### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **yâsham**, represented by `{{H3456}}`, is a primitive root that means **to lie waste; be desolate**. It appears **4 times** across **4 unique verses** in the Bible. The term consistently denotes a state of ruin, emptiness, and abandonment, typically describing the condition of land or significant places as a result of judgment, catastrophe, or violence.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical occurrences, `{{H3456}}` is used to illustrate severe consequences. During the famine in Egypt, the people plead with Joseph for seed so "that the land be not **desolate**" [[Genesis 47:19]]. The prophet Ezekiel employs the word to convey divine judgment against Israel. He prophesies that the high places of idolatry will become **desolate** [[Ezekiel 6:6]] and that the land itself will be made **desolate** due to the violence of its people [[Ezekiel 12:19]]. It is also used to describe the destructive impact of a wicked ruler, where "the land was **desolate**" because of his actions [[Ezekiel 19:7]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words appear alongside `{{H3456}}`, creating a powerful picture of total destruction:
* `{{H2717}}` **chârab** (to desolate, destroy, lay waste): This word is used in direct parallel with `yâsham`. In Ezekiel's prophecy, cities are to be "laid **waste**" `{{H2717}}` and high places "shall be **desolate**" `{{H3456}}`, reinforcing the theme of comprehensive ruin [[Ezekiel 6:6]].
* `{{H816}}` **ʼâsham** (to be guilty, be desolate, destroy): This term connects the physical state of desolation with the underlying cause of guilt. As part of God's judgment, altars are not only laid waste but also "made **desolate**" `{{H816}}`, emphasizing that the destruction is a penalty for offense [[Ezekiel 6:6]].
* `{{H7665}}` **shâbar** (to break, crush, destroy): Used in the same prophecy of judgment, this word describes the physical destruction of idols, which "may be **broken**" `{{H7665}}` and cease as part of the desolation of the land [[Ezekiel 6:6]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H3456}}` is centered on the consequences of sin and the sovereignty of God over the land.
* **Judgment on Idolatry:** The term is a key descriptor in God's judgment against false worship. The desolation of high places and altars serves as a tangible sign of divine displeasure with Israel's unfaithfulness [[Ezekiel 6:6]].
* **Land and Covenant:** The state of the land is directly tied to the covenant faithfulness of its people. The threat of the land becoming **desolate** highlights the severe outcome of breaking covenant, whether through violence [[Ezekiel 12:19]] or turning from God.
* **Physical Consequence of Sin:** The use of `yâsham` demonstrates that spiritual and moral corruption has a direct, physical impact on the environment. The violence and sin of the people result in a land that is laid waste and empty.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H3456}}` is a potent term for desolation that extends beyond mere physical ruin. While it appears only four times, it powerfully communicates the state of barrenness and abandonment that results from famine, human violence, and, most significantly, divine judgment against sin. It illustrates the biblical principle that the spiritual health of a people is inseparable from the well-being of the land they inhabit.
TRV