In studying Ezekiel 39:2 I have noticed a similarity in what is referred to online as the phonetic rendering of the Hebrew word translated “sixth” and the word translated “bow down” or "worship".
Eze 39:2 And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:
H8338 שָׁשָׁא phonetically shaw-shaw (denominate by sixths in KJV), [Reference used for Eze 39:2], https://www.franknelte.net/article.php?article_id=383.
And -
H7812 שָׁחָה phonetically shaw-khaw (bow down)
Could someone please comment regarding whether there is a similarity greater than just a phonetic one?
I ask this because of the apparent conversion of some of the so-called “heathen” in Ezekiel 38:16.
I wonder if the "denominating by sixths" references any reflection upon God's act of causing the "bowing down or humbling of the heathen" which occurs in those verses?
Dividing anything by "sixths" would diminish the whole. The concept of "humbling" could then be understood through the act of division.
The concept of dividing by sixths would result in a divided group. The word is only used once in the Bible. Phonetically it resembles the word meaning to "humble" (H7812 שָׁחָה phonetically shaw-khaw (bow down). This is the only similarity I am aware of which could further define the action that God is taking in this verse. God uses division for His purposes, as He did when He divided the languages at the Tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9). It would make sense that the use of the concept with regard to His enemies in this verse would be similar. In general it could be simply so that they do not attack Israel as a unified force.
Strong's No.: H8338, Hebrew: שָׁשָׁא, Transliteration: shâshâʼ, Phonetic shaw-shaw' Bible Usage: leave but the sixth part [by confusion with H8341].
Strong's No.: H7812, Hebrew: שָׁחָה, Transliteration: shâchâh, Phonetic: shaw-khaw', Bible Usage: bow (self) {down} {crouch} fall down ({flat}) humbly {beseech} do (make) {obeisance} do {reverence} make to {stoop} worship.