The term "devastated" is often used to describe a state of utter destruction or ruin, both physically and emotionally. In the biblical context, devastation frequently refers to the consequences of divine judgment, warfare, or natural disasters. The Bible provides numerous instances where lands, cities, and individuals experience devastation as a result of sin, disobedience, or the unfolding of God's sovereign plans.

Biblical Instances of Devastation

1. Divine Judgment: The Bible often depicts devastation as a direct result of God's judgment against sin and rebellion. One of the most notable examples is the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Genesis 19:24-25 states, "Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. Thus He overthrew those cities and the entire plain, destroying all the inhabitants of the cities and everything that grew on the ground."

2. Warfare and Conquest: The history of Israel is marked by periods of warfare, where cities and nations were devastated by invading armies. The fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians is a significant event, as described in 2 Kings 25:9 : "He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building."

3. Natural Disasters: The Bible also records instances where natural disasters bring about devastation. The flood in the time of Noah is a prime example, where the entire earth was laid waste due to the wickedness of humanity. Genesis 7:23 recounts, "Every living thing on the face of the earth was destroyed—man and livestock, crawling creatures and birds of the air; they were blotted out from the earth, and only Noah and those with him in the ark remained."

4. Prophetic Warnings: The prophets often warned of impending devastation as a consequence of Israel's unfaithfulness. Isaiah 24:1 declares, "Behold, the LORD lays waste to the earth and leaves it in ruins; He will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants."

Emotional and Spiritual Devastation

Beyond physical destruction, the Bible also addresses the emotional and spiritual aspects of being devastated. The Psalms frequently express the deep anguish and despair of individuals who feel overwhelmed by their circumstances. Psalm 143:4 captures this sentiment: "My spirit grows faint within me; my heart is dismayed inside me."

Hope Amidst Devastation

While the Bible acknowledges the reality of devastation, it also offers hope and restoration. God's promises of renewal and redemption are woven throughout Scripture. In the aftermath of devastation, God often provides a path to restoration. Joel 2:25 offers a message of hope: "I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts—the swarming locust, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust—My great army that I sent against you."

The biblical narrative consistently points to God's sovereignty and faithfulness, even in the face of devastation. Through repentance and faith, individuals and nations can find healing and restoration, as God remains steadfast in His covenant promises.(imp. & p. p.) of Devastate.4917. sunthlao -- to crush together
... 4917 ("to break in pieces") implies to , ie break-up into dust (Souter); (figuratively)
to be (devastated) by resisting (colliding with) Christ. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4917.htm - 7k

2915. krithe -- barley
... Barley was used "principally as food for horses" (Zod, ). (Rev 6:6) -- Unlike
annual crops, olives and grapes once devastated. The ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2915.htm - 6k

8076. shamem -- devastated
... 8075, 8076. shamem. 8077 . devastated. Transliteration: shamem Phonetic
Spelling: (shaw-mame') Short Definition: desolate. Word ...
/hebrew/8076.htm - 6k

7582. shaah -- to make a din or crash, crash into ruins
... shaah. 7583 . to make a din or crash, crash into ruins. Transliteration: shaah
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-aw') Short Definition: devastated. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/7582.htm - 6k

1238b. baqaq -- to empty
... root Definition to empty NASB Word Usage completely laid waste (1), demoralized
(1), devastate (1), devastators have devastated (1), lays the waste (1), make ...
/hebrew/1238b.htm - 5k

7703. shadad -- to deal violently with, despoil, devastate, ruin
... 1), despoil (1), destroy (7), destroyed (12), destroyer (9), destroyer still destroys
(1), destroyers (4), destroying (2), devastate (2), devastated (6), lays ...
/hebrew/7703.htm - 6k

2717b. chareb -- to be waste or desolate
... root Definition to be waste or desolate NASB Word Usage become waste (2), desolate
(4), destroyer (1), devastated (3), devastators (1), laid waste (5), lay ...
/hebrew/2717b.htm - 5k

Severinus in Germany.
... No place was secure, one wild tribe followed another; all social order was dissolved.
The land was devastated, the inhabitants carried away as slaves. ...
/.../neander/light in the dark places/severinus in germany.htm

Whether this Sacrament Ought to be Celebrated in a House and with ...
... But not without a portable altar consecrated by the bishop: hence in the same
distinction we read: "We permit that, if the churches be devastated or burned ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether this sacrament ought to 2.htm

On his Father'S Silence, Because of the Plague of Hail.
... A deadly cattle plague, which had devastated their herds, had been followed by a
prolonged drought, and now their just ripened crops had been ruined by a storm ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xvi on his fathers.htm

The Memphite Empire
... The devastated flanks of the hills, their torn and corroded bases, the accumulated
masses of shingle left by the eddies, the long lines of rocks and sand, mark ...
/.../chapter iithe memphite empire.htm

A Free Grace Promise
... justice had been called forth for war: "They shall run like mighty men; they shall
climb the wall like men of war." They had invaded and devastated the land ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 35 1889/a free grace promise.htm

The "Little Knife" Insurrection
... For fourteen years China staggered under this awful scourge. Whole provinces were
devastated and almost depopulated. For a long time the issue was uncertain. ...
/.../fagg/forty years in south china/vi the little knife insurrection.htm

Joshua's Conquest.
... Several circumstances conspired to make it a suitable time for the Hebrews to enter
Canaan: (a) Egypt had crushed the Hittites and devastated their land; (b ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter viii joshuas conquest.htm

Introduction.
... he became bishop):". "The very weapons by which the world is devastated,
minister to the operations of Christian grace. How many ...
//christianbookshelf.org/neander/light in the dark places/introduction.htm

Thou Shalt not Steal.
... all measure, so that if all who are thieves, and yet do not wish to be called such,
were to be hanged on gallows the world would soon be devastated and there ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/the large catechism/thou shalt not steal.htm

Conclusion.
... The boundless stores of truth and life which for eighteen hundred years have been
the aliment of humanity seem irretrievably devastated, the most sublime ...
//christianbookshelf.org/schaff/the person of christ/conclusion.htm

Devastated (20 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Devastated (20 Occurrences). 2 Kings 19:17 Truly, Yahweh,
the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands, (See NAS). ...
/d/devastated.htm - 12k

Waste (668 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Desolate; devastated; stripped; bare;
hence, dreary; dismal; gloomy; cheerless. 2. (a.) Lying ...
/w/waste.htm - 37k

Chios (1 Occurrence)
... been waging against Sparta and her allies. For this act of treason the
Athenians devastated the island. At the end of the war the ...
/c/chios.htm - 11k

Devastate (8 Occurrences)

/d/devastate.htm - 8k

Asmoneans
... Thus Apollonius (Josephus tells us, the king himself, BJ, V, ix, 4) in 168 BC appeared
before Jerusalem, devastated the city, defiled the temple by the ...
/a/asmoneans.htm - 27k

Joram (26 Occurrences)
... After the allies had been miraculousl y delivered from perishing for lack of water,
they devastated the land and sacked the cities, and finally they succeeded ...
/j/joram.htm - 27k

Rhodes (2 Occurrences)
... Chersonesus). In 42 BC the island was devastated by Cassius. Later it was
made a part of the Roman province of Asia (44 AD). Strabo ...
/r/rhodes.htm - 13k

Employed (8 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 24:7 For the wicked Athaliah and her sons had devastated the house
of God; and also all the hallowed things of the house of Jehovah had they ...
/e/employed.htm - 9k

Destruction (734 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The state of being destroyed, demolished, ruined, slain, or devastated.
3. (n.) A destroying agency; a cause of ruin or of devastation; a destroyer. ...
/d/destruction.htm - 39k

Devastation (17 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The act of devastating, or the state
of being devastated; a laying waste. 2. (n.) Waste of the ...
/d/devastation.htm - 11k

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