שָׁמֵם (sha.mem)
sha.mem
be desolate: destroyed
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 57 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb shâmêm describes a state of being left empty, ruined, or stunned into silence. It carries a dual sense of physical devastation and psychological shock. When applied to land, it means the place becomes a wasteland, stripped of its inhabitants and activity. When applied to people, it suggests being so overwhelmed by horror or grief that one is rendered speechless and numb.
This word appears frequently in prophetic literature, particularly in Jeremiah and Ezekiel, where it depicts the consequences of covenant failure. For instance, 1 Kings 9:8 uses it to describe how a once-glorious temple would become a ruin, prompting onlookers to be astonished at its desolation. Similarly, Isaiah 52:14 employs it to describe a figure so marred that observers are stunned by the extent of his suffering.
The underlying imagery connects the silence of a destroyed city with the mute shock of those who witness it. The sources note that the primary idea is one of being put to silence, whether through the quiet emptiness of ruins or the inability to speak from awe and terror. Translators often render it as "desolate," "waste," or "astonished," depending on whether the subject is a place or a person.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we read about places becoming desolate or hearts feeling stunned, it can feel like a heavy weight. This Hebrew word captures that deep sense of loss and silence. It describes land left empty after judgment, but also the human reaction to overwhelming grief or awe. In moments when our world feels broken or our spirits are overwhelmed, this word reminds us that God sees the full extent of our pain.
Yet, even in these descriptions of ruin, there is a path forward. The same God who allows desolation also promises restoration. He turns barren places into gardens and silent hearts into songs of praise. We do not face emptiness alone; His presence brings life where there was once only waste. This hope anchors us when circumstances seem hopeless.
Consider how the prophet Isaiah speaks of raising up the land from its desolate state. It is a promise that nothing is beyond God’s power to renew. Whether you are facing personal loss or societal brokenness, remember that God’s work often begins in the quietest, most devastated places. He brings beauty from ashes and life from death.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 57 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- he will be appalled6×
- they are desolate3×
- desolating3×
- desolate3×
- they have devastated2×
- they are appalled2×
- he will devastate2×
- desolated2×
- being made desolate/ it2×
- appalled2×
- and/ they will be appalled2×
- and/ I will devastate2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יִשֹּׁ֥ם3×
- שֹׁמֵמֽוֹת\׃2×
- נָשַׁ֣מּוּ2×
- נָשַׁ֙מּוּ֙2×
- מְשׁוֹמֵֽם\׃2×
- יַשִּׁ֛ים2×
- וְ/נָשַׁ֙מּוּ֙2×
- תִּשּׁוֹמֵֽם\׃1×
- שׁוֹמֵמָ֛ה1×
- שֽׁוֹמֵמִ֔ין1×
- שֽׁוֹמֵמִ֔ים1×
- שֹׁמֵֽם\׃\ \פ1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 9:8
Though this house is so high, yet everyone who passes by it will be astonished and hiss; and they will say, ‘Why has Yahweh done this to this land and to this house?’
This verse shows how desolation serves as a stark witness to God's justice, leaving observers astonished by the transformation of a holy place.
-
Isaiah 52:14
Just as many were astonished at you— his appearance was marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men—
Here the word describes the profound shock and marred appearance of a suffering figure, highlighting the depth of human anguish.
-
Leviticus 26:34
Then the land will enjoy its Sabbaths as long as it lies desolate and you are in your enemies’ land. Even then the land will rest and enjoy its Sabbaths.
This occurrence links physical desolation with spiritual rest, showing that even in punishment, God's timing and justice are precise.
-
Ezra 9:3
When I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and pulled the hair out of my head and of my beard, and sat down confounded.
The word captures the personal, speechless grief of a leader overwhelmed by the spiritual failure of his people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word shâmêm mean?
How is shâmêm different from other words for destruction?
Where does this word appear most frequently?
Every Occurrence (57 verses across 18 books)
Leviticus 6 verses
I will send the wild animals among you, which will rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and make you few…
Leviticus 26:31I will lay your cities waste, and will bring your sanctuaries to desolation. I will not take delight in the sweet…
Leviticus 26:32I will bring the land into desolation, and your enemies who dwell in it will be astonished at it.
Leviticus 26:34Then the land will enjoy its Sabbaths as long as it lies desolate and you are in your enemies’ land. Even then the land…
Leviticus 26:35As long as it lies desolate it shall have rest, even the rest which it didn’t have in your Sabbaths when you lived on…
Leviticus 26:43The land also will be left by them, and will enjoy its Sabbaths while it lies desolate without them; and they will…