The term "desolated" in the Bible often refers to a state of utter ruin, emptiness, or abandonment, typically as a result of divine judgment or human sinfulness. It is a condition that signifies the absence of life, prosperity, or divine favor. The concept of desolation is frequently used in the prophetic literature of the Old Testament to describe the consequences of Israel's disobedience to God.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, desolation is a recurring theme, particularly in the prophetic books. The prophets often warned Israel and Judah of impending desolation as a consequence of their idolatry and rebellion against God. For instance, in Isaiah 64:10, the prophet laments, "Your holy cities have become a wilderness; Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation." Here, desolation is depicted as the result of divine judgment upon the cities that were once vibrant and full of life.

Jeremiah also speaks of desolation in the context of judgment. In Jeremiah 25:11, the prophet declares, "And this whole land will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years." This prophecy was fulfilled when the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, leading to the destruction of the city and the temple, and the exile of the Jewish people.

The Book of Lamentations, traditionally attributed to Jeremiah, vividly describes the desolation of Jerusalem following its destruction. Lamentations 1:4 states, "The roads to Zion mourn, for no one comes to her appointed feasts. All her gates are desolate; her priests groan, her maidens grieve, and she is in bitter anguish."

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, the theme of desolation is less prominent but still present. Jesus Himself uses the term when predicting the destruction of Jerusalem. In Matthew 23:38, He warns, "Look, your house is left to you desolate." This prophecy was realized in A.D. 70 when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the Second Temple.

The Book of Revelation also alludes to desolation in its apocalyptic imagery. Revelation 18:19 describes the fall of Babylon the Great, saying, "And they will throw dust on their heads as they weep and mourn and cry out: 'Woe, woe to the great city, where all who had ships on the sea were enriched by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been destroyed!'"

Theological Significance

Theologically, desolation serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of sin and the seriousness of divine judgment. It underscores the holiness of God and His intolerance of idolatry and unrighteousness. Desolation is not merely a physical state but also a spiritual condition, reflecting the separation from God's presence and blessings.

However, the Bible also offers hope and restoration following desolation. The prophets often coupled their messages of judgment with promises of renewal and redemption. For example, Isaiah 61:4 speaks of a future restoration: "They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been desolated for generations."

In this way, the concept of desolation in the Bible is not only a warning but also an invitation to repentance and a return to God, who is always ready to restore and renew those who seek Him.(imp. & p. p.) of Desolate.8074. shamem -- to be desolated or appalled
... 8073, 8074. shamem. 8075 . to be desolated or appalled. Transliteration: shamem
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-mame') Short Definition: desolate. Word Origin a prim ...
/hebrew/8074.htm - 6k

6272. atham -- perhaps to burn
... be darkened. A primitive root; probably to glow, ie (figuratively) be desolated --
be darkened. 6271, 6272. atham. 6273 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6272.htm - 5k

The Testimonies of Scripture in Favour of Grace.
... God: In the day in which I shall cleanse you from all your iniquities, and shall
ordain cities, and the wilderness shall be built, and the desolated land shall ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 14 the testimonies of scripture.htm

From Such Scriptures Grace is Proved to be Gratuitous and ...
... preventing us. What do waste and desolated and dug-up places deserve, which
yet shall be built and tilled and fortified? Are these ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 15 from such scriptures grace.htm

Of the Disasters which Vexed the Roman Republic after the ...
... seditions, was waiting in some kind of calm for the return of the ambassadors who
had been sent to Athens to borrow laws, and was desolated by dreadful famine ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 17 of the disasters which.htm

Of the Matters to be Considered in the Councils.
... why? Because the cardinals must have all the wealth. No Turk could have
thus desolated Italy and overthrown the worship of God. Now ...
/.../luther/first principles of the reformation/ii of the matters to.htm

Letter Lvi. --To the Emperor Jovian.
... enquire of them who they are and where from, for these are the leavings and refuse
of Cappadocia, the remains of that unholy George who desolated the city and ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/letter lvi to the emperor jovian.htm

Talmage -- a Bloody Monster
... Rum shook his fist. Rum desolated the hearth. ... Oh! what a change it would make in
your home! Do you see how everything there is being desolated? ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 8/talmage a bloody monster.htm

The Training of a Statesman.
... Plundered is Canaan with every evil; Askalon is carried into captivity, Gezer is
taken; Yenoam is annihilated, Israel is desolated, her seed is not, Palestine ...
/.../kent/the making of a nation/study viii the training of.htm

Chastisements.
... to his great sin. His children learned the lesson it had taught them, and
lust and fratricide desolated his family. A parent can ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/xiv chastisements.htm

C??sarius of Arles.
... a sum given him by Theodoric, king of the Ostrogoths, for the purpose of redeeming
some thousands of captives who had been dragged from desolated Italy, and ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/neander/light in the dark places/caesarius of arles.htm

The Light of the Moon from the Sun; the Inconvenience of the ...
... time? until the moon, which has been emptied of the former souls, just
as a desolated city, shall receive again a fresh colony. ...
/.../alexander/of the manichaeans/chapter xxii the light of the.htm

Desolated (21 Occurrences)
... (imp. & pp) of Desolate. Multi-Version Concordance Desolated (21 Occurrences). ... Job
16:7 Only, now, it hath wearied me; Thou hast desolated all my company, (YLT). ...
/d/desolated.htm - 13k

Desolating (6 Occurrences)

/d/desolating.htm - 8k

Deserted (54 Occurrences)
... place of which ye are saying, Waste it 'is', without man and without beast, In cities
of Judah, and in streets of Jerusalem, That are desolated, without man ...
/d/deserted.htm - 22k

Ceased (80 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 33:8 Desolated have been highways, Ceased hath he who passeth along the path,
He hath broken covenant, He hath despised enemies, He hath not esteemed a ...
/c/ceased.htm - 29k

Desolate (189 Occurrences)
... 5. (a.) Destitute of; lacking in. 6. (vt) To make desolate; to leave alone; to deprive
of inhabitants; as, the earth was nearly desolated by the flood. ...
/d/desolate.htm - 38k

Out-places (22 Occurrences)
... Zephaniah 3:6 I have cut off nations, Desolated have been their chief ones, I have
laid waste their out-places without any passing by, Destroyed have been ...
/o/out-places.htm - 13k

Wearied (36 Occurrences)
... wearied are at rest. (DBY YLT). Job 16:7 Only, now, it hath wearied me;
Thou hast desolated all my company, (YLT). Psalms 6:6 I am ...
/w/wearied.htm - 17k

Rotted (4 Occurrences)
... Joel 1:17 Rotted have scattered things under their clods, Desolated have been
storehouses, Broken down have been granaries, For withered hath the corn. (YLT). ...
/r/rotted.htm - 7k

Enclosures (10 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Jeremiah 25:37 and the peaceable enclosures shall be desolated, because of
the fierce anger of Jehovah. (DBY). Jeremiah 49:3 Howl, Heshbon! ...
/e/enclosures.htm - 9k

Desolation (131 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The state of being desolated or laid waste; ruin; solitariness; destitution;
gloominess. 3. (n.) A place or country wasted and forsaken. Int. ...
/d/desolation.htm - 46k

What is the connection between prayer and fasting? | GotQuestions.org

Desolated: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus