H0008 H0008
destruction, ruin, perishing
An abstract noun denoting utter destruction or ruin. It appears only in Balaam's oracles (Numbers 24:20, 24), both times in the phrase 'until destruction'—predicting the eventual fate of Amalek and other nations. The word has a finality to it, describing not temporary setback but complete obliteration. Balaam sees Israel's enemies and pronounces their end: they will endure only 'until destruction.'
Senses
1. sense 1 — Occurring exclusively in Balaam's prophetic utterances, this term announces the destiny of Israel's adversaries. The Masoretic form suggests an abstract noun from the root meaning 'perish' or 'be destroyed.' Every major translation tradition (Spanish 'perecer,' French 'destruction,' German 'destruction') emphasizes finality. Amalek was 'first among nations' but his end is destruction (Num 24:20); similarly the ships of Kittim will ultimately meet ruin (24:24). The word functions as a prophetic timestamp: these powers exist only 'until destruction' arrives. 2×
AR["هَلَاكٍ"]·ben["ধ্বংস"]·DE["destruction"]·EN["destruction"]·FR["destruction"]·heb["אבד"]·HI["विनाश"]·ID["kebinasaan"]·IT["destruction"]·jav["kasirnan"]·KO["멸망"]·PT["perecer"]·RU["погибели"]·ES["perecer"]·SW["maangamizo"]·TR["yok-oluş"]·urd["تباہی"]
Related Senses
H4421 1. war, battle, armed conflict (319×)H0341 1. enemy, adversary, foe (284×)H3898a 1. Nifal: to fight, wage war (167×)H2026 1. kill, slay (active) (146×)H2451 1. wisdom, discernment (146×)H5483b 1. horse (the animal) (138×)H0006 1. to perish, be destroyed (105×)H7843 1. Hifil: destroy, annihilate (83×)H2491a 1. slain, fatally pierced (74×)H6862c 1. adversary, enemy, foe (69×)H8045 1. destroy, exterminate (69×)G0615 1. kill, put to death (60×)H6571b 1. horseman, cavalryman (52×)H8077a 1. desolation, waste (abstract state) (52×)G4678 1. of wisdom (51×)G4717 1. crucify, fasten to a cross (46×)H2763a 1. utterly destroy (Hifil active) (44×)G0622 1. perish, be destroyed (intransitive) (41×)H0006 2. to destroy, annihilate (Piel) (38×)H8074 1. be desolate, lie waste (36×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† אֹבֵד n.[m.] destruction, עֲדֵי א׳ Nu 24:20, 24 (JE; on form with abstract sense v. BaNB 149).