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שַׁאֲוָה

𐤔𐤀𐤅𐤄

shaʼăvâh

H7584 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שאה to crash, make a loud noise, roar, be desolate

Definition

A strong, violent storm or destructive whirlwind; by extension, a state or event of devastation, tumult, or overwhelming disaster.

Semantic Range

violent storm, tempest, devastating whirlwind, overwhelming disaster, calamity, metaphorical devastation or tumult

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root שָׁאָה (shaʼah), which primarily conveys the meaning 'to crash, be desolate, roar, make a loud noise.' From this root, שַׁאֲוָה (shaʼăvâh) is a feminine noun form that draws on the sense of a tumultuous, destructive force, especially as experienced in nature.

Historical & Contextual Notes

שַׁאֲוָה occurs primarily in poetic passages describing dramatic and catastrophic events, often in the context of divine judgment or overwhelming calamity (e.g., Job 30:3, 30:14). In many passages, it refers concretely to a storm or tempest but is also used metaphorically to convey the devastating impact of such events upon individuals or communities. The term carries connotations of suddenness and destructive power, in keeping with the forceful sense of its root. English translations often render שַׁאֲוָה as 'tempest,' 'desolation,' or 'devastation,' but the underlying image is specifically of a violent natural force, not a generalized state of ruin; 'desolation' is often more the result than the primary meaning. It should be distinguished from other words for 'desolation' (e.g., שְׁמָמָה, חָרְבָּה), which more commonly refer to ruined habitations or wastelands without the inherent force or violence implied by שַׁאֲוָה. Over time, the word did not see significant semantic evolution due to its rare usage and poetic character. Translators sometimes conflate its nuance with 'ruin,' but in biblical usage the term typically evokes the immediacy and power of a tempest rather than its aftermath.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׁאָה; a tempest (as rushing); desolation.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שאה (š-ʾ-h) — crash, roar, make a loud noise, be desolate

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4876 מַשּׁוּאָה to ruined sites
H7582 שָׁאָה to cause desolation
H7583 שָׁאָה the one appalling himself
H7588 שָׁאוֹן like roaring tumult
H7591 שְׁאִיָּה and devastation

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7584-01 כ/שאוה khshvh HR/Ncfsa like desolation like a crashing storm 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7584-01 Proverbs 1:27 כ/שאוה khshvh HR/Ncfsa like desolation like a crashing storm
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