Lexical Summary
chathath: dismayed, shattered, terrified
Original Word:חָתַת
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:chathath
Pronunciation:khaw-thath'
Phonetic Spelling:(khaw-thath')
KJV: abolish, affright, be (make) afraid, amaze, beat down, discourage, (cause to) dismay, go down, scare, terrify
NASB:dismayed, shattered, terrified, been shattered, break, cracked, dismay
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. (properly) to prostrate
2. (hence) to break down, either (literally) by violence, or (figuratively) by confusion and fear
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
abolish, affright, be make afraid, amaze, beat down, discourage
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.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto be shattered or dismayed
NASB Translationbeen shattered (3), break (1), cracked (1), dismay (1), dismayed (26), frighten (1), shatter (1), shattered (9), stood in awe (1), terrified (8), wane (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[] (Assyrian
—attu,
terror, Dl
HWB 296; Talmud
id.; Ethiopic
is
scrutari, examinare, see Di
Lex, 105) —
Perfect3masculine singularJeremiah 50:2; 3feminine singularJeremiah 14:4 2t.,Jeremiah 48:1; 3pluralIsaiah 37:27 4t., consecutiveIsaiah 20:5 2t., consecutiveJeremiah 50:36;Imperfect (Köi. 366)Isaiah 7:8;Isaiah 30:31,Job 39:22,Isaiah 31:4,Jeremiah 17:18,1 Samuel 2:10 3t. — OnJob 21:13 see ; —Joshua 10:25 2t., etc.;ImperativeIsaiah 8:9 (3 t. in verse); —
be shattered, broken, figurative of nations under divine judgmentIsaiah 7:8;Isaiah 30:31; so probably alsoIsaiah 8:9 (3 t. in verse) (but strike out in va), and perhaps (of 's foes in General)1 Samuel 2:10 (song; — others renderdismayed in all exceptIsaiah 7:8); figurative of s righteousnessIsaiah 51:6 (= be abolished, annihilated); literally of bowsJeremiah 51:56, according to Gie's reading , seebe dismayed, usually
absolute: ""Deuteronomy 1:21;Deuteronomy 31:8;Joshua 8:1;Joshua 10:25 (all D),1 Samuel 17:11;Jeremiah 23:4;Jeremiah 30:10;Jeremiah 46:27;Ezekiel 2:6;Ezekiel 3:9;1 Chronicles 22:13;1 Chronicles 28:20; 2Chronicles 20:15,17; 32:7; ""Isaiah 20:5;Isaiah 37:27 =2 Kings 19:26;Jeremiah 8:9;Jeremiah 17:18 (twice in verse);Jeremiah 48:1,20,39;Jeremiah 50:2 (twice in verse) (others assign.Jeremiah 48:20,39;Jeremiah 50:2 (twice in verse) to
); figurative of the ground ,dismayed for lack of rainJeremiah 14:4 read probably with Duhm (after ) Co Dr ; ("" of the husband-men); no ""Jeremiah 50:36; Obadiah 9;Job 39:22.
be dismayed at, by reason of, followed byIsaiah 31:4,9;Isaiah 51:7 ("" )Jeremiah 1:17;Jeremiah 10:2 (twice in verse).
Perfect only 3 masculine singularMalachi 2:5 and at my namehe is put in awe ("" ).
Perfect dismay, scare, 2 masculine singular suffix (Köi. 372) consecutiveJob 7:14and thou scarest me with dreams ("" ); 3 feminine singularJeremiah 51:56 (of bows) is intransitive [inchoate Ew§ 120, 2 d], Gf and others,be shattered, but text probably erroneous. Gie (see ).
Perfect2masculine singularIsaiah 9:3; 1singularJeremiah 49:37 (Köi. 372);Imperfect3masculine singular suffixJob 31:34, suffix 3feminine pluralHabakkuk 2:17 (Köi. 374; but Ew Ol Sta We ); 1 singular suffixJeremiah 1:17 (followed by ) —
shutter with accusativeIsaiah 9:3.
cause to be dismayedJeremiah 49:37 followed by .
dismay, terrify, followed by suffixJob 31:34;Habakkuk 2:17.
Topical Lexicon
Root Idea and Semantic Rangeחָתַת (chathath) conveys the collapse of courage or structure—ranging from internal dismay, terror, or discouragement to outward breaking, shattering, or destruction. The contexts decide whether the verb speaks of an inward emotional state or an outward physical ruin; often the two blend, as fear leads to collapse and collapse breeds fear.
Major Theological Themes
1. The Fear of God as Protective
When the covenant people walk in obedience, God reverses חָתַת, promising that the enemies, not Israel, will be “dismayed.”
•Deuteronomy 31:8: “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD Himself goes before you.”
•Joshua 2:9-11; 5:1 show the nations “melting in fear” before Israel. God weaponizes חָתַת against the adversaries of His redemptive plan.
2. The Prohibition of Panic among God’s People
A recurrent pastoral charge pairs “do not fear” with “do not be dismayed.”
•Joshua 1:9; 8:1; 10:25;1 Chronicles 22:13;2 Chronicles 20:15-17.
The repeated command links courage directly to divine presence. Courage is not self-generated but covenant-generated.
3. Prophetic Judgments that Shatter the Proud
The prophets employ חָתַת to announce that false confidence will crumble.
•Isaiah 7:8: “Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered, so it will no longer be a people.”
•Jeremiah 10:2: “Do not learn the ways of the nations nor be terrified by signs in the heavens, though the nations are terrified by them.”
•Ezekiel 26:15;Nahum 2:1-2.
National arrogance, idolatry, and injustice evoke a divine decree of shattering.
4. The End of Idolatry
חָתַת also pictures idols smashed to pieces.
•Micah 1:7;2 Kings 23:15.
The verb underscores the impotence of false gods and vindicates exclusive worship of Yahweh.
5. Lament over Personal Ruin
Job, the Psalms, and Lamentations use the term for private anguish.
•Job 4:5, 4:15, 32:15.
•Psalm 48:6; 89:40; 102:23.
•Lamentations 2:9.
These passages validate the believer’s honest confession of collapsed strength while directing hope toward God.
Historical Survey of Usage
• Conquest Era (Joshua). The command “do not be dismayed” frames the military campaigns, reminding Israel that success depends on divine presence.
• Monarchy (Kings-Chronicles). The charge to Solomon (1 Chronicles 22:13) and to Jehoshaphat’s troops (2 Chronicles 20:15-17) links royal success with spiritual fidelity.
• Exile and Restoration. Prophets promise the shattering of Babylon (Jeremiah 50:2) and the nations (Haggai 2:6-7) while assuring the remnant that they need not be dismayed (Jeremiah 46:27).
Practical Ministry Implications
1. Shepherding the Flock
Repeated biblical commands against dismay authorize pastors and leaders to confront despair with the character and promises of God.
2. Spiritual Warfare
The verb reminds believers that enemies—physical or spiritual—ultimately experience the collapse intended for them, while the church stands firm (Matthew 16:18).
3. Counseling and Lament
Scripture’s candid acknowledgment of dismay legitimizes personal lament. It also provides vocabulary for prayer that moves from collapse to confidence (Psalm 102).
4. Preaching Judgment and Hope
Prophetic uses warn that sin leads to ruin; yet the same passages often contain a gracious call to repentance and restoration, balancing warning with promise.
Christological Perspective
At the Cross the Messiah endures cosmic “dismay” on behalf of sinners (Isaiah 53:4-5), yet His resurrection reverses every shattering, securing courage for the church (John 16:33). The final vision of Revelation portrays no more חָתַת, for “the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
Key Verse Index (Representative)
Deuteronomy 1:21; 31:8
Joshua 1:9; 2:9-11; 10:25
1 Samuel 2:4
1 Chronicles 22:13
2 Chronicles 20:15-17
Job 4:5; 4:15; 32:15
Psalm 48:6; 89:40; 102:23
Isaiah 7:8; 20:5; 30:31
Jeremiah 1:17; 10:2; 46:27
Ezekiel 26:15
Micah 1:7
Nahum 2:1-2
Haggai 2:6-7
Forms and Transliterations
אֲחִתְּךָ֖ אֵחַ֖תָּה אחתה אחתך הַחִתֹּ֖תָ החתת וְהַחְתַּתִּ֣י וְחִתַּתַּ֥נִי וְחַתּ֖וּ וְחַתּ֥וּ וַיֵּחַ֥תּוּ וָחָֽתָּה׃ וָחָֽתּוּ׃ וָחֹ֔תּוּ וָחֹֽתּוּ׃ והחתתי וחתה׃ וחתו וחתו׃ וחתתני ויחתו חִתְּתָ֖ה חַ֔תָּה חַ֖תָּה חַ֖תּוּ חַ֙תָּה֙ חַ֣ת חַ֭תּוּ חת חתה חתו חתתה יְחִיתַ֑ן יְחִתֵּ֑נִי יֵחַ֛תּוּ יֵחַ֣ת יֵחַ֣תּוּ יֵחַ֥תּוּ יֵחָ֑ת יֵחָ֔ת יחיתן יחת יחתו יחתני נִחַ֥ת נחת תֵּחַ֔תּוּ תֵּחַ֗תּוּ תֵּחַ֙תּוּ֙ תֵּחַ֣ת תֵּחַת֙ תֵּחָ֑ת תֵּחָ֑תּוּ תֵּחָ֔ת תֵּחָֽתּוּ׃ תֵּחָֽת׃ תֵחַ֣ת תֵחָֽת׃ תחת תחת׃ תחתו תחתו׃ ’ă·ḥit·tə·ḵā ’ăḥittəḵā ’ê·ḥat·tāh ’êḥattāh achitteCha chat Chattah Chattu chitteTah eChattah ha·ḥit·tō·ṯā hachitTota haḥittōṯā ḥaṯ ḥat·tāh ḥat·tū ḥattāh ḥattū ḥit·tə·ṯāh ḥittəṯāh ni·ḥaṯ niChat niḥaṯ tê·ḥaṯ tê·ḥāṯ ṯê·ḥaṯ ṯê·ḥāṯ tê·ḥat·tū tê·ḥāt·tū teChat teChattu têḥaṯ têḥāṯ ṯêḥaṯ ṯêḥāṯ têḥattū têḥāttū vaChattah vaChattu vaChottu vaiyeChattu vechatTu vechittatTani vehachtatTi wā·ḥāt·tāh wā·ḥāt·tū wā·ḥōt·tū wāḥāttāh wāḥāttū wāḥōttū way·yê·ḥat·tū wayyêḥattū wə·haḥ·tat·tî wə·ḥat·tū wə·ḥit·tat·ta·nî wəhaḥtattî wəḥattū wəḥittattanî yê·ḥaṯ yê·ḥāṯ yê·ḥat·tū yə·ḥî·ṯan yə·ḥit·tê·nî yeChat yeChattu yechiTan yechitTeni yêḥaṯ yêḥāṯ yêḥattū yəḥîṯan yəḥittênî
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