מַשְׁחִית
𐤌𐤔𐤇𐤉𐤕
mashchîyth
H4889 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A means or instrument of destruction; something or someone that causes ruin, damage, or annihilation. The term may denote a destructive force, agent, or object (such as a tool or weapon), but can also refer abstractly to destruction or ruination itself. Occasionally, in context, can indicate a specifically prepared pit, snare, or trap intended to bring about downfall or death.
Semantic Range
instrument or agent of destruction, destroying power, ruination, corruption (moral or literal), pitfall or snare, destroyer (in personal agent sense), corruption (abstract), tool for destruction
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root שָׁחַת (sh-ḥ-t), which means 'to ruin, destroy, corrupt.' מַשְׁחִית is a causative noun form (often a tool or agent noun), signifying something that causes destruction or corruption. Its derivation implies a transition from the root sense of 'ruining/corrupting' to an abstract/concrete agent of such actions.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, מַשְׁחִית most commonly refers to an agent or instrument of destruction. In some passages, such as Exodus 12:23 and 2 Samuel 24:16, it seems to depict a destructive angel or personal agent tasked with bringing ruin, reflecting ancient Israelite views of divine retribution. Elsewhere (e.g., Ezekiel 9:6; Jeremiah 48:8), it takes a more concrete sense as a destructive force or implement. In Deuteronomy 9:12 and Exodus 32:7, it is associated with moral or spiritual corruption—a corruption that brings about destructive consequences. Later rabbinic and translation traditions sometimes rendered it as 'destroying angel' or 'destroyer,' which resulted in the English tradition of capitalizing it (e.g., 'the Destroyer'). However, the Hebrew term can refer either to a supernatural agent, a human one, or to destruction in the abstract. The nuance depends on context and is sometimes lost in translation. English 'corruption' often narrows the broader semantic field. The word is distinct from similar terms for destruction (such as חָרַב [ḥ-r-b], indicating 'to lay waste' or 'to dry up'), and מַשְׁחִית especially emphasizes the active, often intentional, aspect of ruin or corruption brought about by an agent.
Translation Consistency
‘Destruction’ best covers the primary and most frequent sense in SILEX — an instrument, agent, or result of ruin. It naturally handles abstract ruin, a means or power that brings ruin, and can be used idiomatically where context implies a destroyer or a snare (e.g., ‘a destruction’/‘the destruction of’), ensuring consistent, natural English across all forms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׁחַת; destructive, i.e. (as noun) destruction, literally (specifically a snare) or figuratively (corruption); corruption, (to) destroy(-ing), destruction, trap, [idiom] utterly.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
שׁחת (mashchîyth) — to ruin, destroy, corrupt
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4892 | מַשְׁחֵת | his ruin-place |
| H4893 | מִשְׁחָת | their corruption |
| H516 | אַל תַּשְׁחֵת | upon, over |
| H7843 | שָׁחַת | I will cause to ruin |
| H7844 | שְׁחַת | and ruined one |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4889-02 |
לְ/מַשְׁחִֽית | lemashechit | HR/Ncmsa |
for destruction | for a destroyer | for destruction | 7 |
H4889-01 |
הַ/מַּשְׁחִית֒ | hamashechit | HTd/Ncmsa |
destroying | the destroyer | the destroyer | 2 |
H4889-03 |
מַשְׁחִֽית | mashechit | HNcmsa |
a trap | destroying one | destroying one | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
11 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4889-02 |
Exodus 12:13 | לְ/מַשְׁחִ֔ית | lemashechit | HR/Ncmsa |
to destroy | for a destroyer | for destruction |
H4889-01 |
2 Kings 23:13 | הַ/מַּשְׁחִית֒ | hamashechit | HTd/Ncmsa |
of Corruption | the destroyer | the destroyer |
H4889-03 |
Jeremiah 5:26 | מַשְׁחִ֖ית | mashechit | HNcmsa |
a trap | destroying one | destroying one |
H4889-01 |
Jeremiah 51:25 | הַ/מַּשְׁחִית֙ | hamashechit | HTd/Ncmsa |
destroying | the destroyer | the destroyer |
H4889-02 |
Ezekiel 5:16 | לְ/מַשְׁחִ֔ית | lemashechit | HR/Ncmsa |
for destruction | for a destroyer | for destruction |
H4889-02 |
Ezekiel 9:6 | לְ/מַשְׁחִ֗ית | lemashechit | HR/Ncmsa |
utterly | for a destroyer | for destruction |
H4889-03 |
Ezekiel 21:36 | מַשְׁחִֽית | mashechit | HNcmsa |
to-destroy | destroying one | destroying one |
H4889-02 |
Ezekiel 25:15 | לְ/מַשְׁחִ֖ית | lemashechit | HR/Ncmsa |
to-destroy | for a destroyer | for destruction |
H4889-02 |
Daniel 10:8 | לְ/מַשְׁחִ֔ית | lemashechit | HR/Ncmsa |
into corruption | for a destroyer | for destruction |
H4889-02 |
2 Chronicles 20:23 | לְ/מַשְׁחִֽית | lemashechit | HR/Ncmsa |
to destroy | for a destroyer | for destruction |
H4889-02 |
2 Chronicles 22:4 | לְ/מַשְׁחִ֥ית | lemashechit | HR/Ncmsa |
for destruction | for a destroyer | for destruction |