שָׁמֵם (H8074) — Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁמֵם

𐤔𐤌𐤌

shâmêm

H8074 verb

SILEX Entry

Root שׁ־מ־ם to be desolate, to be appalled, to be devastated, to be stunned

Definition

To be or become desolate, deserted, or devastated; to experience devastation or horror, to be appalled or stunned, often as a result of witnessing or experiencing catastrophic ruin. The term can describe both literal destruction of places and figurative states of astonishment or horror from calamity. Usage typically reflects passive experience but can also denote actively bringing ruin upon something.

Semantic Range

to be laid waste, to be deserted, to become desolate, to stun or be appalled, to devastate, to horrify, to be numbed, to amaze, to cause to desolate, to astonish

Root / Etymology

From the root שָׁמֵם (שׁ-מ-ם), which conveys the idea of emptiness, barrenness, or desolation. The verbal form שָׁמֵם emerges from this root, expressing the action or result of becoming desolate or stunned. There is no clear cognate in closely related Semitic languages, but the core notion is consistent within Hebrew usage.

Historical & Contextual Notes

שָׁמֵם is common in prophetic, poetic, and lament texts, describing wastelands, ruined cities, or the emotional state of devastation following calamity (such as exile or military defeat). The term signals both physical desolation (cities, land, sanctuary) and emotional/psychic devastation (astonishment, horror). In many passages, it is paired with imagery of infertility, silence, and utter abandonment. Later biblical and post-biblical Hebrew preserve both senses. English translations like 'desolate' or 'astonished' can capture part of the range but often obscure the somatic, visceral nuance of the verb—where numbness and horror overlap. Related Hebrew terms (e.g., שָׁדַד 'to ruin, devastate,' חָרֵב 'to be dry, ruin') can overlap in context but generally have narrower physical or agricultural connotations. שָׁמֵם is distinct for regularly denoting both existential and physical desolation. In exilic and post-exilic texts, the term often describes the ruined state of Jerusalem and the land, with implications for both landscape and the people's emotional state. In poetic parallels, it is sometimes paired with verbs for mourning or amazement, highlighting its range from environmental to psychological impact.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e. devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a passive sense); make amazed, be astonied, (be an) astonish(-ment), (be, bring into, unto, lay, lie, make) desolate(-ion, places), be destitute, destroy (self), (lay, lie, make) waste, wonder.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

שׁמם (sh-m-m) — to be desolate, to be devastated, to be appalled, to be stunned

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H4923	מְשַׁמָּה	to desolations
H8047	שַׁמָּה	for utter desolation
H8049	שַׁמְהוּת	Shamhuth
H8054	שַׁמּוֹת	Shammoth
H8060	שַׁמַּי	Shammay
H8064	שָׁמַיִם	in the lofty-heights
H8075	שְׁמַם	he was appalled
H8076	שָׁמֵם	the desolated one
H8077	שְׁמָמָה	for desolation
H8078	שִׁמָּמוֹן	in devastating desolation
H8079	שְׂמָמִית	house-dwelling gecko

Word Forms

44 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H8074-38`	וְ/נָשַׁ֖מּוּ	venashamu	`HC/VNq3cp`	and they will be appalled	and they became desolate	6
`H8074-44`	יִשֹּׁ֣ם	yishom	`HVqi3ms`	will be appalled	he will become desolate	6
`H8074-30`	וַ/הֲשִׁמּוֹתִ֖י	vahashimoti	`HC/Vhq1cs`	and I will make desolate	and I devastated	6
`H8074-13`	נָשַׁ֣מּוּ	nashamu	`HVNp3cp`	are desolate	they became desolate	5
`H8074-17`	שָׁמְמ֤וּ	shamemu	`HVqp3cp`	are appalled	they were devastated	4
`H8074-11`	מְשֹׁמֵ֔ם	meshomem	`HVmrmsa`	appalled	devastating one	4
`H8074-15`	נְשַׁמּ֖וֹת	neshamot	`HVNrfpa`	desolated	desolated ones	4
`H8074-25`	שֹׁמֵמֽוֹת	shomemot	`HVqrfpa`	desolations	desolate ones	4
`H8074-21`	שֹׁמֵ֔ם	shomem	`HVqrmsa`	of desolation	desolated one	3
`H8074-39`	וְ/שָֽׁמְמ֤וּ	veshamemu	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and they will be appalled	and they became desolate	3
`H8074-03`	הַ/נְּשַׁמָּ֖ה	haneshamah	`HTd/VNsfsa`	that was desolate	the desolation	3
`H8074-42`	יָ֭שֹׁמּוּ	yashomu	`HVqi3mp`	are appalled	they will become desolate	2
`H8074-41`	יַשִּׁ֛ים	yashim	`HVhi3ms`	He will make	He will devastate	2
`H8074-08`	הֵשַֽׁמּוּ	heshamu	`HVhp3cp`	they have laid waste	they caused desolation	2
`H8074-12`	נָשַׁ֨מָּה֙	nashamah	`HVNp3fs`	it gasps	she has become desolate	2
`H8074-05`	הָשַּׁמָּ֖/ה	hashamah	`HVHc/Sp3fs`	of the desolation	her being made desolate	2
`H8074-35`	וְ/אֶשְׁתּוֹמֵ֖ם	veeshetomem	`HC/Vri1cs`	and-I-was-appalled	and I would stand appalled	1
`H8074-40`	וְ/שֹׁ֣מְמֹתַ֔יִ/ךְ	veshomemotayikhe	`HC/Vqrfpc/Sp2fs`	and your desolate places	and your desolated ones	1
`H8074-04`	הַֽ/נְשַׁמּ֗וֹת	haneshamot	`HTd/VNrfpa`	the-desolate	the desolated ones	1
`H8074-28`	וּ/נְשַׁמָּ֗ה	uneshamah	`HC/VNsfsa`	and waste	the desolated one	1
`H8074-20`	שממה	shmmh	`HVqp3fs`	desolate	she became desolate	1
`H8074-33`	וַ/יְשִׁמֵּ֑/ם	vayeshimem	`HC/Vhw3ms/Sp3mp`	and he devastated them	and he caused them to be desolated	1
`H8074-10`	מַשְׁמִ֥ים	mashemim	`HVhrmsa`	stunned	desolating one	1
`H8074-22`	שׁוֹמֵמָ֛ה	shomemah	`HVqrfsa`	the desolate	being desolate	1
`H8074-16`	שָׁמֵ֖מָה	shamemah	`HVqp3fs`	it was desolate	she became desolate	1
`H8074-34`	וַ/יִּשְׁתּוֹמֵ֖ם	vayishetomem	`HC/Vrw3ms`	and was astonished	and he became appalled	1
`H8074-19`	שֶׁ/שָּׁמֵ֔ם	sheshamem	`HTr/Vqp3ms`	which is desolate	he became desolate	1
`H8074-14`	נְשַׁמָּ֑ה	neshamah	`HVNrfsa`	desolate	vital breath	1
`H8074-23`	שֽׁוֹמֵמִ֔ים	shomemim	`HVqrmpa`	desolate	desolated ones	1
`H8074-18`	שַׁמּוֹת֩	shamot	`HVqc`	desolations	to be desolate	1
`H8074-02`	בָּ/הְשַׁמָּ/ה֙	baheshamah	`HR/VHc/Sp3fs`	in-its-desolation	her being made desolate	1
`H8074-31`	וַ/הֲשִֽׂמֹתִ֨י/הוּ֙	vahasimotihu	`HC/Vhq1cs/Sp3ms`	and-I-will-make-him	and I devastated him	1
`H8074-29`	וָ/אֶשְׁתּוֹמֵ֥ם	vaeshetomem	`HC/Vrw1cs`	and I was appalled	and I became appalled	1
`H8074-27`	תִּשּׁוֹמֵֽם	tishomem	`HVri2ms`		you will devastate yourself	1
`H8074-37`	וְ/הָשַׁ֑מּוּ	vehashamu	`HC/Vhv2mp`	and be appalled	and devastate	1
`H8074-32`	וַ/נַּשִּׁ֣ים	vanashim	`HC/Vhw1cp`	we have laid waste	and we caused desolation	1
`H8074-26`	שֹׁ֥מּוּ	shomu	`HVqv2mp`	be appalled	be devastated	1
`H8074-07`	הֲ֝שִׁמּ֗וֹתָ	hashimota	`HVhp2ms`	you have made desolate	you devastated	1
`H8074-01`	אֲשִׁמֵּ֔/ם	ashimem	`HVhi1cs/Sp3mp`	I might devastate them	I will desolate them	1
`H8074-36`	וְ/הַֽ/נְשַׁמּ֥וֹת	vehaneshamot	`HC/Td/VNsfpa`	and the desolate	the desolated ones	1
`H8074-09`	הֳשַׁמָּ֔/ה	hoshamah	`HVHc/Sp3fs`	of desolation	her being made desolate	1
`H8074-43`	יִשְׁתּוֹמֵ֥ם	yishetomem	`HVri3ms`	is appalled	he will devastate himself	1
`H8074-24`	שֽׁוֹמֵמִ֔ין	shomemin	`HVqrmpa`	desolate	desolate ones	1
`H8074-06`	הַשְׁמֵ֖ם	hashemem	`HVha`	making desolate	causing desolation	1

Occurrences in Scripture

86 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H8074-38`	Leviticus 26:22	וְ/נָשַׁ֖מּוּ	venashamu	`HC/VNq3cp`	and be desolate	and they became desolate
`H8074-30`	Leviticus 26:31	וַ/הֲשִׁמּוֹתִ֖י	vahashimoti	`HC/Vhq1cs`	and-I-will-make-desolate	and I devastated
`H8074-30`	Leviticus 26:32	וַ/הֲשִׁמֹּתִ֥י	vahashimoti	`HC/Vhq1cs`	and-I-will-lay-waste	and I devastated
`H8074-39`	Leviticus 26:32	וְ/שָֽׁמְמ֤וּ	veshamemu	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and-they-will-be-appalled	and they became desolate
`H8074-09`	Leviticus 26:34	הֳשַׁמָּ֔/ה	hoshamah	`HVHc/Sp3fs`	of desolation	her being made desolate
`H8074-05`	Leviticus 26:35	הָשַּׁמָּ֖/ה	hashamah	`HVHc/Sp3fs`	that it is desolate	her being made desolate
`H8074-02`	Leviticus 26:43	בָּ/הְשַׁמָּ/ה֙	baheshamah	`HR/VHc/Sp3fs`	in-its-desolation	her being made desolate
`H8074-32`	Numbers 21:30	וַ/נַּשִּׁ֣ים	vanashim	`HC/Vhw1cp`	we have laid waste	and we caused desolation
`H8074-33`	1 Samuel 5:6	וַ/יְשִׁמֵּ֑/ם	vayeshimem	`HC/Vhw3ms/Sp3mp`	and he devastated them	and he caused them to be desolated
`H8074-44`	1 Kings 9:8	יִשֹּׁ֣ם	yishom	`HVqi3ms`	will-be-appalled	he will become desolate
`H8074-13`	Isaiah 33:8	נָשַׁ֣מּוּ	nashamu	`HVNp3cp`	are desolate	they became desolate
`H8074-25`	Isaiah 49:8	שֹׁמֵמֽוֹת	shomemot	`HVqrfpa`	desolate	desolate ones
`H8074-40`	Isaiah 49:19	וְ/שֹׁ֣מְמֹתַ֔יִ/ךְ	veshomemotayikhe	`HC/Vqrfpc/Sp2fs`	and your desolate places	and your desolated ones
`H8074-17`	Isaiah 52:14	שָׁמְמ֤וּ	shamemu	`HVqp3cp`	were appalled	they were devastated
`H8074-22`	Isaiah 54:1	שׁוֹמֵמָ֛ה	shomemah	`HVqrfsa`	the desolate	being desolate
`H8074-15`	Isaiah 54:3	נְשַׁמּ֖וֹת	neshamot	`HVNrfpa`	desolate	desolated ones
`H8074-34`	Isaiah 59:16	וַ/יִּשְׁתּוֹמֵ֖ם	vayishetomem	`HC/Vrw3ms`	and was astonished	and he became appalled
`H8074-25`	Isaiah 61:4	שֹׁמְמ֥וֹת	shomemot	`HVqrfpc`	desolations	desolate ones
`H8074-25`	Isaiah 61:4	שֹׁמְמ֖וֹת	shomemot-2	`HVqrfpc`	desolations	desolate ones
`H8074-35`	Isaiah 63:5	וְ/אֶשְׁתּוֹמֵ֖ם	veeshetomem	`HC/Vri1cs`	and-I-was-appalled	and I would stand appalled
`H8074-26`	Jeremiah 2:12	שֹׁ֥מּוּ	shomu	`HVqv2mp`	be appalled	be devastated
`H8074-38`	Jeremiah 4:9	וְ/נָשַׁ֨מּוּ֙	venashamu	`HC/VNq3cp`	and they will be appalled	and they became desolate
`H8074-08`	Jeremiah 10:25	הֵשַֽׁמּוּ	heshamu	`HVhp3cp`	they have laid waste	they caused desolation
`H8074-12`	Jeremiah 12:11	נָשַׁ֨מָּה֙	nashamah	`HVNp3fs`	it gasps	she has become desolate
`H8074-44`	Jeremiah 18:16	יִשֹּׁ֖ם	yishom	`HVqi3ms`	will be appalled	he will become desolate
`H8074-44`	Jeremiah 19:8	יִשֹּׁ֥ם	yishom	`HVqi3ms`	will be astonished	he will become desolate
`H8074-04`	Jeremiah 33:10	הַֽ/נְשַׁמּ֗וֹת	haneshamot	`HTd/VNrfpa`	the-desolate	the desolated ones
`H8074-44`	Jeremiah 49:17	יִשֹּׁ֥ם	yishom	`HVqi3ms`	will be appalled	he will become desolate
`H8074-41`	Jeremiah 49:20	יַשִּׁ֛ים	yashim	`HVhi3ms`	He will make desolate	He will devastate
`H8074-44`	Jeremiah 50:13	יִשֹּׁ֥ם	yishom	`HVqi3ms`	will be horrified	he will become desolate
`H8074-41`	Jeremiah 50:45	יַשִּׁ֛ים	yashim	`HVhi3ms`	He will make	He will devastate
`H8074-10`	Ezekiel 3:15	מַשְׁמִ֥ים	mashemim	`HVhrmsa`	stunned	desolating one
`H8074-38`	Ezekiel 4:17	וְ/נָשַׁ֨מּוּ֙	venashamu	`HC/VNq3cp`	and they will be appalled	and they became desolate
`H8074-38`	Ezekiel 6:4	וְ/נָשַׁ֨מּוּ֙	venashamu	`HC/VNq3cp`	and your altars will be desolated	and they became desolate
`H8074-31`	Ezekiel 14:8	וַ/הֲשִֽׂמֹתִ֨י/הוּ֙	vahasimotihu	`HC/Vhq1cs/Sp3ms`	and-I-will-make-him	and I devastated him
`H8074-01`	Ezekiel 20:26	אֲשִׁמֵּ֔/ם	ashimem	`HVhi1cs/Sp3mp`	I might devastate them	I will desolate them
`H8074-12`	Ezekiel 25:3	נָשַׁ֔מָּה	nashamah	`HVNp3fs`	it-was-desolated	she has become desolate
`H8074-39`	Ezekiel 26:16	וְ/שָׁמְמ֖וּ	veshamemu	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and they will be appalled	and they became desolate
`H8074-17`	Ezekiel 27:35	שָׁמְמ֖וּ	shamemu	`HVqp3cp`	are appalled	they were devastated
`H8074-17`	Ezekiel 28:19	שָׁמְמ֖וּ	shamemu	`HVqp3cp`	are appalled	they were devastated
`H8074-15`	Ezekiel 29:12	נְשַׁמּ֗וֹת	neshamot	`HVNrfpa`	desolated	desolated ones
`H8074-38`	Ezekiel 30:7	וְ/נָשַׁ֕מּוּ	venashamu	`HC/VNq3cp`	and they will be desolate	and they became desolate
`H8074-15`	Ezekiel 30:7	נְשַׁמּ֑וֹת	neshamot	`HVNrfpa`	desolated	desolated ones
`H8074-30`	Ezekiel 30:12	וַ/הֲשִׁמֹּתִ֞י	vahashimoti	`HC/Vhq1cs`	and I will make desolate	and I devastated
`H8074-30`	Ezekiel 30:14	וַ/הֲשִׁמֹּתִי֙	vahashimoti	`HC/Vhq1cs`	and I will make desolate	and I devastated
`H8074-30`	Ezekiel 32:10	וַ/הֲשִׁמּוֹתִ֨י	vahashimoti	`HC/Vhq1cs`	And I will make appalled	and I devastated
`H8074-28`	Ezekiel 32:15	וּ/נְשַׁמָּ֗ה	uneshamah	`HC/VNsfsa`	and waste	the desolated one
`H8074-39`	Ezekiel 33:28	וְ/שָֽׁמְמ֛וּ	veshamemu	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and-they-will-be-desolate	and they became desolate
`H8074-20`	Ezekiel 35:12	שממה	shmmh	`HVqp3fs`	desolate	she became desolate
`H8074-17`	Ezekiel 35:12	שָׁמֵ֑מוּ	shamemu	`HVqp3cp`	they are desolate	they were devastated
`H8074-16`	Ezekiel 35:15	שָׁמֵ֖מָה	shamemah	`HVqp3fs`	it was desolate	she became desolate
`H8074-18`	Ezekiel 36:3	שַׁמּוֹת֩	shamot	`HVqc`	desolations	to be desolate
`H8074-03`	Ezekiel 36:34	הַ/נְּשַׁמָּ֖ה	haneshamah	`HTd/VNsfsa`	the desolate	the desolation
`H8074-03`	Ezekiel 36:35	הַ/נְּשַׁמָּ֔ה	haneshamah	`HTd/VNsfsa`	that was desolate	the desolation
`H8074-36`	Ezekiel 36:35	וְ/הַֽ/נְשַׁמּ֥וֹת	vehaneshamot	`HC/Td/VNsfpa`	and the desolate	the desolated ones
`H8074-03`	Ezekiel 36:36	הַ/נְּשַׁמָּ֑ה	haneshamah	`HTd/VNsfsa`	the-desolate	the desolation
`H8074-30`	Hosea 2:14	וַ/הֲשִׁמֹּתִ֗י	vahashimoti	`HC/Vhq1cs`	and-I-will-devastate	and I devastated
`H8074-13`	Joel 1:17	נָשַׁ֨מּוּ֙	nashamu	`HVNp3cp`	are desolate	they became desolate
`H8074-38`	Amos 7:9	וְ/נָשַׁ֨מּוּ֙	venashamu	`HC/VNq3cp`	and will be desolate	and they became desolate
`H8074-15`	Amos 9:14	נְשַׁמּוֹת֙	neshamot	`HVNrfpa`	ruined	desolated ones
`H8074-06`	Micah 6:13	הַשְׁמֵ֖ם	hashemem	`HVha`	making desolate	causing desolation
`H8074-13`	Zephaniah 3:6	נָשַׁ֨מּוּ֙	nashamu	`HVNp3cp`	are desolate	they became desolate
`H8074-42`	Psalms 40:16	יָ֭שֹׁמּוּ	yashomu	`HVqi3mp`	let them be ashamed	they will become desolate
`H8074-14`	Psalms 69:26	נְשַׁמָּ֑ה	neshamah	`HVNrfsa`	desolate	vital breath
`H8074-08`	Psalms 79:7	הֵשַֽׁמּוּ	heshamu	`HVhp3cp`	they have laid waste	they caused desolation
`H8074-43`	Psalms 143:4	יִשְׁתּוֹמֵ֥ם	yishetomem	`HVri3ms`	is appalled	he will devastate himself
`H8074-07`	Job 16:7	הֲ֝שִׁמּ֗וֹתָ	hashimota	`HVhp2ms`	you have made desolate	you devastated
`H8074-42`	Job 17:8	יָשֹׁ֣מּוּ	yashomu	`HVqi3mp`	are appalled	they will become desolate
`H8074-13`	Job 18:20	נָשַׁ֣מּוּ	nashamu	`HVNp3cp`	are appalled	they became desolate
`H8074-37`	Job 21:5	וְ/הָשַׁ֑מּוּ	vehashamu	`HC/Vhv2mp`	and be appalled	and devastate
`H8074-24`	Lamentations 1:4	שֽׁוֹמֵמִ֔ין	shomemin	`HVqrmpa`	desolate	desolate ones
`H8074-23`	Lamentations 1:16	שֽׁוֹמֵמִ֔ים	shomemim	`HVqrmpa`	desolate	desolated ones
`H8074-13`	Lamentations 4:5	נָשַׁ֖מּוּ	nashamu	`HVNp3cp`	are desolate	they became desolate
`H8074-19`	Lamentations 5:18	שֶׁ/שָּׁמֵ֔ם	sheshamem	`HTr/Vqp3ms`	which is desolate	he became desolate
`H8074-27`	Ecclesiastes 7:16	תִּשּׁוֹמֵֽם	tishomem	`HVri2ms`		you will devastate yourself
`H8074-21`	Daniel 8:13	שֹׁמֵ֔ם	shomem	`HVqrmsa`	of desolation	desolated one
`H8074-29`	Daniel 8:27	וָ/אֶשְׁתּוֹמֵ֥ם	vaeshetomem	`HC/Vrw1cs`	and I was appalled	and I became appalled
`H8074-25`	Daniel 9:26	שֹׁמֵמֽוֹת	shomemot	`HVqrfpa`	desolations	desolate ones
`H8074-11`	Daniel 9:27	מְשֹׁמֵ֔ם	meshomem	`HVmrmsa`	the desolator	devastating one
`H8074-21`	Daniel 9:27	שֹׁמֵֽם	shomem	`HVqrmsa`	desolator	desolated one
`H8074-11`	Daniel 11:31	מְשׁוֹמֵֽם	meshomem	`HVmrmsa`	that maketh desolate	devastating one
`H8074-21`	Daniel 12:11	שֹׁמֵ֑ם	shomem	`HVqrmsa`	of desolation	desolated one
`H8074-11`	Ezra 9:3	מְשׁוֹמֵֽם	meshomem	`HVmsmsa`	appalled	devastating one
`H8074-11`	Ezra 9:4	מְשׁוֹמֵ֔ם	meshomem	`HVmsmsa`	appalled	devastating one
`H8074-44`	2 Chronicles 7:21	יִשֹּׁ֑ם	yishom	`HVqi3ms`	will be astonished	he will become desolate
`H8074-05`	2 Chronicles 36:21	הָשַּׁמָּ/ה֙	hashamah	`HVHc/Sp3fs`	of the desolation	her being made desolate

← H8073 Hebrew Lexicon H8075 →