sha.vach describes acclaim directed toward God and expressed approval of persons or joy in the observed verses.

The dominant use concerns acclaim connected with God, his name, deeds, or worshiping community; a smaller group uses the verb for the speaker's stated approval of the dead or of joy.

1. Acclaim connected with God · dominant

   Imperative forms address nations and Jerusalem in Psalm 117:1 and Psalm 147:12, while the imperfect in Psalm 145:4 places the action in one generation's telling of God's deeds to another. In 1 Chronicles 16:35 and Psalm 106:47, the Hithpael infinitive occurs in the request to be gathered from the nations so that God's holy name may be thanked and the people may glory in his praise; Psalm 63:4 places the imperfect plural in a lifelong vow that the APB renders with blessing and lifted palms.

   1 Chronicles 16:35Psalm 106:47Psalm 117:1Psalm 145:4Psalm 147:12Psalm 63:4
2. Stated approval or commendation · occasional

   In Ecclesiastes 4:2, a Piel infinitive absolute introduces the speaker's assessment of the dead as preferable to the living; the APB renders the statement, “So I commend the dead.” In Ecclesiastes 8:15, the Piel perfect reports the speaker's approval of joy in the setting of eating, drinking, rejoicing, and toil.

   Ecclesiastes 4:2Ecclesiastes 8:15

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly presents the verb with “praise,” and in Ecclesiastes 4:2 with “commend.” In Psalm 63:4 it renders the surrounding vow with “bless” and lifted palms; That variation does not by itself establish a separate lexical use.