H7623a H7623a
still, calm, soothe—to quiet waves, emotions, or turmoil
This Piel verb means to still, calm, or bring peace to something turbulent. The Psalms use it for God stilling the roaring waves (65:7, 89:9), while Proverbs 29:11 applies it to controlling one's temper. The term suggests active intervention to bring quietness, whether calming literal storm waves or metaphorical emotional turmoil. It pictures divine power over chaos and human self-control over inner agitation.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Two occurrences describe God stilling the sea (Psalms 65:7 and 89:9), using parallel imagery of divine sovereignty over chaotic waters. Proverbs 29:11 shifts to calming one's spirit or temper. Spanish 'calmar' (to calm) and French 'calmer' align across uses. The psalmic contexts connect this stilling power to creation theology, where God subdues primordial chaos, while Proverbs democratizes the concept to personal emotional regulation. 3×
AR["المُسَكِّنُ-", "تُسَكَِنُهَا", "يُسَكِّنُها"]·ben["এটিকে-শান্ত-করে", "তাদের-শান্ত-কর", "শান্তকারী"]·DE["[ישבחנה]", "der-stills", "noch-ihnen"]·EN["calms-it", "still-them", "who-stills"]·FR["calmer", "de-calmer", "louer"]·heb["ישבחנה", "משביח", "תשבחם"]·HI["शांत-करता-है-उन्हें", "शांत-करनेवाले", "शान्त-करता-उसे।"]·ID["Yang-menenangkan", "menenangkannya"]·IT["calmo'", "calms-esso"]·jav["Ingkang-nentremi", "nentremi", "ngendheg"]·KO["억제하다", "잔잔하게-하시는", "잠잠케-하시나이다"]·PT["Que-aquieta", "a-acalma", "as-aquietas"]·RU["укрощаешь-их", "укрощающий", "успокаивает-его"]·ES["El-que-calma", "las-calmas", "lo-calma"]·SW["Anayekimaza", "huitulia", "unayatuliza"]·TR["sakinleştirir-onu", "susturan", "yatıştırıyorsun"]·urd["خاموش-کرنے-والا", "روکتا-ہے-اُسے", "ٹھہراتا-ہے-اُنہیں"]
Related Senses
H7965 1. peace, absence of conflict (198×)H3467 1. save, deliver, rescue (Hifil active) (156×)H5127 1. flee, run away (Qal) (144×)G1515 1. peace, well-being, harmony (93×)H8002 1. peace offering(s) (87×)G4982 1. save spiritually, grant salvation (79×)H3444 1. salvation, deliverance (67×)H4422 1. Nifal: escape, flee (63×)H1272 1. flee, run away (Qal) (58×)H6869b 1. distress, trouble (57×)G4991 1. of salvation (46×)G2347 1. tribulation, affliction, distress (45×)H0983 1. security, safety, confidence (42×)H6031b 1. Piel: afflict, oppress (42×)H6040 1. affliction, misery, suffering (36×)H3468 1. salvation, deliverance (33×)G5343 1. flee, run away (28×)H3467 2. savior, deliverer (Hifil participle substantive) (28×)H8668 1. salvation, deliverance (27×)H8252 1. be quiet, be at rest (26×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† I. [שָׁבַח] vb. Pi. soothe, still (Arabic سَبَخَ be free from care, etc., JenZA i (1886), 188; iv (1889), 268, cp. Assyrian pašâḫu, grow calm, so BaES 9 SchulthLex.);— Pi. Impf. 3 ms. sf. יְשַׁבְּחֶ֑נָּה Pr 29:11 he stilleth it, i.e. רוּחוֹ his temper (Bi Toy read חָשַׁךְ אַפּוֹ); 2 ms. sf. תְּשַׁבְּחֵם ψ 89:10 thou stillest them, i.e. waves (‖ גֵּאוּת הַיָּם). Hiph. Pt. prob. Mass error for Pi. מְשַׁבֵּחַ) מַשְׁבִּיחַ שְׁאוֹן יַמּים ψ 65:8 stilling the roar of the seas.