Bible Word Study
שְׁחַת
shᵉchath · null
שְׁחַת
Definition
The Aramaic noun שְׁחַת (shᵉchath) means 'corruption' or 'fault.' It refers to something that is spoiled, ruined, or morally defective. In Daniel 2:9, it describes the 'corrupt' or deceitful words the king accuses the wise men of preparing, implying a deliberate twisting of truth. In Daniel 6:4, it denotes a 'fault' or flaw in Daniel's character or conduct that his enemies sought to find but could not, highlighting his integrity. Both uses center on a state of moral or factual defectiveness.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the book of Daniel. It appears in contexts of accusation and scrutiny. In Daniel 2:9, it is used by King Nebuchadnezzar to accuse his advisors of intending to speak 'corrupt' or deceptive words. In Daniel 6:4, it is used by Daniel's political enemies who sought to find a 'fault' or charge against him in his governance. The pattern shows it describes a moral or legal defect used to undermine someone's credibility or position.
Etymology
This is an Aramaic noun directly corresponding to the Hebrew root שָׁחַת (shachath, H7843), which means 'to spoil, ruin, or corrupt.' The root conveys the idea of going to ruin, decay, or corruption, both physically and morally. The Aramaic form שְׁחַת carries this same core meaning into the language used in the court and visions of Daniel.
Semantic Range
This word underscores the biblical theme of integrity versus corruption. In Daniel 6:4, the inability to find any 'fault' (שְׁחַת) in Daniel testifies to a life of exceptional faithfulness to God's law, even in a pagan court. It contrasts human schemes based on finding or inventing corruption with divine approval of a blameless life. Understanding this term highlights the call to moral soundness that resists accusation. In the context of the Babylonian and Medo-Persian courts depicted in Daniel, finding a 'fault' or 'corruption' was a common political tool for eliminating rivals. Accusations of deceit (Daniel 2:9) or misconduct in office (Daniel 6:4) could lead to severe punishment, including death. The word reflects a legal and administrative environment where personal integrity was both a shield and a target. שָׁחַת (shachath, H7843) — The Hebrew root verb meaning 'to spoil, corrupt, ruin,' indicating the action rather than the state of corruption. עָווֹן (avon, H5771) — Hebrew for 'iniquity' or 'guilt,' a more general term for sin and moral perversion, not specific to legal fault-finding.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]