חָתַת
𐤇𐤕𐤕
châthath
H2865 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To be shattered, dismayed, or confounded; most frequently used to describe the state of being broken in spirit or courage, often as a result of fear or overwhelming circumstances. The verb conveys a sense of psychological or emotional collapse, not merely physical destruction. It appears in descriptions of fear overtaking individuals or entire peoples, as well as of utter breakdown in moral resolve.
Semantic Range
to be shattered, to be dismayed, to be confounded, to be terrified, to collapse in fear or spirit, to break down emotionally or psychologically, to demoralize, to terrify, to shatter (morale or strength)
Root / Etymology
From the root חתה (חתת), meaning 'to break, shatter, crush.' The verb חָתַת develops from the basic sense of physical breaking to encompass profound psychological states — e.g., the collapse of courage or morale. The derived noun מַחַת (maḥat) likewise carries the sense of 'shattering.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
חָתַת is particularly prominent in prophetic and Deuteronomistic literature to describe the dismay or terror that overtakes nations, armies, or individuals in the face of danger or divine judgment. In most contexts, the term focuses on the inner disintegration of resolve or courage, not merely outward defeat. The verb can be used transitively ('to shatter, demoralize') and intransitively ('to be prostrated, dismayed'). English translations such as 'be afraid,' 'dismayed,' or 'discouraged' often understate the intensity of the term, which connotes a complete psychological breakdown. In later Hebrew the root continues to carry both literal and figurative nuances. חָתַת should be distinguished from related verbs such as יָרֵא ('to fear, be afraid'), which more narrowly describes fear, while חָתַת emphasizes the debilitating effects of that fear.
Translation Consistency
The verb consistently describes a psychological collapse—being broken in spirit, confounded, or terrified—so “dismay” best captures that typical, non-physical sense in natural English. Many occurrences are rendered as “be dismayed” or “dismayed,” so using the base verb dismay allows consistent inflection (e.g., be dismayed, dismays, dismayed) while covering the semantic range of shattered/confounded/demoralized.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; properly, to prostrate; hence, to break down, either (literally) by violence, or (figuratively) by confusion and fear; abolish, affright, be (make) afraid, amaze, beat down, discourage, (cause to) dismay, go down, scare, terrify.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חתת (ḥ-t-t) — break, shatter, crush
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2844 | חַת | he was shattered |
| H2845 | חֵת | Heth |
| H2847 | חִתָּה | shattering-terror of |
| H2849 | חַתְחַת | shattering terrors |
| H2850 | חִתִּי | and the Hittite |
Word Forms
21 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2865-09 |
תֵּחָֽת | techat | HVNj2ms |
be dismayed | may you be shattered | be dismayed | 12 |
H2865-10 |
תֵּחָ֑תּוּ | techatu | HVNj2mp |
be dismayed | may you be shattered | be dismayed | 6 |
H2865-04 |
חַ֖תּוּ | chatu | HVqp3cp |
are dismayed | they were shattered | they were dismayed | 5 |
H2865-03 |
חַ֔תָּה | chatah | HVqp3fs |
shattered | she has been shattered | it has been dismayed | 3 |
H2865-19 |
יֵחַ֥תּוּ | yechatu | HVqi3mp |
let them be dismayed | they will be shattered | they will be dismayed | 3 |
H2865-18 |
יֵחַ֣ת | yechat | HVNi3ms |
he is dismayed | he will be shattered | he is dismayed | 3 |
H2865-15 |
וְ/חַתּ֖וּ | vechatu | HC/Vqq3cp |
and they were dismayed | and they were shattered | and they were dismayed | 3 |
H2865-13 |
וָ/חֹ֔תּוּ | vachotu | HC/Vqv2mp |
and be shattered | and be shattered | and be shattered | 3 |
H2865-01 |
אֲחִתְּ/ךָ֖ | achitekha | HVhi1cs/Sp2ms |
I dismay you | I will shatter you | I dismay you | 1 |
H2865-07 |
הַחִתֹּ֖תָ | hachitota | HVhp2ms |
you have broken | you have shattered | you have shattered | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
51 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2865-09 |
Deuteronomy 1:21 | תֵּחָֽת | techat | HVNj2ms |
be dismayed | may you be shattered | be dismayed |
H2865-09 |
Deuteronomy 31:8 | תֵחָֽת | techat | HVNi2ms |
you-shall-be-dismayed | may you be shattered | may you be dismayed |
H2865-09 |
Joshua 1:9 | תֵּחָ֑ת | techat | HVNj2ms |
be dismayed | may you be shattered | be dismayed |
H2865-09 |
Joshua 8:1 | תֵּחָ֔ת | techat | HVNj2ms |
be dismayed | may you be shattered | be dismayed |
H2865-10 |
Joshua 10:25 | תֵּחָ֑תּוּ | techatu | HVNj2mp |
be-dismayed | may you be shattered | be dismayed |
H2865-14 |
1 Samuel 17:11 | וַ/יֵּחַ֥תּוּ | vayechatu | HC/VNw3mp |
and they were dismayed | and they were shattered | and they were shattered |
H2865-04 |
2 Kings 19:26 | חַ֖תּוּ | chatu | HVqp3cp |
were-dismayed | they were shattered | they were dismayed |
H2865-13 |
Isaiah 8:9 | וָ/חֹ֔תּוּ | vachotu | HC/Vqv2mp |
and be shattered | and be shattered | and be shattered |
H2865-13 |
Isaiah 8:9 | וָ/חֹ֔תּוּ | vachotu-2 | HC/Vqv2mp |
and be shattered | and be shattered | and be shattered |
H2865-13 |
Isaiah 8:9 | וָ/חֹֽתּוּ | vachotu-3 | HC/Vqv2mp |
and be shattered | and be shattered | and be shattered |