שַׁחַץ
haughtiness (as evinced by the attitude)
Definition
The Hebrew noun שַׁחַץ (shachats) primarily denotes a quality of proud, arrogant, or haughty majesty. In Job 28:8, it describes the 'proud beasts' or 'majestic creatures' of the wilderness, emphasizing their fierce, untamable pride. In Job 41:34, it is used to characterize Leviathan, the mighty sea monster, as the 'king over all the children of pride,' highlighting its supreme, awe-inspiring arrogance and dominion. The word thus captures a sense of terrifying, powerful loftiness, whether in land animals or mythical chaos creatures.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times in the poetic book of Job. It appears in descriptions of formidable, untamable creatures to personify their inherent pride and majestic terror. In Job 28:8, it refers to the proud wild animals that have not set foot on the path of wisdom. In Job 41:34, it climaxes the description of Leviathan, identifying it as the ultimate sovereign over all that is proud and haughty.
Etymology
Derived from an unused Hebrew root apparently meaning 'to strut' or 'to be lofty.' This root concept directly informs the noun's meaning of haughty, proud majesty. The word is a rare, poetic term with limited usage, which concentrates its semantic force.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it personifies pride as a terrifying, sovereign force, especially in the context of God's speeches in Job. In Job 41:34, Leviathan's designation as king over pride serves to humble human arrogance, illustrating that even the most fearsome expressions of creaturely pride are under God's ultimate dominion and part of His inscrutable creation. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Job by highlighting the cosmic scale of pride that God alone can master.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, pride was not merely a personal attitude but could be embodied in powerful, chaotic forces, both real (wild animals) and mythological (Leviathan). The concept connects to a worldview where majesty and terror were closely linked, and untamable creatures were seen as living manifestations of arrogant power that defied human control.
גָּאוֹן (ga'avon, H1347) — pride, often of nations or individuals in a more general sense. גַּאֲוָה (ga'avah, H1347) — arrogance, exaltation, a more common term for lofty pride. רוּם (rum, H7311) — height, loftiness, can refer to literal elevation or metaphorical exaltation.
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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