English · KJV
H7722

שׁוֹא

shôwʼ /sho/ Ask about this word
Rootor (feminine) שׁוֹאָה · or שֹׁאָה · from an unused root meaning to rush over
Meaninga tempest; by implication, devastation
KJV usagedesolate(-ion), destroy, destruction, storm, wasteness.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shôwʼ — 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 shôwʼ, represented by H7722, describes a tempest, devastation, and utter ruin. Derived from a root meaning to rush over, it conveys a sense of sudden and overwhelming catastrophe. It appears 13 times across 12 unique verses, often depicting destruction, desolation, or a storm.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical usage, H7722 describes both a state of being and a sudden event. It can refer to a physical place, such as the "desolate H7722 and waste" ground Job 38:27, or a condition of being solitary due to want and famine Job 30:3. More frequently, it signifies an unexpected calamity, as in the "desolation H7722 of the wicked" Proverbs 3:25 or the "desolation H7722" that comes suddenly and without warning Isaiah 47:11. It is also used metaphorically to describe an overwhelming force, such as an invading army that comes "like a storm H7722" Ezekiel 38:9.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the scope of this devastating term:

  • H4875 mᵉshôwʼâh (desolation, waste): Often paired directly with H7722, this word reinforces the idea of complete and utter ruin. Together they paint a picture of a "day of wasteness H7722 and desolation H4875" Zephaniah 1:15.
  • H5492 çûwphâh (storm, tempest, whirlwind): This term connects to the natural force implied by H7722. It is used to describe how destruction comes "as a whirlwind" when fear comes as "desolation" Proverbs 1:27.
  • H343 ʼêyd (calamity, destruction): This word appears alongside H7722 to describe the arrival of ruin and anguish. It is when "your destruction H343 cometh as a whirlwind" that distress follows Proverbs 1:27.
  • H7563 râshâʻ (wicked): This term identifies the recipient of the judgment. Scripture warns not to fear the "desolation H7722 of the wicked H7563" when it arrives Proverbs 3:25.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7722 is significant, highlighting themes of judgment and divine power.

  • Sudden Judgment: The term frequently illustrates the suddenness of divine retribution. Babylon is warned that "desolation H7722 shall come upon thee suddenly H6597" Isaiah 47:11, emphasizing that judgment can arrive without warning.
  • The Day of Visitation: H7722 is a key descriptor for the eschatological Day of the Lord. Zephaniah describes this as a "day of wasteness H7722 and desolation H4875," trouble, darkness, and wrath Zephaniah 1:15. It is a time of divine reckoning.
  • A Consequence of Wickedness: The desolation is not random but is often presented as the outcome of sin. The psalmist prays for destruction to fall upon his enemy, trusting that they will fall into the very "destruction H7722" they intended for others Psalms 35:8.

Summary

In summary, H7722 is a potent term for absolute ruin. It encompasses the destructive force of a storm, the emptiness of a desolate land, and the terror of a sudden catastrophe. Biblically, it serves as a powerful warning of the consequences that follow wickedness and a solemn depiction of the overwhelming power inherent in a divine "day of visitation."

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 noun across 12 occurrences, inflected in 3 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.

  • שׁוֹאָה
  • שֹּׁאֵי
  • שֹּׁאַת

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.

H4875 מְשׁוֹאָה or מְשֹׁאָה; from the same as שׁוֹא; (a) ruin, abstractly (the act) or concretely (the wreck); desolation, waste. H5492 סוּפָה from סוּף; a hurricane; Red Sea, storm, tempest, whirlwind, Red sea. H343 אֵיד from the same as אוּד (in the sense of bending down); oppression; by implication misfortune, ruin; calamity, destruction H7563 רָשָׁע from רָשַׁע; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person; [phrase] condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), tha H6597 פִּתְאוֹם or פִּתְאֹם; from פֶּתַע; instantly; straightway, sudden(-ly).

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 12 verses across 6 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Job and Psalms (3 verses each); never once in the other 33.

3
Job
3
Psalms
2
Proverbs
2
Isaiah
1
Ezekiel
1
Zephaniah

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.