H8074 H8074
To be desolate, lie in ruins; to be appalled, horrified; causative: to devastate, make desolate; as participle: desolator
Few Hebrew roots carry such a powerful double charge as shamem. On one side stands physical desolation — cities reduced to rubble, farmland returned to wilderness, sanctuaries defiled and abandoned. On the other stands the visceral human response to such ruin: the horror, the stunned silence, the inability to process what the eyes behold. When the exiles in Ezra 9:3-4 hear of intermarriage, they sit 'appalled' — the same root that describes the land lying 'desolate' during the Sabbath years it was denied (Lev 26:34-35). Daniel's 'abomination of desolation' (Dan 9:27; 11:31; 12:11) fuses both poles: a devastator who causes devastation that produces horror. The root thus maps an entire emotional-physical landscape from cause to effect to response.
Senses
1. be desolate, lie waste — The stative-intransitive sense of being desolate or lying waste — 36 occurrences describing land, cities, sanctuaries, and roads in a state of ruin or abandonment. Leviticus 26:22 warns that highways will become desolate; Isaiah 49:8 promises that desolate heritages will be restored. Arabic khariba ('to be ruined') and Korean hwangpyehan ('desolate') converge on this physical-geographical meaning. The Qal stative and Nifal passive forms dominate, depicting desolation as an enduring condition rather than an event. 36×
AR["خَرِبَةً","خَرِبَةٍ","خَرِبَتِ","خَرِبَتْ","خَرِبِينَ","فَيَصِيرُونَ","لِمَاذَا","مُقْفِرَاتِ","مُقْفِرَةٌ","وَ-تُخْرَبُ","وَ-تُقْفِرُ","وَتَخْرَبُ","ٱلْمُقْفِرَةَ","ٱلْمُقْفِرَةُ"]·ben["-শূন্যের","আর-তারা-ধ্বংসস্থান-হবে","আর-ধ্বংসস্থান-হবে","আর-বিরান-হবে","এবং-শূন্য-হবে","ও-হবে-উজাড়","জনশূন্য","জনশূন্য-স্থান","জনশূন্যকে","ধ্বংস-করবে-নিজেকে","ধ্বংস-হয়েছে","ধ্বংসপ্রাপ্ত","ধ্বংসস্থানের"]·DE["[ונשמו]","[נשמו]","[שוממים]","[שוממין]","[תשומם]","und-verwuestet-sein","und-wird-sein-verwuestet","verwuestet-sein"]·EN["And-will-be-desolated","and-shall-be-desolate","and-they-shall-be-desolate","and-will-be-desolate","are-desolate","desolate","desolated","desolations-of","it-was-desolate","should-you-destroy-yourself","the-desolate"]·FR["désolation","dévaster","et-dévaster","et-fera-être-desolate","être-dévasté"]·heb["ה-נשמה","ו-נשמו","ו-נשמוּ","ו-שממו","נשמו","נשמות","שוממות","שוממים","שוממין","שממה","תישומם"]·HI["उजड़-गए","उजड़ी-हुई","उजड़ीं","उजड़े","उजड़े-हुए","उजड़े-हुए-हैं","उजाड़","उजाड़-हुए","और-उजड़ होंगे","और-उजड़ेंगे","और-उजाड़-हो-जाएँगी","और-में-गुफाओं","और-वीरान-होंगी","तू-नाश-हो","वह-उजड़-गई"]·ID["Dan-akan-menjadi-sunyi","Dan-menjadi-sunyi","dan-jalanmu-akan-sepi","dan-menjadi-sunyi","hancur","membinasakan-dirimu","sunyi","tempat-tempat-tandus","yang-sepi,","yang-sunyi","yang-sunyi;"]·IT["e-essere-desolato","e-fara-essere-desolato","essere-desolato","essere-devastato","should-voi-distruggere-yourself"]·jav["Lan-badhe-dados-suwung","Lan-dados-suwăng","ingkang-dipun-sunyakaken","ingkang-sepi","ingkang-suwung","lan-dados-sepi","lan-sami-suwèn","lan-sepi","panjenengan-karisak","sepi","sunyi","suwung"]·KO["그-황량한을","그-황폐한","그리고-황폐하리라","그리고-황폐할것이다","그리고-황폐해지리라","그리고-황폐해질-것이다-그들이","황무한","황폐되었다","황폐하겠는가","황폐하고","황폐하였도다","황폐한","황폐한-곳들을","황폐한-자들-로"]·PT["E-ficarão-desoladas","E-serão-assolados","E-serão-devastados","a-desolada","desoladas","desolados","desolações-de","e-se-tornarão-desertas","e-serão-desolados","estão-desolados","ficaram-desolados","foi-desolada","foram-desolados","te-destruirás"]·RU["И-опустеют","запустения","и-опустеют","опустевшие","опустевшими","опустевших","опустели","опустело","опустошённая","опустошённое","опустошённые","опустошённых","погубишь-себя?","пустынные"]·ES["Y-serán-asolados","Y-serán-desolados","desolaciones-de","desoladas","desolados","están-desoladas","fue-desolada,","fueron-asoladas","fueron-desolados","la-asolada","la-asolada;","las-desolaciones","te-destruirías","y-serán-desolados"]·SW["Na-wataachwa","Na-zitafanywa-ukiwa","iliyoachwa","iliyoharibiwa","imekuwa-ukiwa","na-yataachwa","na-zitakuwa-ukiwa","ujiangamize","ukiwa","uliokuwa-ukiwa","wakiwa","wameachwa-ukiwa","zilizoachwa","zimeachwa","zimeharibiwa"]·TR["Ve-viran-olacak","harap-oldu","issiz","issiz-yerleri-","ve-viran-olacak","ve-viran-olacaklar","ve-ıssızlaşacak","viran-oldu","viran-olmuş","viranlığı","yikilirsin","ıssız","ıssızlaştı"]·urd["اجڑی","اجڑی-کو","اجڑی-ہوئی","اور-ویران-ہو-جائیں-گی","اور-ویران-ہوں-گے","خود-کو-برباد-کرے-تو","و-ویران-ہوں-گی","ویران","ویران-ہو-گئے","ویران-ہوئے","ویران-ہوا","ویرانیاں"]
2. be appalled, be horrified — The psychological sense of being appalled, horrified, or stunned — 23 occurrences where the focus shifts from ruined landscapes to shattered minds. Jeremiah 2:12 commands the heavens to 'be appalled' at Israel's apostasy; Ezra sat 'appalled' until the evening offering (Ezra 9:3-4). The Qal, Hitpael, and Hithpolel forms carry this emotional force. Arabic yadhhashu ('to be stunned') and Korean nollada ('to be shocked') confirm the affective-cognitive core. The link between physical ruin and psychological shock is the root's distinctive genius — to see desolation is to become desolate within. 23×
AR["اِدْهَشِي","تَحَيَّرَ","تَحَيَّرُوا","تَعَجَّبَ","دُهِشَ","مُذْهَلًا","وَ-انْدَهَشْتُ","وَ-تَحَيَّرْتُ","وَ-يَتَحَيَّرُ","وَيَتَحَيَّرُونَ","يَتَعَجَّبُ","يَدْهَشُ","يَصَعَقُ","يَصْعَقونَ","يَنْدَهِشُ"]·ben["-এবং-আমি-আশ্চর্য-হলাম","আর-শূন্য-হবে","এবং-হতবাক-হবে","এবং-হতভম্ব-হলাম","বিস্মিত-হও","বিস্মিত-হবে","বিস্মিত-হয়েছিল","বিস্মিত-হয়েছে","বিস্মিত-হল","বিস্মিত-হোক","বিহ্বল","শূন্য-হয়েছে","স্তম্ভিত"]·DE["[ישמו]","[משומם]","[נשמו]","ist-appalled","lass-sein-appalled","sie-setzten","und-verwuestet-sein","verwuestet-sein","wird-sein-appalled"]·EN["Be-appalled","and-I-was-appalled","and-shall-be-appalled","and-they-shall-be-appalled","appalled","are-appalled","is-appalled","let-be-appalled","were-appalled","will-be-appalled"]·FR["dévaster","et-dévaster","et-être-dévasté","fera-être-appalled","son-nom","être-désolé","être-dévasté"]·heb["ו-אשתומם","ו-השתוממתי","ו-נשמו","ו-שממו","יִשֹּׁם","ישום","ישומו","ישם","ישתומם","משומם","נשמו","שומו","שממו"]·HI["और-विस्मित-था-मैं","और-विस्मित-हुआ-मैं","और-विस्मित-होंगे","चकित-थे","चकित-हुए","चकित-हों","चकित-होंगे","चकित-होओ","चकित-होगा","पश्चिमी","विरान-हुए","विस्मित","विस्मित-होता-है"]·ID["Tercenganglah","akan-ngeri","akan-terkejut","akan-tertegun","dan-Aku-terkejut","dan-akan-tercengang","dan-aku-tercengang","dan-mereka-akan-tercengang","tercengang","terkejut","tertegun"]·IT["devastare","devasto'","e-essere-desolato","e-essere-devastato","essere-desolato","essere-devastato","essi-posero","sono-appalled","vorrà-essere-appalled"]·jav["Mugi-gumun","ajrih","badhe-gumun","badhé-eram","badhé-kaget","gumun","gumuna","kaget","lan-Kawula-gumun","lan-gumun","lan-kula-gumun","lan-nyuit","lan-sami-gumun","nggumunaken","sami-gumun"]·KO["그리고-내가-놀랐다","그리고-놀랄-것이다","그리고-놀랐으니","놀라고","놀라나이다","놀라라","놀라리라","놀라리이다","놀랄-것이다","놀랐나니","놀랐는데","놀랐다","황폐해서"]·PT["Espantem-se","Ficarão-chocados","Pasme","e-assombrar-se-ão","e-espantei-me","e-estava-espantado","e-ficarão-desolados","espantado","está-desolado","ficaram-desolados","ficará-assombrado","ficará-espantado","ficará-estupefato","ficarão-horrorizados","se-pasmaram"]·RU["Ужаснитесь","да-ужаснутся","и-изумился-Я","и-изумлялся-я","и-изумятся","и-ужаснутся","изумится","изумлялись","изумятся","потрясённый","ужаснулись","ужаснётся","цепенеет"]·ES["Asombraos","Se-asombrarán","Sean-asolados","desolado","quedará-asombrado","se-asombra","se-asombran","se-asombraron","se-asombrará","y-estaba-espantado","y-me-asombré","y-se-asombrarán"]·SW["Na-waukie","atashangaa","na-nikashangaa","na-watashangaa","na-watashangazwa","nimestuka","shangaeni","umestukia","walishangaa","walishangazwa","wameshangazwa","watashangaa"]·TR["Sersemlsinler","dehsete-düşecek","dehşete-düşecek","hayrete-düşer","sasirdilar","saskin","ve-sasirdim","ve-şaşacaklar","ve-şaşıracaklar","ve-şaşırdım","şaşacak","şaştılar","şaşın","şaşıracak","şaşırdı"]·urd["اور-حیران-رہا","اور-حیران-ہوں-گے","اور-میں-حیران-ہوا","حیران","حیران رہیں","حیران ہوں گے","حیران-ہو","حیران-ہو-گا","حیران-ہوئے","حیران-ہوگا","حیران-ہوں","حیران-ہے"]
3. make desolate, devastate — The causative Hifil sense of making desolate or devastating — 15 occurrences where an active agent brings ruin upon a place or people. God will devastate Israel's high places (Lev 26:31), lay waste their sanctuaries (Lev 26:31), and desolate the land so that enemies marvel at it (Lev 26:32). The Moabite campaign narrative uses it for military devastation (Num 21:30), and Job laments that God has 'devastated' his entire circle (Job 16:7). Arabic akhraba and Swahili kuharibu capture the transitive destructive force. 15×
AR["أَخْرَبُوا","أَخْرَبْتَ","إِيَّاهُمْ","خَرَابًا","وَ-أَخْرَبْنَا","وَ-أَهْلَكَهُم","وَ-أُخْرِبُ","وَأَجْعَلُهُ","وَأُخرِبُ","وَأُخَرِّبُ","يُخْرِبُ","يُخْرِبْ"]·ben["আর-আমি-তাকে-করব","আর-আমি-ধ্বংসস্থান-করব","উজাড়-করেছে","এবং-আমরা-ধ্বংস-করলাম","এবং-ধ্বংস-করব","এবং-ধ্বংস-করলেন-তাদের","এবং-শূন্য-করব","জনশূন্য-করতে","তাদের-বিস্মিত-করি","তারা-ধ্বংস-করেছে","তিনি-ধ্বংস-করবেন","তুমি-ধ্বংস-করেছ","সে-জনশূন্য-করবে"]·DE["[השמות]","[והשמתי]","der-sie-setzten","der-verwuestet","sie-haben-laid-waste","und-He-devastated-ihnen","und-ich-wird-machen-verwuestet","und-verwuestet-sein","und-wir-laid-Oede","verwuestet-sein"]·EN["I-might-desolate-them","You-have-made-desolate","and-He-devastated-them","and-I-will-lay-waste","and-I-will-make-desolate","and-I-will-make-him","and-we-laid-waste","he-will-make-desolate","making-desolate","they-have-laid-waste"]·FR["dévaster","et-Il-devastated-eux","et-dévaster","et-je-fera-faire-desolate","et-le-j'ai-placé","et-nous-laid-waste","le-son-nom","être-dévasté"]·heb["אשימם","השימות","השמו","השמם","ו-השימותי","ו-השימותיהו","ו-השמותי","ו-השמתי","ו-ישמם","ו-נשים","ישים"]·HI["उजाड़-करूँ-उन्हें","उजाड़-दिया","उजाड़ते-हुए","उन्होंने-उजाड़-दिया","और-उजाड़ करूंगा","और-उजाड़-दूंगा-मैं","और-उजाड़ा","और-उजाड़ूँगा","और-बनाऊँगा-उसे","और-हमने-उजाड़ा","तूने-उजाड़-दिया","वह-वीरान-बनाएगा"]·ID["Aku-membuat-mereka-terkejut","Dan-Aku-akan-membinasakan","Dan-Aku-akan-membuat-sunyi","Engkau-memusnahkan","dan-Aku-akan-membuat-sunyi","dan-Aku-akan-menjadikannya","dan-kami-menghancurkan","dan-menakutkan-mereka","ia-akan-menjadikan","membinasakan","mereka-menghancurkan"]·IT["Voi-have-made-desolate","e-He-devastated-loro","e-essere-desolato","e-io-fara-fare-desolato","e-noi-laid-desolazione","essere-desolato","essere-devastato","il-essi-posero","il-il-suo-nome"]·jav["Aku-ndadosaken-piyambakipun-sepi","Lan-Kawula-badhe-nggamel-suwung","Lan-Kawula-ngsuwungaken","Panjenengan-ngrisak","badhe-njabel","lan-Aku-badhé-ndadosaken-piyambakipun","lan-Kawula-badhe-nggamel-suwung","lan-Kawula-ngrisak","lan-Kawula-ngsuwungaken","lan-kawula-ngrisak","lan-ngrisak-piyambakipun","nggawé-sepi","piyambakipun-sami-nyuwungaken","tiyang-tiyang-sampun-nyirnakaken"]·KO["그들이-황폐케-했다","그리고-나는-황폐하게-할것이다","그리고-내가-세우리라-그를","그리고-우리가-황폐시켰다","그리고-황폐시킬-것이다-내가","그리고-황폐케-하겠다","그리고-황폐하게-했다-그들을","황폐케-하기-위해-그들을","황폐케-하였다","황폐하게-하겠느냐-그가","황폐하게-하는-것","황폐하게-하셨나니"]·PT["Devastaste","E-destruirei","E-devastarei","assolaram","desolando","e-devastamos","e-devastarei","e-devastou-os","e-o-farei","eu-os-devastasse","fará-assolada"]·RU["и-опустошил-их","и-опустошили-мы","и-опустошу","и-сделаю-его","опустошая","опустошил-Ты","опустошили","опустошит","ради"]·ES["Y-asolaré","Y-desolaré","Y-devastaré","asolaron","asolará","desolando","has-desolado","los-asolare","y-asolamos","y-asolaré","y-desolaré","y-lo-pondré","y-los-asoló"]·SW["Na-nitafanya-ukiwa","Na-nitaharibu","Na-nitaiangamiza","atafanya-kuwa-ukiwa","kukuharibu","na-akawaharibu","na-nitafanya-ukiwa","na-nitaiangamiza","na-nitamfanya","na-tukaharibu","niwafanye-wakose","umeharibu","wameiharibu","wameyaharibu"]·TR["deşete-düşürsün-diye-onlar","harap-etmek","harap-ettiler","harap-ettin","ve-harap-edeceğim","ve-harap-etti-onları","ve-harap-ettik","ve-koyacağım","ve-viran-edeceğim","ve-ıssızlaştıracağım","yapacak"]·urd["اور-اجاڑوں-گا","اور-اُسے-عبرت-بناؤں-گا","اور-برباد-کیا","اور-تباہ-کیا","اور-ویران-کروں-گا","اور-ویران-کروں-گا-میں","اُجاڑ-دیا","وہ-ویران-کرے-گا","ویران-کر-دیا-ہے-تُو-نے","ویران-کرنا","ویران-کروں","ویران-کرے-گا","ویران-کیا"]
4. desolator, devastator — The agentive participial form used substantivally as 'desolator' or 'devastator' — five occurrences concentrated in Daniel's apocalyptic visions. The 'abomination that makes desolate' (Dan 9:27; 11:31; 12:11) and the question about 'the transgression that causes desolation' (Dan 8:13) employ the active Poel or Polel participle as a technical eschatological term. Spanish desolador and German Verwuester treat it as a true agent noun, while the Greek rendering bdelygma tes eremoseos in the Septuagint (and Jesus' citation in Matt 24:15) cemented this sense in Western theological vocabulary. 5×
AR["الْخَرَابِ","الْمُخَرِّبَ","الْمُخَرِّبَةُ","الْمُخَرِّبِ","مُخَرِّبٌ"]·ben["ধ্বংসকারী","ধ্বংসকারীর"]·DE["verwuestet-sein"]·EN["desolating","the-desolator"]·FR["dévaster"]·heb["משומם","שומם"]·HI["उजाड़नेवाला","उजाड़नेवाली","उजाड़नेवाले"]·ID["yang-membinasakan"]·IT["essere-desolato"]·jav["ingkang-ngrisak"]·KO["황폐케-하는","황폐케-하는-자","황폐케-하는-자-이니"]·PT["desoladora","desolação","devastadora","o-assolador","virá-o-assolador"]·RU["опустошающее","опустошающей","опустошения","опустошитель","опустошителя"]·ES["desolador","desoladora","el-desolador"]·SW["la-uharibifu","mwenye-kuharibu","uharibifu"]·TR["harap-eden","harap-edenin"]·urd["اُجاڑنے-والی","ویران-کرنے-والا","ویران-کرنے-والی","ویران-کرنے-والے"]
5. desolation, state of ruin — The abstract nominal use via Hofal infinitive construct denoting the state or process of desolation itself — four occurrences, all clustered in the Sabbath-year theology of Leviticus 26:34-35, 43 and its echo in 2 Chronicles 36:21. The land 'enjoys its Sabbaths' during its desolation (beshammah), repaying the rest Israel denied it. Arabic al-kharabi ('the ruin') and Korean hwangpye-ui ('of desolation') reflect this nominal abstraction. The Chronicler explicitly links the seventy-year exile to this Levitical principle, making the infinitive a theological hinge between sin and restoration. 4×
AR["الْخَرَابِ","بِ-خَرَابِهَا"]·ben["-পরিত্যক্ততার","শূন্য-হতে","শূন্যতার","শূন্যতার,"]·DE["der-Verwuestung","der-sein-Name","in-seiend-verwuestet"]·EN["in-being-desolate","the-desolation"]·FR["dans-étant-desolate","dévaster","le-desolation"]·heb["ב-השמה","השמה","השמה-ה"]·HI["उजड़े-होने-में","उजाड़-के"]·ID["dan-kamu","dari-mereka","ditinggalkan","kerusakannya"]·IT["devastare","il-desolazione","in-essendo-desolato"]·jav["kasuwungan-ipun","suwung","wonten-kasuwungan-ipun"]·KO["그것이-황폐한-","황폐됨에서","황폐의"]·PT["a-desolação","em-estar-desolada"]·RU["в-опустошении-своём","запустения","опустошения","опустошения-её"]·ES["en-su-desolación","la-desolación","su-desolación"]·SW["hashaּmaּh","katika-ukiwa-wake","ukiwa"]·TR["-da-ıssızlaştırılmasında","harabeyde","ıssızlık","ıssızlıkın"]·urd["ویرانی-میں-اُس-کی","ویرانی-کے"]
6. cause horror, appall others — The causative-psychological sense of making others appalled or causing horror — three rare occurrences where the Hifil applies not to physical devastation but to emotional shock. God will cause nations to be appalled at Israel's judgment (Ezek 32:10), Ezekiel himself sits stunned among the exiles (Ezek 3:15), and Job's friends should 'be appalled' and clap their hands over their mouths (Job 21:5). Arabic udhilu ('I cause to be stunned') and Korean nollage hada ('to cause to be startled') precisely mirror this causative-affective derivation, distinguishing it from the physical devastation of Sense 3. 3×
AR["مُتَحَيِّرًا","وَ-انْدَهِشُوا","وَأُذْهِلُ"]·ben["আর-আমি-বিস্মিত-করব","এবং-বিস্মিত-হও","বিস্মিত"]·DE["[והשמו]","und-verwuestet-sein","von-Himmel"]·EN["and-I-will-cause-to-be-appalled","and-be-appalled","stunned"]·FR["de-cieux","et-dévaster"]·heb["ו-השימותי","ו-השמו","משתומם"]·HI["और-मैं-भयभीत-करूँगा","और-विस्मित-हो","स्तब्ध"]·ID["Dan-Aku-membuat-tercengang","dan-takjublah","tercengang"]·IT["da-cielo","e-e-essere-appalled","e-essere-desolato"]·jav["Lan-Kawula-badhe-nggumunaken","eram","lan-nggumuna"]·KO["그리고-놀라라","그리하여-내가-놀라게-하리라","멜해하며"]·PT["E-espantarei","atordoado","e-ficai-chocados"]·RU["и-изумитесь","и-ужасну","изумлённый"]·ES["Y-asombraré","atónito","y-asombraos"]·SW["Na-nitawafanya-kushangaa","na-mshangae","nimeshangaa"]·TR["içlerinde","ve-hayrete-düşün","ve-şaşırtacağım"]·urd["اور-حیران رہو","اور-حیران-کروں-گا","حیران"]
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×)G2190 1. enemy / hostile one (32×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [שָׁמֵם] vb. be desolated, appalled (connex. of meanings not clear) (NH id.; J.Aram שְׁמַם Ithp. be dazed);— Qal Pf. 3 fs. שָׁמֵ֑מָה Ez 35:15, etc.; Impf. 3 ms. יִשֹּׁם 1 K 9:8 +, 3 mpl. יָשֹׁ֫מּוּ Jb 17:8 ψ 40:16, etc.; Imv. mpl. שֹׁ֫מּוּ Je 2:12; Inf. cstr. (?) metapl. שַׁמּוֹת Ez 36:3 (Ges§ 67r, but v. infra);—תֵּשַׁם, etc. (v. [יָשַׁם]) are placed here by most; Ez 6:6 reads תִּישָׁ֑מְנָה,…