Lexical Summary shamem: To be desolate, to be appalled, to be astonished, to be devastated Original Word: שָׁמֵם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance make amazed, be astonished, be an astonishment, be, bring into, unto, lay, lie, A primitive root; to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e. Devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a passive sense) -- make amazed, be astonied, (be an) astonish(-ment), (be, bring into, unto, lay, lie, make) desolate(-ion, places), be destitute, destroy (self), (lay, lie, make) waste, wonder. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to be desolated or appalled NASB Translation appalled (13), astonished (8), astounded (1), become desolate (1), causes horror (1), causing consternation (1), desolate (22), desolated (4), desolating (1), desolation (5), desolations (3), destitute (1), destroy (1), devastations (1), horrified (2), laid desolate (1), laid waste (4), lie deserted (1), lies desolate (1), made me desolate (1), made you desolate (1), made desolate (3), make the desolate (2), make their desolate (2), make them desolate (1), make your desolate (1), make...appalled (1), make...desolate (1), makes desolate (2), ravaged (1), ruin (1), ruined (1), ruins (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שָׁמֵם] verb be desoleted, appalled (connection of meanings not clear) (Late Hebrew id.; Jewish-Aramaic שְׁמַם Ithpe`el be dazed); — Qal Perfect3feminine singular שָׁמֵ֑מָה Ezekiel 35:15, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יִשֹּׁם; 1 Kings 9:8 +, 3 masculine plural יָשֹּׁ֫מּוּ Job 17:8; Psalm 40:16, etc.; Imperative masculine plural שֹׁ֫מוּ Jeremiah 2:19; Infinitive construct (?) metaplastic שַׁמוֺת Ezekiel 36:3 (Ges§ 67r, but see infra); — תֵּשַׁם, etc. (see [יָשַׁם]) are placed here by most; Ezekiel 6:6 reads תִּישָׁ֑מְנָה, see Ges § 67 p dd; — Participle שׁוֺמֵם Lamentations 3:11 (see also Po-.); feminine שֹׁמֵמָ֔ה (Ges§ 84a s) 2 Samuel 13:20 +; plural שׁוֺמֵמִין Lamentations 1:14, etc.; — 1 be desolated, of Tamar 2 Samuel 13:20 (i.e. deflowered, or deserted; others appalled), of person elsewhere late Lamentations 1:16; נְתָנַנִי שֹׁמֵמָה Lamentations 1:13, ׳שָׂמַ֫נִי שׁ Lamentations 3:11; participle as feminine noun בְּנֵי שׁוֺמֵמָה Isaiah 54:1 (opposed to בְּעוּלָה) [Daniel 8:13 #NAME? Po-.]; usually of land, etc. (sometimes=deserted), Isaiah 49:8; Ezekiel 33:28 (מֵאֵין עוֺבֵר), Ezekiel 35:12 (read שָֽׁמְמוּ Qr Co Toy Krae; >Kt שׁממה), Ezekiel 35:15; הֶחְָרָבוֺת הַשֹּׁמִמוֺת Ezekiel 36:4 ("" הֶעָרִים הַנֱּעֶזָבוֺת שַׁמּוֺת) Ezekiel 36:3 is probably corrupt, Co שְׁאָט as Ezekiel 36:5, Hi-Sm from שׁמה = נשׁם, Toy reads נָשֹׁם, Krae נָשֹׁם; — participle feminine plural as noun = desolate places Isaiah 49:19; Isaiah 61:4 (both "" חֳרָבוֺת), Isaiah 61:4 (compare שְׁמָמָה Isaiah 62:4); = desolations Daniel 9:18,26. 2 be appalled, awestruck, usually at (עַל) judgments on others, Leviticus 26:32 (H), Jeremiah 2:12 (see II. [ חָרֵב]), Ezekiel 26:16; Ezekiel 27:35; Ezekiel 28:19; Isaiah 52:14; Job 17:8, compare 1 Kings 9:8 2Chronicles 7:12; Jeremiah 18:16; Jeremiah 19:8; Jeremiah 49:17; Jeremiah 50:13; on oneself Psalm 40:16 (עַלעֵֿקֶב). — Isaiah 42:14 see [נשׁם]. Niph`al Perfect3feminine singular נָשַׁ֫מָּה Jeremiah 12:11 +, 3 plural נָשַׁ֫נּוּ Zephaniah 3:6 +; Participle feminine נְשַׁמָּה Ezekiel 36:34 +, etc.; — = Qal: 1. be desolated, of roads Leviticus 26:22 (H), Isaiah 33:8, bamoth Amos 7:9 ("" יֶחֱרָ֑בוּ), altars Ezekiel 6:4; compare Ezekiel 25:3; Ezekiel 32:15; Zephaniah 3:6; Zechariah 7:14; Joel 1:17; Psalm 69:26; of lands Ezekiel 29:12; Ezekiel 30:7; Ezekiel 36:34,35, cities Isaiah 54:3 (opposed to יוֺשִׁיבוּ), compare Ezekiel 36:35; Amos 9:14; Jeremiah 33:10; הַנְּשַׁמָּה Ezekiel 36:36 the desolated (that is, land, in figure). 2 be appalled Jeremiah 4:9; Lamentations 4:5; Ezekiel 4:17; Ezekiel 30:7, with עַל of thing Job 18:20. Po` Participle 1 וֵָאשְׁבָה מְשׁוֺמֵם Ezra 9:3I sat appalled, compare Ezra 9:4 2 transitive appalling, causing horror (DrDan 150 f.): (הַ)שִּׁקּוּץ מְשֹׁמֵם Daniel 11:31, + perhaps Daniel 9:27 a (see שִׁקּוּץ); so also שֹׁמֵם ׳שִׁוּ Daniel 12:11 (on ׳שׁ v, Ges§ 52s), הַמֶּשַׁע שֹׁמֵם Daniel 8:13 the crime causing horror, and ׳שׁ as noun horror-causer, appaller, Daniel 9:27b. Hiph`il Perfect2masculine singular הֲשִׁמּ֫וֺתָ Job 16:7, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יַשּׁים (Ges§ 67y) Jeremiah 49:20; Jeremiah 50:45, 3masculine plural suffix וַיְשִׁמֵּם 1 Samuel 5:6, 1plural נַשִּׁים Numbers 21:30, etc.; Imperative masculine plural הָשַׁמּוּ (Ges§ 67v) Job 21:5; Infinitive absolute הַשְׁמֵם Micah 6:13; Participle מַשְׁמִים Ezekiel 3:15; — 1 devastate, ravage, accusative of person 1 Samuel 5:6; Ezekiel 20:26; Hosea 2:14 (figurative of vine), Job 16:7; accusative of location Leviticus 26:31,32 (H) Jeremiah 10:25; Ezekiel 30:12,14; Psalm 79:7, so (accusative omitted) Numbers 21:30 (poem in J E), Micah 6:13; — Ezekiel 14:8 see שִׂים Hiph`il 2. a. appal, accusative of person, with עַל at, Jeremiah 49:20; Jeremiah 50:45; Ezekiel 32:10. b. inwardly transitive, וָאֵשֵׁב ׳מִשׁ Ezekiel 3:15 shewing horror, Job 21:5 (Bu Niph`al הִשַּׁמוּ). Hoph`al Infinitive construct כָּליְֿמֵי הָשַּׁמָּה (that is הָאָרֶץ) Leviticus 26:34 (H) all the days of (its) being desolate, so Leviticus 26:35; 2Chronicles 36:21; Aramaizing, בָּהְשַׁמָּה (Ges§ 67y) Leviticus 26:43. Hithpo`el Imperfect3masculine singular יִשְׁתּוֺמֵם Psalm 143:4, etc.; — 1 be appalled, astounded, כִּי that, because, Isaiah 59:16; Isaiah 63:5; עַל of thing Daniel 8:27; ׳עבּתוֺכִי יִשְׁתּ Psalm 143:4 (compare 1 plural נשתומם Ecclus. 43:24). 2 cause oneself desolation, ruin, Ecclesiastes 7:16. Topical Lexicon Definition and Overview שָׁמֵם (shamem) conveys the idea of being laid waste, astonished, or appalled. It describes both the outward ruin of places and the inward stupefaction of people confronted with divine judgment or overwhelming calamity. Its eighty-six Old Testament occurrences span the Pentateuch, Historical Books, Wisdom Literature, and, most densely, the Prophets. Distribution of Usage • Covenant Law: Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28–32 Desolation as Covenant Curse From the start, shamem is woven into covenant warning. Leviticus 26:31–33 records, “I will make your cities a ruin and your sanctuaries desolate… your land will become a desolation and your cities a waste.” The vocabulary of ruin underlines the gravity of breaking covenant stipulations. Deuteronomy 29:23 likewise pictures the land as “a burning waste, un-sown and unproductive,” confirming that moral defection turns the promised blessing into barrenness. National Judgment and Historical Fulfillment Prophetic literature narrates shamem as realized history. Psychological Appallment The root also depicts inward shock. Ezekiel “sat there overwhelmed among them seven days” (Ezekiel 3:15). Job cries, “My face is red with weeping… men are appalled at this” (Job 16:8; 17:8). Psalm 143:4 confesses, “My spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed.” These texts reveal that sin and suffering leave souls as desolate as razed cities. The ‘Abomination of Desolation’ In Daniel the participle form (shomem) becomes programmatic: “On the wing of abominations will come the desolator, until the decreed destruction is poured out on him” (Daniel 9:27; cf. 11:31; 12:11). Jesus cites this prophecy: “When you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation’ spoken of by the prophet Daniel” (Matthew 24:15), showing the term’s eschatological endurance. Whether one views the reference as fulfilled in Antiochus IV, the Roman destruction in 70 A.D., or a final tribulation, the lexical thread binds past judgments to future consummation. Promise of Reversal and Restoration Shamem never has the last word. Isaiah 54:3 announces that the barren will “inhabit the desolate cities.” Ezekiel 36:33–36 promises, “The waste cities will be rebuilt and fortified… the nations will know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt what was demolished.” Zechariah 7:14 forecasts scattering, but chapters 8–10 promise renewed prosperity where desolation once reigned. Divine mercy outstrips judgment, displaying the twin themes of justice and restoration. Practical and Pastoral Implications 1. Gravity of Sin: Shamem underscores that rebellion produces real and severe consequences. Intertextual Echoes Though the Hebrew root itself does not appear in the Greek New Testament, its theological freight informs passages such as Luke 21:20 (“Jerusalem surrounded by armies”) and Revelation’s visions of ruined Babylon and the new earth where “there will be no more curse” (Revelation 22:3). The final reversal of shamem moves from desolation to consummated restoration. Conclusion שָׁמֵם functions as a sobering reminder that the God who judges also rebuilds. It is a vocabulary of ruin that simultaneously points to the Lord’s power to renew. Recognizing its movement from devastation to hope equips readers and ministers to confront sin realistically, lament brokenness honestly, and anticipate redemption confidently. Forms and Transliterations אֲשִׁמֵּ֔ם אשמם בָּהְשַׁמָּה֙ בהשמה הֲ֝שִׁמּ֗וֹתָ הֳשַׁמָּ֔ה הֵשַֽׁמּוּ׃ הַֽנְשַׁמּ֗וֹת הַנְּשַׁמָּ֑ה הַנְּשַׁמָּ֔ה הַנְּשַׁמָּ֖ה הַשְׁמֵ֖ם הָשַּׁמָּ֖ה הָשַּׁמָּה֙ הנשמה הנשמות השמה השמו׃ השמות השמם וְאֶשְׁתּוֹמֵ֖ם וְהַֽנְשַׁמּ֥וֹת וְהָשַׁ֑מּוּ וְנָשַׁ֕מּוּ וְנָשַׁ֖מּוּ וְנָשַׁ֙מּוּ֙ וְשָֽׁמְמ֛וּ וְשָֽׁמְמ֤וּ וְשָׁמְמ֖וּ וְשֹׁ֣מְמֹתַ֔יִךְ וַהֲשִֽׂמֹתִ֙יהוּ֙ וַהֲשִׁמֹּתִ֗י וַהֲשִׁמֹּתִ֞י וַהֲשִׁמֹּתִ֥י וַהֲשִׁמֹּתִי֙ וַהֲשִׁמּוֹתִ֖י וַהֲשִׁמּוֹתִ֨י וַיְשִׁמֵּ֑ם וַיִּשְׁתּוֹמֵ֖ם וַנַּשִּׁ֣ים וָאֶשְׁתּוֹמֵ֥ם וּנְשַׁמָּ֗ה ואשתומם והנשמות והשמו והשמותי והשמתי והשמתיהו וישמם וישתומם ונשים ונשמה ונשמו ושממו ושממתיך יִשְׁתּוֹמֵ֥ם יִשֹּׁ֑ם יִשֹּׁ֖ם יִשֹּׁ֣ם יִשֹּׁ֥ם יַשִּׁ֛ים יָ֭שֹׁמּוּ יָשֹׁ֣מּוּ ישים ישם ישמו ישתומם לְשַׁמָּֽה׃ לשמה׃ מְשֹׁמֵ֔ם מְשׁוֹמֵ֔ם מְשׁוֹמֵֽם׃ מַשְׁמִ֥ים משומם משומם׃ משמים משמם נְשַׁמָּ֑ה נְשַׁמּ֑וֹת נְשַׁמּ֖וֹת נְשַׁמּ֗וֹת נְשַׁמּוֹת֙ נָשַׁ֔מָּה נָשַׁ֖מּוּ נָשַׁ֙מָּה֙ נָשַׁ֙מּוּ֙ נָשַׁ֣מּוּ נשמה נשמו נשמות שֶׁשָּׁמֵ֔ם שַׁמּוֹת֩ שָׁמְמ֖וּ שָׁמְמ֤וּ שָׁמֵ֖מָה שֹׁ֥מּוּ שֹׁמְמ֖וֹת שֹׁמְמ֥וֹת שֹׁמֵ֑ם שֹׁמֵ֔ם שֹׁמֵֽם׃ שֹׁמֵמֽוֹת׃ שֽׁוֹמֵמִ֔ים שֽׁוֹמֵמִ֔ין שָׁמֵ֑מוּ שׁוֹמֵמָ֛ה שוממה שוממים שוממין שמו שמות שמם שמם׃ שממה שממו שממות שממות׃ ששמם תִּשּׁוֹמֵֽם׃ תשומם׃ ’ă·šim·mêm ’ăšimmêm ashimMem bā·hə·šam·māh bāhəšammāh bahshamMah hă·šim·mō·w·ṯā han·nə·šam·māh han·šam·mō·wṯ hannəšammāh hanneshamMah hanšammōwṯ hanshamMot haš·mêm hāš·šam·māh hashimMota hashMem hashshamMah hăšimmōwṯā hašmêm hāššammāh hê·šam·mū hêšammū heShammu hoš·šam·māh hoshshamMah hoššammāh lə·šam·māh ləšammāh leshamMah maš·mîm mashMim mašmîm mə·šō·mêm mə·šō·w·mêm meshoMem məšōmêm məšōwmêm nā·šam·māh nā·šam·mū nāšammāh nāšammū naShammah naShammu nə·šam·māh nə·šam·mō·wṯ nəšammāh nəšammōwṯ neshamMah neshamMot šā·mê·māh šā·mê·mū šā·mə·mū šam·mō·wṯ šāmêmāh šāmêmū šāməmū šammōwṯ šeš·šā·mêm šeššāmêm shaMemah shameMu shammOt sheshshaMem shoMem shomeMah shomeMim shomeMin shomeMot Shommu šō·mê·mō·wṯ šō·mə·mō·wṯ šō·mêm šō·w·mê·māh šō·w·mê·mîm šō·w·mê·mîn šōm·mū šōmêm šōmêmōwṯ šōməmōwṯ šōmmū šōwmêmāh šōwmêmîm šōwmêmîn tiš·šō·w·mêm tishshoMem tiššōwmêm ū·nə·šam·māh ūnəšammāh uneshamMah vaeshtoMem vahashimmoTi vahasimoTihu vaiyishtoMem vannashShim vayshimMem veeshtoMem vehanshamMot vehaShammu venaShammu veshameMu veshamMu veShomemoTayich wā’eštōwmêm wā·’eš·tō·w·mêm wa·hă·śi·mō·ṯî·hū wa·hă·šim·mō·ṯî wa·hă·šim·mō·w·ṯî wahăšimmōṯî wahăšimmōwṯî wahăśimōṯîhū wan·naš·šîm wannaššîm way·šim·mêm way·yiš·tō·w·mêm wayšimmêm wayyištōwmêm wə’eštōwmêm wə·’eš·tō·w·mêm wə·hā·šam·mū wə·han·šam·mō·wṯ wə·nā·šam·mū wə·šā·mə·mū wə·šō·mə·mō·ṯa·yiḵ wəhanšammōwṯ wəhāšammū wənāšammū wəšāməmū wəšōməmōṯayiḵ yā·šōm·mū yaš·šîm yaShommu yashShim yāšōmmū yaššîm yiš·šōm yiš·tō·w·mêm yishShom yishtoMem yiššōm yištōwmêmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 26:22 HEB: וְהִמְעִ֖יטָה אֶתְכֶ֑ם וְנָשַׁ֖מּוּ דַּרְכֵיכֶֽם׃ NAS: your number so that your roads lie deserted. KJV: and your [high] ways shall be desolate. INT: your cattle and reduce lie your roads Leviticus 26:31 Leviticus 26:32 Leviticus 26:32 Leviticus 26:34 Leviticus 26:35 Leviticus 26:43 Numbers 21:30 1 Samuel 5:6 1 Kings 9:8 2 Chronicles 7:21 2 Chronicles 36:21 Ezra 9:3 Ezra 9:4 Job 16:7 Job 17:8 Job 18:20 Job 21:5 Psalm 40:15 Psalm 69:25 Psalm 79:7 Psalm 143:4 Ecclesiastes 7:16 Isaiah 33:8 Isaiah 49:8 86 Occurrences |
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