מְשַׁמָּה (me.sham.mah)
me.sham.mah
devastation
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun meshammah describes a state of utter desolation or ruin. It refers to a place that has been laid waste, leaving behind only emptiness and destruction. The term carries a heavy emotional weight as well, often conveying the horror associated with such devastation.
This word appears frequently in the prophetic literature, particularly in Jeremiah and Isaiah. It is used to describe the consequences of judgment on cities and the land, painting a picture of what remains after divine discipline has taken its toll. The imagery is stark, focusing on the physical emptiness and the psychological shock of loss.
Its root suggests a sense of being made desolate or astonished by the scale of the destruction. Translators often render it as "desolation," "waste," or "horror," depending on the context. The word serves as a powerful reminder in these texts of the serious consequences of turning away from covenant faithfulness, highlighting both the physical and spiritual emptiness that follows.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word meshammah paints a stark picture of emptiness. It describes places left in ruins, where life once flourished but now only silence remains. In the ancient texts, this term carries the weight of loss and the sobering reality of consequences when communities turn away from their commitments.
For readers today, this imagery serves as a solemn reminder. It highlights how actions ripple outward, affecting not just individuals but entire landscapes and communities. The prophets used these vivid descriptions to call people back to faithfulness, urging them to consider the long-term impact of their choices on the world around them.
While the scenes described are heavy, they also point toward hope. Restoration is always possible when hearts turn back toward what is right and true. This word invites reflection on how we treat our own environments and relationships, encouraging care and responsibility in all areas of life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- wastes1×
- <into>/ wastes1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מְשַׁמּ֣וֹת1×
- לִ/מְשַׁמּ֖וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 15:6
For the waters of Nimrim will be desolate; for the grass has withered away, the tender grass fails, there is no green thing.
This verse uses meshammah to describe the drying up of waters at Nimrim, showing how natural resources can vanish as part of a broader judgment.
-
Jeremiah 48:34
From the cry of Heshbon even to Elealeh, even to Jahaz they have uttered their voice, from Zoar even to Horonaim, to Eglath Shelishiyah; for the waters of Nimrim will also become desolate.
Here the word appears in the context of Moab's downfall, linking the physical desolation of water sources with the emotional outcry of the people.