Châthath (חָתַת, Strong's #2865), “to be dismayed, shattered, broken, terrified.” Used primarily in the Hebrew Old Testament, this verb has been identified in ancient Akkadian and Ugaritic texts by some scholars. The word is used approximately 50 times in the Hebrew Old Testament and occurs for the first time in Deut. 1:21 as Moses challenged Israel: “Do not fear or be dismayed” (RSV, NEB, “afraid”; KJV, JB, “discouraged”). As here, châthath is often used in parallelism with the Hebrew term for “fear” (cf. Deut. 31:8; Josh. 8:1; 1 Sam. 17:11). Similarly, châthath is frequently used in parallelism with “to be ashamed” (Isa. 20:5; Jer. 8:9).

An interesting figurative use of the word is found in Jer. 14:4, where the ground “is dismayed [KJV, “chapt”], for there was no rain.” The meaning “to be shattered” is usually employed in a figurative sense, as with reference to the nations coming under God’s judgment (Isa. 7:8; 30:31). The coming Messiah is to “shatter” or “break” the power of all His enemies (Isa. 9:4).