English · KJV
H8076

שָׁמֵם

shâmêm /shaw-mame'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom שָׁמֵם
Meaningruined
KJV usagedesolate.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shâmêm — 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 shâmêm, represented by H8076, describes a state of being ruined; desolate. Derived from the root H8074, this specific term is used infrequently, appearing only 2 times in 2 unique verses, yet it conveys a potent image of devastation.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H8076 is applied to significant entities that have been ruined. Jeremiah uses the term to describe the condition of the land, stating, "They have made it desolate" Jeremiah 12:11. In the book of Daniel, the word is used in a prayer of supplication concerning the holy sanctuary, which is described as being desolate Daniel 9:17. In both cases, the word marks a state of ruin that affects the nation of Israel's land and its place of worship.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a deeper context for the concept of desolation:

  • H8074 shâmêm: The primitive root from which H8076 is derived, it means to devastate, stupefy, or make desolate. It can also mean to be amazed or astonished, as seen when many were astonied at the marred visage of the Lord's servant Isaiah 52:14.
  • H8077 shᵉmâmâh: The feminine form, meaning devastation or astonishment. It is used alongside H8076 in Jeremiah, where the land, being desolate, mourns and is in a state of desolation Jeremiah 12:11.
  • H56 ʼâbal: Meaning to bewail, lament, or mourn. This word is directly connected to the consequence of desolation, as the desolate land mourneth Jeremiah 12:11.
  • H4720 miqdâsh: This word for a holy place or sanctuary is the subject of the desolation in Daniel's prayer Daniel 9:17. God commanded Israel to build a sanctuary so that He might dwell among them Exodus 25:8, making its desolation a profound loss.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H8076 is tied to the consequences of sin and the hope of restoration.

  • A Consequence of Negligence: The desolation of the land is explicitly linked to the people's spiritual apathy, "because no man layeth it to heart" Jeremiah 12:11. Likewise, the sanctuary was defiled by detestable things and abominations Ezekiel 5:11, leading to judgment.
  • Ruin of Sacred Spaces: The term is applied not only to the land H776 but also specifically to the sanctuary H4720. The desolation of the place where God chose to dwell highlights the severity of the nation's spiritual state.
  • A Catalyst for Prayer: The state of desolation is not an endpoint but a reason for supplication. Daniel's prayer is a direct response to seeing the sanctuary desolate, pleading for God to "cause thy face to shine" upon it once more Daniel 9:17.

Summary

In summary, H8076 is a precise term that signifies a state of being ruined and desolate. Though used only twice, its application to both the land of Israel and God's sanctuary gives it significant weight. It functions as an indicator of divine judgment for sin and neglect, and its presence in scripture serves as the basis for heartfelt mourning and prayers for divine restoration. It powerfully illustrates how physical ruin reflects a deeper spiritual crisis.

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 and an adjective across 7 occurrences, inflected in 6 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.

  • שֹׁמֵמָה
  • שֹּׁמְמוֹת
  • שֹׁמֵם
  • שְׁמָמָה
  • שְׁמֵמָה
  • שָּׁמֵם

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.

H8074 שָׁמֵם a primitive root; to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e. devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a pa H8077 שְׁמָמָה or שִׁמָמָה; feminine of שָׁמֵם; devastation; figuratively, astonishment; (laid, [idiom] most) desolate(-ion), waste. H56 אָבַל a primitive root; to bewail; lament, mourn. H4720 מִקְדָּשׁ or מִקְּדָשׁ; (Exodus 15:17), from קָדַשׁ; a consecrated thing or place, especially, a palace, sanctuary (whether of Jeh H776 אֶרֶץ from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, e

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 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Jeremiah and Daniel (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

1
Jeremiah
1
Daniel

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.