ἡσῠχ-άζω G2270
To be quiet, rest, remain silent; to cease from activity or speech
A verb meaning to keep quiet, rest from labor, or hold one's peace. It covers both physical rest and the cessation of speech or opposition. When the disciples 'were silent' before God's evident work (Acts 11:18, 21:14), the word conveys reverent acquiescence rather than mere speechlessness. Paul even commands it as a way of life—'aspire to live quietly' (1 Thess 4:11). Spanish captures this range with 'callaron' (fell silent) alongside 'estar quietos' (be at rest), showing the word's dual axis of silence and stillness.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To be quiet, rest, or remain silent—encompassing both cessation of speech and cessation of activity. In Luke 14:4 the lawyers are silent in response to Jesus's challenge; in Luke 23:56 the women rest on the Sabbath according to the commandment; in Acts 11:18 and 21:14 the believers fall silent in acquiescence to God's will, recognizing they cannot argue further; and in 1 Thess 4:11 Paul urges believers to aspire to a quiet, undisturbed life. Spanish 'callaron' (fell silent) versus 'descansaron' (rested) and French 'se taire' (be silent) versus 'se tenir tranquille' (keep still) reveal the word's two axes: silence and rest. 5×
AR["أنْ-تَسْكُنوا", "اسْتَرَحْنَ", "سَكَتُوا", "سَكَتْنَا"]·ben["আমরা-থামলাম", "চুপ-করল", "চুপ-থাকল", "শান্ত-থাকতে", "ἡσύχασαν-তারা-বিশ্রাম-করল"]·DE["ἡσυχάζειν", "ἡσυχάσαμεν", "ἡσύχασαν"]·EN["they-rested", "they-were-silent", "to-be-quiet", "we-became-quiet"]·FR["se-taire", "se-tenir-tranquille"]·heb["לִשְׁקֹט", "נָחוּ", "שָׁקַטְנוּ", "שָׁתְקוּ"]·HI["चुप-रहे।", "चुप-हुए", "चुप-हो-गए", "विश्राम-किया", "शअन्ति-रखन"]·ID["diam", "hidup-tenang", "kami-diam", "mereka-beristirahat"]·IT["esuchasan", "stare-in-silenzio", "ēsuchazein"]·jav["kula-sedaya-mendel,", "mendel", "ngaso", "tentrem", "tiyang-tiyang-punika-mendel,"]·KO["쉰었다", "우리가-잠잠해졌다", "잠잠해졌다", "잠잠했다", "조용히-하고"]·PT["aquietamo-nos,", "calaram-se", "viver-quietos"]·RU["жить-тихо", "молчали", "мы-успокоились,", "покоились", "умолкли"]·ES["callaron", "descansaron", "estar-quietos", "nos-callamos"]·SW["kuwa-watulivu", "tulinyamaza", "wakanyamaza,", "wakatulia", "walikaa-kimya"]·TR["dinlendiler", "sakin-olmak", "sustuk", "sustular"]·urd["آرام-کیے", "خاموش-رہنے-کو", "خاموش-رہے", "خاموش-ہو-گئے"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἡσῠχ-άζω, future -άσωRefs 5th c.BC+ Maecius Epigrammaticus), -άσομαι Refs 2nd c.AD+: aorist ἡσύχᾰσα Refs 5th c.BC+: (ἥσυχος):—keep quiet, be at rest, σὺ δ᾽ ἡσύχαζε Refs 4th c.BC+; ἡ ἀπορία τοῦ μὴ ἡσυχάζειν the difficulty of finding rest, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἡ. πρὸς μίαν θύρην, of a lover, Refs 3rd c.BC+: frequently in participle, ἡσυχάζων προσμενῶ Refs 5th c.BC+; ὥστε μὴ ἡσυχάσασα αὐξηθῆναι by…