiah 25:11, the word appears in its causative sense, prophesying that God will 'spread out' or 'make swim' the proud Moabite in his own excrement, depicting a humiliating overthrow.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only twice in the Old Testament, both in poetic contexts. In Psalm 6:6, it is used in a personal lament to express extreme sorrow. In Isaiah 25:11, it is used in a prophetic oracle of judgment against a foreign nation. The pattern shows its flexibility: a literal/metaphorical use for swimming in a liquid (tears) and a causative use for a humiliating inundation.
Etymology
It is considered a primitive root. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Arabic (saha) meaning 'to swim.' The core idea is movement through or floating in a liquid. The development from the basic action of swimming to the causative act of making something swim or be flooded is a standard feature of Hebrew verb stems.
Semantic Range
Though used rarely, this word contributes to the biblical theme of God's judgment and human lament. In Isaiah 25:11, it underscores God's sovereignty in humbling the proud. In Psalm 6:6, it provides a powerful, physical metaphor for repentance and desperate prayer, enriching our understanding of raw, honest communication with God. The imagery connects liquid—whether tears or a flood—to intense emotional or judicial experiences.
In an ancient Near Eastern context surrounded by deserts and dependent on rivers and seas, 'swimming' could symbolize both survival and vulnerability. The metaphor in Psalm 6:6 uses a universal human experience (flooding tears) to communicate depth of feeling. The judgment imagery in Isaiah would resonate in a culture where drowning or being overwhelmed by water was a known danger and a symbol of chaos and defeat.
שָׂחַץ (sâchats, H7837) — to swim or float; a less common synonym. טָבַע (ṭâḇaʿ, H2883) — to sink, drown, or plunge; the opposite action. עָבַר (ʿâḇar, H5674) — to pass over or through; can be used for crossing water, but not specifically swimming.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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