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הָסָה

𐤄𐤎𐤄

hâçâh

H2013 verb

SILEX Entry

Root סהה to be silent, to hush, to be still

Definition

To be silent or become quiet, especially as an intentional act of withholding speech or noise. The verb is used for quieting oneself, making others silent, or the imposition of silence to restore or maintain order, often in response to an urgent or authoritative context. In several contexts, it denotes a call for silence in the face of awe, threat, or solemnity.

Semantic Range

to hush, to command silence, to keep silent, to restrain from speaking, to be quiet in the presence of authority or significant event

Root / Etymology

Root: הסה. The root הסה conveys the idea of silence, stillness, or cessation of noise. The verb הָסָה is a direct formation from the root, functioning as a standard Qal verb, meaning 'to be silent' or 'to make silent.' No cognates outside Hebrew are securely attested, and the root is rare and possibly onomatopoeic in origin to the sound of 'hushing.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, הָסָה occurs infrequently (e.g., Amos 6:10; Zephaniah 1:7; Zechariah 2:13), generally as an imperative or exhortation to silence in the presence of death, divine activity, or impending judgment. Unlike other Hebrew verbs for silence such as דָּמַם (damam, 'be still, be motionless'), which can refer generally to being still or inactive, or חָרַשׁ (charash, 'be silent, be deaf, be insensible'), which is used in broader idiomatic senses, הסה is especially used for an abrupt or enforced silence often marked by a sense of warning or reverence. Standard English translations ('hush,' 'be silent,' 'hold your peace') usually capture the immediate sense but do not always reflect the underlying nuance of awe or urgent command found in prophetic or liturgical contexts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to hush; hold peace (tongue), (keep) silence, be silent, still.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

סהה (s-h-h) — silence, stillness, cessation of noise

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2013-01 הָ֔ס has HVpv2ms Be silent Hush! 6
H2013-02 הַ֔סּוּ hasu HTj Be still Be silent, you all! 1
H2013-03 וַ/יַּ֧הַס vayahas HC/Vhw3ms and Caleb hushed and he silenced 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2013-03 Numbers 13:30 וַ/יַּ֧הַס vayahas HC/Vhw3ms and Caleb hushed and he silenced
H2013-01 Judges 3:19 הָ֔ס has HVpv2ms Silence! Hush!
H2013-01 Amos 6:10 הָ֔ס has HVpv2ms Hush Hush!
H2013-01 Amos 8:3 הָֽס has HVpv2ms Silence! Hush!
H2013-01 Habakkuk 2:20 הַ֥ס has HTj Hush! Hush!
H2013-01 Zephaniah 1:7 הַ֕ס has HTj Be silent Hush!
H2013-01 Zechariah 2:17 הַ֥ס has HTj Be silent Hush!
H2013-02 Nehemiah 8:11 הַ֔סּוּ hasu HTj Be still Be silent, you all!
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