Lexical Summary
has: "Hush," "Be silent," "Quiet"
Original Word:הָסָה
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:hacah
Pronunciation:hahs
Phonetic Spelling:(haw-saw')
KJV: hold peace (tongue), (keep) silence, be silent, still
NASB:silent, keep quiet, keep silence, quieted, silence, still
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to hush
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
hold peace tongue, keep silence, be silent, still
A primitive root; to hush -- hold peace (tongue), (keep) silence, be silent, still.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. interj.
Definitionhush! keep silence!
NASB Translationkeep quiet (1), keep silence (1), quieted (1), silence (1), silent (3), still (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
, (probably onomatopoetic)
Judges 3:19 and he said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king, and he said,
Keep silence!Amos 6:10 (while burying men in a pestilence),
Amos 8:3 (elliptical) in every place: they cast them (the corpses) forth, (saying)
Hysh ! followed by
Habakkuk 2:20;
Zephaniah 1:7;
Zechariah 2:17. Inflected, as though a verb,
imperative pluralNehemiah 8:11 (Ges compares Arabic
[= ]
hither! inflected as an imperative, e.g.
,
: W
AG i. § 368). Hence as denominative
imperfect with apocopeNumbers 13:30 and Calebstilled the people.
see below .
Topical Lexicon
Concept and ScopeStrong’s Hebrew 2013 marks those decisive moments when speech must cease so that the presence, purpose, or verdict of God may be rightly received. Whether the word is uttered by a leader rallying faith, by a prophet announcing judgment, or by Heaven itself demanding reverence, it signals a holy arresting of human noise.
Occurrences and Literary Settings
1.Numbers 13:30 – Caleb “quieted the people before Moses” to redirect wavering hearts toward trust.
2.Judges 3:19 – King Eglon’s sharp “Keep silence!” clears the court so a covert word—and divine assassination—can proceed.
3.Nehemiah 8:11 – Levites “calmed all the people, saying, ‘Be still, for today is holy; do not grieve,’” turning loud lament into worshipful attentiveness.
4.Amos 6:10 – The bereaved whisper “Silence… For the name of the LORD must not be invoked,” exposing terror before impending judgment.
5.Amos 8:3 – Temple songs collapse; “the corpses will be many and cast out in silence,” portraying desolation too dreadful for words.
6.Habakkuk 2:20 – “But the LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him,” anchoring global hush in the sovereign enthronement of God.
7.Zephaniah 1:7 – “Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD, for the Day of the LORD is near,” summoning worshipers to solemn assembly as judgment approaches.
8.Zechariah 2:13 – “Be silent before the LORD, all people, for He has roused Himself from His holy dwelling,” announcing an eschatological awakening that demands universal awe.
Patterns of Use
• Transition from Fear to Faith (Numbers 13:30;Nehemiah 8:11) – Silence functions as a pastoral tool, stilling panic so that promises can be rehearsed.
• Concealment for Crisis (Judges 3:19) – Human authority enforces quiet, yet the unseen authority of God overturns that power in the very act.
• Reverent Response to Judgment (Amos 6:10;Amos 8:3) – The word becomes an acoustic veil, underscoring the gravity of covenant breach.
• Liturgical Reverence (Habakkuk 2:20;Zephaniah 1:7;Zechariah 2:13) – Prophets transform the command into liturgy, binding worship to eschatological hope and holy fear.
Theological Emphases
1. Divine Sovereignty – Silence is not mere etiquette; it is the created order yielding to the Creator’s supremacy.
2. Covenant Accountability – In Amos and Zephaniah, hush accompanies judgment, reminding Israel that the God who speaks also stills every opposing voice.
3. Faith Formation – Caleb and the Levites model leadership that curbs clamorous unbelief, enabling the community to hear and obey.
4. Eschatological Expectation – Habakkuk and Zechariah project the motif forward; ultimate silence will envelope the earth when God rises to consummate His plan.
Pastoral and Ministry Application
• Corporate Worship – Strategic moments of quiet in congregational settings mirrorHabakkuk 2:20, fostering awareness of God’s presence.
• Crisis Counseling – Inviting troubled hearts to “be still” follows the Nehemiah pattern, redirecting grief toward holy joy.
• Prophetic Preaching – Amos and Zephaniah encourage solemn pauses that let the weight of coming judgment impress the conscience.
• Spiritual Formation – Personal disciplines of silence echo Caleb’s practice, clearing internal clamors so that courageous obedience may flourish.
Christological Resonance
The Gospel writers portray Jesus calming storms and silencing demonic outcry, fulfilling the principle that divine authority subdues chaos. At the crucifixion, “He opened not His mouth,” embodying salvific silence that culminates in the expectant hush of the sealed tomb before resurrection morning.
Summary
Across narrative, legal, poetic, and prophetic texts, 2013 הָסָה punctuates Scripture with holy quiet. It functions as a gateway: closing human chatter to open ears and hearts to the living Word.
Forms and Transliterations
הַ֔סּוּ הַ֕ס הַ֥ס הָ֔ס הָֽס׃ הס הס׃ הסו וַיַּ֧הַס ויהס has hās has·sū Hassu hassū vaiYahas way·ya·has wayyahas
Links
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Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
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