Word Study for H8075 (שְׁמַם)

shᵉmam /shem-am'/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) corresponding to שָׁמֵם

Meaning(to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e. devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a passive sense))

KJV usagebe astonied.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shᵉmam — 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 Aramaic word shᵉmam, represented by H8075, corresponds to a term meaning to be stunned, grow numb, or be devastated. It appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible. The word's base definition is to be {astonied}, describing a state of being stupefied, often in a passive sense.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The single biblical use of H8075 occurs in a moment of great tension. After hearing King Nebuchadnezzar's troubling dream, the prophet Daniel is so affected by its meaning that he "was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him" Daniel 4:19. Daniel's stunned silence underscores the severity of the coming judgment he must reveal to the king, showing a profound and immobilizing reaction to divine revelation.

Related Words & Concepts

Two closely related Aramaic words in the immediate context help clarify the meaning of H8075:

H7476 raʻyôwn (thought): This word refers to a mental conception or cogitation. In Daniel 4:19, it is Daniel's "thoughts" that trouble him, directly causing the state of being "astonied" H8075. The term frequently describes troubling thoughts arising from divine encounters Daniel 7:28.
H927 bᵉhal (trouble): Defined as to terrify or trouble, this word describes the effect of Daniel's thoughts. The verse states his thoughts "troubled" H927 him, linking the internal concept with the external state of being stunned. It is also used to describe the king being troubled by visions Daniel 5:6.

Theological Significance

The narrative weight of H8075 is significant despite its rarity.

The Impact of Divine Truth: The word powerfully illustrates the overwhelming effect that divine truth can have on a person. Daniel, a man of God, is not merely concerned; he is stupefied and rendered speechless by the gravity of the message he must deliver.
A Prophet's Distress: Daniel's reaction in Daniel 4:19 is a key character moment. His being "astonied" for a full hour shows his deep distress and perhaps empathy for the king who is about to receive a terrible prophecy.
Stunned Silence: The term highlights a response that goes beyond simple fear or surprise. It depicts a state of being mentally and emotionally paralyzed, a temporary numbness that precedes the difficult task of speaking a hard truth.

Summary

In summary, H8075 is a precise and impactful word. Though used only once, it provides a vivid portrait of a man overwhelmed by the weight of prophetic knowledge. Its appearance in Daniel 4:19, alongside words for "thoughts" and "trouble," captures a moment of profound psychological turmoil, demonstrating how a divine message can stun a person into a state of silent astonishment before it can be spoken.

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 1 occurrence, inflected in 1 grammatical form — 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.

אֶשְׁתּוֹמַם

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

1 verse, all in Daniel — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

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.