Lexical Summary
shach: To bow down, to humble, to be low
Original Word:שַׁח
Part of Speech:Adjective
Transliteration:shach
Pronunciation:shakh
Phonetic Spelling:(shakh)
KJV: + humble
Word Origin:[fromH7817 (שָׁחַח - despair)]
1. sunk, i.e. downcast
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
humble
Fromshachach; sunk, i.e. Downcast -- + humble.
see HEBREWshachach
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
shachachDefinitionlow, lowly
NASB Translationhumble person* (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
; — construct
Job 22:39lowly of eyes, humble.
Topical Lexicon
OverviewStrong’s Hebrew 7807 (שַׁח, shah) appears only once in the Old Testament (Job 22:29). The single occurrence carries a rich theological weight, portraying the state of a person who has been abased, humbled, or laid low and is subsequently lifted up by God. Though rare in vocabulary, the concept of being “lowly” threads through the whole canon of Scripture, depicting both human frailty and the divine inclination to exalt the humble.
Biblical Context
Job 22 records Eliphaz’s counsel to Job. In verse 29 he says, “When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up,’ then He will save the lowly” (Berean Standard Bible). Eliphaz’s theology is imperfect, yet the Spirit-inspired text affirms a timeless truth: God intervenes in favor of those reduced to humble dependence on Him. The word שַׁח describes this humbled condition. It emphasizes not merely social status but a heart posture, preparing the way for divine deliverance.
Historical and Cultural Insights
In patriarchal society, to be “lowly” was to lack power, prestige, and often basic security. Community honor depended on wealth, offspring, and standing in the gate. Against that backdrop, Job’s humiliation—loss of property, children, and health—illustrates שַׁח vividly. The ancients recognized that only a power beyond human agency could reverse such complete abasement.
Theology of Humility
1. Divine Favor toward the Lowly
•Psalm 138:6: “Though the LORD is exalted, He looks kindly on the lowly.”
•Isaiah 57:15: “I dwell…with the contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly.”
These passages confirm a consistent pattern: God’s transcendence does not distance Him from the humble; it motivates His rescue.
2. Reversal Motif
Scripture repeatedly presents a reversal of fortunes—the lowly raised, the proud brought down (1 Samuel 2:7-8;Luke 1:52).Job 22:29 participates in this motif, foreshadowing the eschatological exaltation of the meek (Matthew 5:5).
Christological Implications
Jesus embodies the ideal of lowliness (Zechariah 9:9;Matthew 11:29). His incarnation and crucifixion display ultimate abasement, while His resurrection manifests the divine lifting promised inJob 22:29. Believers united to Christ are called to the same pattern: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you” (James 4:10).
Ministry Significance
1. Pastoral Care
• Recognition: Identify the “lowly” in congregation and community—those stripped of status, resources, or hope.
• Assurance: Point them to God’s character as One who “saves the lowly.”
• Intercession: Echo Eliphaz’s phrase in redeemed form, praying “Lift them up” with confidence grounded in Scripture.
2. Discipleship
• Teach humility as a prerequisite for grace (1 Peter 5:5-6).
• Encourage voluntary lowering—service, generosity, repentance—so that God’s promised exaltation is experienced corporately and individually.
Related Biblical Themes and Scriptures
• Contrition and revival –Psalm 34:18;Isaiah 66:2
• Poverty of spirit –Matthew 5:3
• Exaltation after humiliation –Philippians 2:8-9;1 Peter 1:6-7
• God’s opposition to pride –Proverbs 3:34;James 4:6
Practical Application
Meditate onJob 22:29 during seasons of discouragement. Replace self-pity with expectancy: the covenant God delights to “save the lowly.” Leaders should cultivate a church culture that honors humility over platform, celebrating testimonies of God’s uplifting grace rather than human achievement.
Summary
Though שַׁח occurs only once, its theological resonance is profound. The one who is abased is precisely the one God is pleased to raise. From Job’s ancient ash heap to the hope of resurrection in Christ, Scripture assures that the Lord “will save the lowly.”
Forms and Transliterations
וְשַׁ֖ח ושח veShach wə·šaḥ wəšaḥ
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
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