English · KJV
H7582

שָׁאָה

shâʼâh /shaw-aw'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto rush; by implication, to desolate
KJV usagebe desolate, (make a) rush(-ing), (lay) waste.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shâʼâh — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word shâʼâh, represented by H7582, is a primitive root that captures both a dynamic action and its destructive result. Defined as to rush and by implication to desolate, it appears 6 times across 5 unique verses, typically describing powerful and overwhelming events.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H7582 is used to create a powerful image of the nations. They rush like the roaring of mighty waters, a depiction of immense worldly power and commotion Isaiah 17:12. This tumult, however, is subject to divine authority, as God's rebuke causes the nations to flee Isaiah 17:13. The word also carries the meaning of destruction as an instrument of divine will. In parallel accounts, God declares that He has brought it to pass for a king to lay waste defenced cities into ruinous heaps (2 Kings 19:25, Isaiah 37:26). This theme of judgment is starkly presented in God's answer to Isaiah, where the land will face judgment until cities are wasted and the land is utterly desolate Isaiah 6:11.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context and impact of H7582:

  • H7588 shâʼôwn (uproar, rushing): Derived from H7582, this word emphasizes the sound and chaos of the action. It is used alongside its root to describe the "rushing" of nations, amplifying the sense of a tumultuous uproar Isaiah 17:12.
  • H1219 bâtsar (fenced, fortify): This word describes the fortified and seemingly secure places that become the target of desolation. The action of H7582 is to lay waste these "defenced" cities, demonstrating that no human fortification can stand against ordained judgment Isaiah 37:26.
  • H5892 ʻîyr (city): This is a frequent object of the desolation brought by H7582. The prophecies of judgment often culminate in the wasting of cities, leaving them without an inhabitant (Isaiah 6:11, 2 Kings 19:25).

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7582 is significant and multifaceted.

  • The Tumult of Nations: The "rushing" of H7582 is a metaphor for the chaotic and intimidating power of earthly kingdoms, which are compared to the overwhelming force of a flood Isaiah 17:12. This imagery highlights the turmoil present in the world.
  • Divine Sovereignty over Destruction: The act of laying waste is not random. God explicitly states that He has brought it to pass that an aggressor would lay waste fenced cities 2 Kings 19:25. This frames destruction as an instrument within God's sovereign control over history.
  • Judgment as a Consequence: The desolation described by H7582 is presented as the outcome of a prolonged spiritual condition. The prophecy in Isaiah foretells that judgment will continue until cities are wasted and the land is desolate, signifying a thorough and complete divine response Isaiah 6:11.

Summary

In summary, H7582 shâʼâh conveys both a cause and an effect: the violent, overwhelming rush of a force and the subsequent desolation it leaves behind. It is used to illustrate the power of nations in commotion, but more significantly, it underscores the theme of God's absolute sovereignty, where even destructive events are part of His ordained plan to execute judgment. The word moves from a description of earthly chaos to a declaration of divine purpose.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 6 occurrences, inflected in 4 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • הַשְׁאוֹת
  • יִשָּׁאוּ
  • תִּשָּׁאֶה
  • שָׁאוּ

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H7588 שָׁאוֹן from שָׁאָה; uproar (as of rushing); by implication, destruction; [idiom] horrible, noise, pomp, rushing, tumult ([idiom H1219 בָּצַר a primitive root; to clip off; specifically (as denominative from בָּצִיר); to gather grapes; also to be isolated (i.e. H5892 עִיר or (in the plural) עָר; or עָיַר; (Judges 10:4), from עוּר; a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 5 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (4 verses); never once in the other 37.

1
2 Kings
4
Isaiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.