Psalm 44/Notes/Lexical.V. 26.857933

• The meaning of שָׁחָה: Typically connected with the root I-שׁוח "to sink down," most modern translations render this clause as, "our soul has sunk/bowed down to the dust." This could also be idiomatically understood as "to be downcast, depressed" (DCH). Alternatively, the verb could be associated with the root III-שׁוח (DCH) or שׁיח (HALOT) "to melt." As the Aramaic and Syriac cognates of שׁיח can have the sense of "to melt away, vanish," it is possible that this would imply a sense of dissolution. Thus, melting away לֶעָפָר ("to dust") could have the sense of dissolving into dust, or becoming dust (cf. Gen 3:19).

However, in light of the parallel line that follows ("our body clings to the earth"), it seems preferable to associate שָׁחָה with a downward movement, either physically down to the dust, or idiomatically with respect to being emotionally downcast (NIDOTTE, 4:98).