שָׁמֵם
shâmêm · H8074 · Hebrew · 94 occurrences
Meanings
-
to be desolate, to become desolate, to be deserted
State in which an area has become empty as a result of destruction and depopulation
ExamplesLeviticus 26:34 ‘Then the land will restore its Sabbaths all the days of the desolation, while you are in your enemies’ land; then the land will rest and restore its Sabbaths.
Leviticus 26:35 ‘All the days of its desolation it will have the rest which it did not have on your Sabbaths, while you were living on it.
Leviticus 26:43 ‘For the land will be abandoned by them, and will restore its Sabbaths while it is made desolate without them. They, meanwhile, will be making amends for their wrongdoing, because they rejected My ordinances and their soul loathed My statutes.
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to make desolate, to lay waste
Causative process or action by which humans or deities cause an area to become empty as a result of destruction and depopulation
ExamplesLeviticus 26:22 ‘I will also let loose among you the animals of the field, which will deprive you of your children and eliminate your cattle, and reduce your number so that your roads become deserted.
Leviticus 26:31 ‘I will turn your cities into ruins as well and make your sanctuaries desolate, and I will not smell your soothing aromas.
Leviticus 26:32 ‘And I will make the land desolate so that your enemies who settle in it will be appalled at it.
-
desolate woman
Literally: to be desolate; hence: state in which humans find themselves alone and without people around them to give them support and purpose
Examples2 Samuel 13:20 Then Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now keep silent, my sister, he is your brother; do not take this matter to heart.” So Tamar remained and was isolated in her brother Absalom’s house.
Isaiah 54:1 “Shout for joy, infertile one, you who have not given birth to any child; Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor; For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous Than the sons of the married woman,” says the LORD.
Lamentations 4:5 Those who used to eat delicacies Are made to tremble in the streets; Those who were raised in crimson clothing Embrace garbage heaps.
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to be abandoned
Exact meaning unknown; literally: to be made desolate; hence, possibly: causative action by which a common practice is discontinued
ExamplesDaniel 8:13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking, “How long will the vision about the regular sacrifice apply, while the offense causes horror, so as to allow both the sanctuary and the army to be trampled?”
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to be appalled
Literally: to be desolate; hence: state in which humans are in deep shock as a result of tragic circumstances
ExamplesLeviticus 26:32 ‘And I will make the land desolate so that your enemies who settle in it will be appalled at it.
1 Kings 9:8 “And this house will become a heap of ruins; everyone who passes by it will be appalled and hiss and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and this house?’
2 Chronicles 7:21 “As for this house, which was exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and say, ‘Why has the LORD done these things to this land and to this house?’
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to cause to be appalled
Causative process by which tragic circumstances cause humans to be in deep shock
Examples1 Samuel 5:6 Now the hand of the LORD was heavy on the Ashdodites, and He made them feel devastated and struck them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territories.
Job 16:7 “But now He has exhausted me; You have laid waste all my group of loved ones.
Ezekiel 20:26 and I pronounced them unclean because of their gifts, in that they made all their firstborn pass through the fire so that I might make them desolate, in order that they might know that I am the LORD.”’
How it’s used In 13 roles
Every occurrence, grouped by the words it is grammatically related to.
the word studied the word it goes with
Who or what does itSubject
64 occurrences in 33 groups
- Not stated: I 8
- Not stated: they 6
- Not stated: he, she or it 6
- עָבַרto pass 5
- אֶרֶץland, earth, ground 5
- נָּהshe 4
- Other words · 27 groups that occur once or twice (31) 31
What it acts on, or what is saidObject
14 occurrences in 11 groups
- נָוֶהpasture, habitation 4
- Other words · 10 groups that occur once or twice (12) 12
With prepositionsPrepositional phrases
30 occurrences in 22 groups
- עַלon, upon, over, against+ מַכָּהstroke 3
- עַלon, upon, over, against+ ךָּyou 3
- Other words · 20 groups that occur once or twice (25) 25
With adverbsAdverbs
4 occurrences in 2 groups
- אַיִןthere is no, not 3
- לֹאnot 3
Whose, or of whatGenitive or possessive
3 occurrences in 3 groups
- דּוֹרgeneration 2
- ךְyour 1
- נוּour 1
Words describing itAdjectives, demonstratives, participles
1 occurrences in 1 groups
- רִאשׁוֹןfirst, former 1
Named alongside itApposition
2 occurrences in 2 groups
- עִירcity, town 1
- אֶרֶץland, earth, ground 1
What it doesIt is the subject
1 occurrences in 1 groups
- חָרַץto decide, to decree 1
What is done to itIt is the object
6 occurrences in 5 groups
- הָיָהto be, to become 2
- נָטַעto plant 1
- אָמַרto say 1
- קוּםto arise 1
- רָאָהto see 1
Second object ofSecond object
2 occurrences in 2 groups
- נָתַןto give, to put, to set 1
- שׂוּםto put, to set, to place 1
What it is said to bePredicate
2 occurrences in 2 groups
- כָּנָףwing 1
- תָּוֶךְmiddle 1
After prepositionsPrepositional phrases
3 occurrences in 3 groups
- עַלon, upon, over, against 2
- בin/on/with 1
- כlike/as 1
In phrases “… of it”It is the genitive
1 occurrences in 1 groups
- בֵּןson 1
When two words share a role, as in “Paul and Barnabas said”, the verse appears under each, so a section’s counts can add up to more than the number of occurrences.
MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
In the other Testament 2 words
- ἐρήμωσις erḗmōsis · G2050 · destroyed, destruction, desolation
- Greek ἐρήμωσις (erḗmōsis, G2050) ('despoliation') serves as the standard LXX rendering for Hebrew שָׁמֵם (shâmêm, H8074) in its desolation/destruction sense, capturing the complete devastation or laying waste denoted by the Hebrew root.
- ἀφανίζω aphanízō · G853 · to destroy, to completely ruin, to make unsightly
- Greek ἀφανίζω emphasizes the visual aspect of destruction (rendering something invisible or making it disappear), while Hebrew שָׁמֵם focuses on the state of desolation and astonishment resulting from devastation; both converge on contexts of laying waste and destruction, with the Greek term more concrete (physical disappearance) and the Hebrew more affect-laden (horror at desolation).
Semantic domains 4 entries
- Non-Contain002002001004
- This verb denotes a place becoming desolate or emptied, as in Genesis 47:19's plea that the Egyptians be bought for food so that their land will not become desolate.
- Dissociate002003002009
- The verb also describes people being removed or cut off from their land, as in Leviticus 26:22's warning that wild animals will deprive Israel of their children and cattle and leave their roads deserted.
- End002003003010
- The verb also describes the cessation of worship at a desolated sanctuary, as in Leviticus 26:31's warning that the LORD will make Israel's sanctuaries desolate and no longer smell their soothing aromas.
- Grieve002001002013
- The verb also describes the dismay of onlookers, as in Leviticus 26:32's warning that Israel's enemies who settle in the desolated land will themselves be appalled at it.
Word family 8 words
Words formed from the same root. They share a form, not always a meaning.
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon H8074. shamem [שָׁמֵם] verb be desoleted, appalled (connection of meanings not clear)…
[שָׁמֵם] verb be desoleted, appalled (connection of meanings not clear) (Late Hebrew id.; Jewish-Aramaic שְׁמַם Ithpe`el be dazed); —
Qal Perfect3feminine singular שָׁמֵ֑מָה Eze 35:15, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יִשֹּׁם; 1Ki 9:8 +, 3 masculine plural יָשֹּׁ֫מּוּ Job 17:8; Psa 40:16, etc.; Imperative masculine plural שֹׁ֫מוּ Jer 2:19; Infinitive construct (?) metaplastic שַׁמוֺת Eze 36:3 (Ges§ 67r, but see infra); — תֵּשַׁם, etc. (see [יָשַׁם]) are placed here by most; Eze 6:6 reads תִּישָׁ֑מְנָה, see Ges § 67 p dd; — Participle שׁוֺמֵם Lam 3:11 (see also
Po-.); feminine שֹׁמֵמָ֔ה (Ges§ 84a s) 2Sa 13:20 +; plural שׁוֺמֵמִין Lam 1:14, etc.; —
1 be desolated, of Tamar 2Sa 13:20 (i.e. deflowered, or deserted; others appalled), of person elsewhere late Lam 1:16; שֹׁמֵמָה נְתָנַנִי Lam 1:13, שׁ ׳שָׂמַ֫נִי Lam 3:11; participle as feminine noun שׁוֺמֵמָה בְּנֵי Isa 54:1 (opposed to בְּעוּלָה) [Dan 8:13 +?
Po-.]; usually of land, etc. (sometimes=deserted), Isa 49:8; Eze 33:28 (עוֺבֵר מֵאֵין), Eze 35:12 (read שָֽׁמְמוּ Qr Co Toy Krae; >Kt שׁממה), Eze 35:15; הַשֹּׁמִמוֺת הֶחְָרָבוֺת Eze 36:4 (|| שַׁמּוֺת הַנֱּעֶזָבוֺת הֶעָרִים) Eze 36:3 is probably corrupt, Co שְׁאָט as Eze 36:5, Hi-Sm from שׁמה = נשׁם, Toy reads נָשֹׁם, Krae נָשֹׁם; — participle feminine plural as noun = desolate places Isa 49:19; Isa 61:4 (both || חֳרָבוֺת), Isa 61:4 (compare שְׁמָמָה Isa 62:4); = desolations Dan 9:18, Dan 9:26.
2 be appalled, awestruck, usually at (עַל) judgments on others, Lev 26:32 (H), Jer 2:12 (see II. [ חָרֵב]), Eze 26:16; Eze 27:35; Eze 28:19; Isa 52:14; Job 17:8, compare 1Ki 9:8 2Ch 7:12; Jer 18:16; Jer 19:8; Jer 49:17; Jer 50:13; on oneself Psa 40:16 (עַלעֵֿקֶב). — Isa 42:14 see [נשׁם].
Niph`al Perfect3feminine singular נָשַׁ֫מָּה Jer 12:11 +, 3 plural נָשַׁ֫נּוּ Zep 3:6 +; Participle feminine נְשַׁמָּה Eze 36:34 +, etc.; — =
Qal: 1. be desolated, of roads Lev 26:22 (H), Isa 33:8, bamoth Amo 7:9 (|| יֶחֱרָ֑בוּ), altars Eze 6:4; compare Eze 25:3; Eze 32:15; Zep 3:6; Zec 7:14; Joe 1:17; Psa 69:26; of lands Eze 29:12; Eze 30:7; Eze 36:34-35, cities Isa 54:3 (opposed to יוֺשִׁיבוּ), compare Eze 36:35; Amo 9:14; Jer 33:10; הַנְּשַׁמָּה Eze 36:36 the desolated (that is, land, in figure).
2 be appalled Jer 4:9; Lam 4:5; Eze 4:17; Eze 30:7, with עַל of thing Job 18:20.
Po` Participle
1 מְשׁוֺמֵם וֵָאשְׁבָה Ezr 9:3I sat appalled, compare Ezr 9:4
2 transitive appalling, causing horror (DrDan 150 f.): מְשֹׁמֵם (הַ)שִּׁקּוּץ Dan 11:31, + perhaps Dan 9:27 a (see שִׁקּוּץ); so also ׳שִׁוּ שֹׁמֵם Dan 12:11 (on ׳שׁ v, Ges§ 52s), שֹׁמֵם הַמֶּשַׁע Dan 8:13 the crime causing horror, and ׳שׁ as noun horror-causer, appaller, Dan 9:27b.
Hiph`il Perfect2masculine singular הֲשִׁמּ֫וֺתָ Job 16:7, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יַשּׁים (Ges§ 67y) Jer 49:20; Jer 50:45, Jer 50:3masculine plural suffix וַיְשִׁמֵּם 1Sa 5:6, 1Sa 5:1plural נַשִּׁים Num 21:30, etc.; Imperative masculine plural הָשַׁמּוּ (Ges§ 67v) Job 21:5; Infinitive absolute הַשְׁמֵם Mic 6:13; Participle מַשְׁמִים Eze 3:15; —
1 devastate, ravage, accusative of person 1Sa 5:6; Eze 20:26; Hos 2:14 (figurative of vine), Job 16:7; accusative of location Lev 26:31-32, (H) Jer 10:25; Eze 30:12, Eze 30:14; Psa 79:7, so (accusative omitted) Num 21:30 (poem in J E), Mic 6:13; — Eze 14:8 see שִׂים
Hiph`il 2. a. appal, accusative of person, with עַל at, Jer 49:20; Jer 50:45; Eze 32:10.
b. inwardly transitive, ׳מִשׁ וָאֵשֵׁב Eze 3:15 shewing horror, Job 21:5 (Bu Niph`al הִשַּׁמוּ).
Hoph`al Infinitive construct הָשַּׁמָּה כָּליְֿמֵי (that is הָאָרֶץ) Lev 26:34 (H) all the days of (its) being desolate, so Lev 26:35; 2Ch 36:21; Aramaizing, בָּהְשַׁמָּה (Ges§ 67y) Lev 26:43.
Hithpo`el Imperfect3masculine singular יִשְׁתּוֺמֵם Psa 143:4, etc.; —
1 be appalled, astounded, כִּי that, because, Isa 59:16; Isa 63:5; עַל of thing Dan 8:27; יִשְׁתּ ׳עבּתוֺכִי Psa 143:4 (compare 1 plural נשתומם Ecclus. 43:24).
2 cause oneself desolation, ruin, Ecc 7:16.
Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), public domain
Topical studies with this word 4 entries
Meanings adapted from the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament, © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0 and the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew (from the Semantic Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew), © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0; MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
Sources
eRhema lexical overview, based on the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew and the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament (© United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Macula Hebrew and Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0); released under CC BY-SA 4.0
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