What does שָׁמַד (shāmad) mean in the Bible?
H8045 means to destroy, wipe out, overthrow, or bring to nothing. 6, Haman seeks to destroy all the Jewish people throughout the empire rather than act against Mordecai alone.
Hebrew · H8045
שָׁמַד
To desolate
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שָׁמַדH8045
Pronunciationshāmad
What does שָׁמַד (shāmad) mean in the Bible?
H8045 means to destroy, wipe out, overthrow, or bring to nothing. 6, Haman seeks to destroy all the Jewish people throughout the empire rather than act against Mordecai alone.
Reader summary
Full entry for שָׁמַד (H8045) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H8045?
The BSB source-word alignment has 90 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include to destroy (6), will be destroyed (6), you are destroyed (5), be destroyed (3), destroyed (3).
Where does שָׁמַד (shāmad) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 34:30. Its strongest book concentrations include Deuteronomy (29), Isaiah (6), Joshua (6), Psalms (6).
What This Word Actually Means
H8045 means to destroy, wipe out, overthrow, or bring to nothing. In Esth. 3. 6, Haman seeks to destroy all the Jewish people throughout the empire rather than act against Mordecai alone. In 1Sam. 24. 21, Saul asks David not to wipe out his descendants or erase his family name. In Hag. 2. 22, God promises to overturn royal thrones and destroy the power of the kingdoms.
H8045 opens teaching on genocidal intent, dynastic violence, the fragility of oppressive power, covenant judgment, and protection of threatened communities. It does not authorize modern ethnic violence, make human rulers agents of final judgment, or permit threats against a leader's family.
How the Bible Uses It
H8045 describes peoples, households, rulers, armies, idols, high places, names, and wicked futures destroyed or brought to ruin. Narratives can report feared, attempted, commanded, or completed destruction without making every human action exemplary.
- Esth.3.6
And when he learned the identity of Mordecai’s people, he scorned the notion of laying hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he sought to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the kingdom of Xerxes.
Haman expands personal hatred into an imperial plan to destroy Mordecai's entire people.
- 1Sam.24.21
So now, swear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s house.”
Saul asks David to swear that his descendants and family name will not be wiped out after his death.
- Hag.2.22
I will overturn royal thrones and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overturn chariots and their riders; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.
God promises to overturn thrones and destroy kingdom power as part of His rule over the nations.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itto destroy6×Deuteronomy 9:8, Esther 3:6, Esther 8:11, Isaiah 10:7
will be destroyed6×Genesis 34:30, Proverbs 14:11, Jeremiah 48:8, Jeremiah 48:42
you are destroyed5×Deuteronomy 28:20, Deuteronomy 28:24, Deuteronomy 28:45, Deuteronomy 28:51
be destroyed3×2 Samuel 14:11, Psalms 37:38, Isaiah 23:11
destroyed3×Deuteronomy 4:3, 1 Kings 16:12, Psalms 92:7
had destroyed3×2 Kings 21:9, 1 Chronicles 5:25, 2 Chronicles 33:9
. . .2×Deuteronomy 4:26, Amos 9:8
and destroy2×Deuteronomy 28:63, Haggai 2:22
and destroyed them2×2 Samuel 22:38, Isaiah 26:14
He destroyed2×Deuteronomy 2:22, Deuteronomy 31:4
He has destroyed2×Deuteronomy 28:48, Joshua 23:15
I will destroy2×Leviticus 26:30, Ezekiel 34:16
to destruction2×2 Chronicles 20:23, Esther 7:4
[who would] cut off1×2 Samuel 14:16
and demolish1×Micah 5:14
and destroy him1×Ezekiel 14:9
and destruction1×1 Kings 13:34
and exterminate them1×Lamentations 3:66
and He will wipe you1×Deuteronomy 6:15
and I will destroy1×Amos 9:8
and to destroy1×Isaiah 13:9
and wipe out1×Joshua 9:24
being annihilated1×Joshua 11:20
but destroyed them all1×1 Kings 15:29
demolish1×Numbers 33:52
destroy1×Psalms 106:34
Destroy [him]1×Deuteronomy 33:27
destroy them1×2 Chronicles 20:10
destroy you1×Deuteronomy 7:4
destroyed them1×Deuteronomy 2:21
enough to destroy you1×Deuteronomy 9:19
eradicated1×2 Kings 10:28
for the destruction [of the Jews]1×Esther 4:8
have been destroyed1×Judges 21:16
he had destroyed them1×2 Kings 10:17
He will destroy1×Psalms 145:20
He will destroy them1×Deuteronomy 9:3
He would destroy1×Deuteronomy 9:25
He would destroy them1×Psalms 106:23
I will destroy you1×Ezekiel 25:7
of destruction1×Isaiah 14:23
or eliminated1×Isaiah 48:19
or wipe out1×1 Samuel 24:21
so that I may destroy them1×Deuteronomy 9:14
Then we will cut off1×2 Samuel 14:7
they are destroyed1×Deuteronomy 7:23
They destroyed [the Horites]1×Deuteronomy 2:12
they had completely destroyed them1×Joshua 11:14
they have been destroyed1×Deuteronomy 12:30
to be annihilated1×Deuteronomy 1:27
to destroy him1×Deuteronomy 9:20
to exterminate us1×2 Samuel 21:5
utterly destroy1×Amos 9:8
were destroyed by1×Deuteronomy 2:23
when I destroyed them1×Joshua 24:8
who destroyed1×Amos 2:9
who perished1×Psalms 83:10
will be utterly destroyed1×Deuteronomy 4:26
will destroy1×Deuteronomy 31:3
with the order to destroy1×Esther 3:13
Yet I destroyed1×Amos 2:9
you remove1×Joshua 7:12
you will annihilate them1×Deuteronomy 7:24
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 34:30וְנִשְׁמַדְתִּ֖יtowill be destroyedConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularLeviticus 26:30וְהִשְׁמַדְתִּ֞יtoI will destroyConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularNumbers 33:52תַּשְׁמִֽידוּ׃todemolishVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralDeuteronomy 1:27לְהַשְׁמִידֵֽנוּ׃toto be annihilatedPreposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | first person common pluralDeuteronomy 2:12וַיַּשְׁמִידוּם֙toThey destroyed [the Horites]Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine pluralDeuteronomy 2:21וַיַּשְׁמִידֵ֤םtodestroyed themConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine pluralDeuteronomy 2:22הִשְׁמִ֤ידtoHe destroyedVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 2:23הִשְׁמִידֻ֖םtowere destroyed byVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural | third person masculine pluralDeuteronomy 4:3הִשְׁמִיד֛וֹtodestroyedVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 4:26הִשָּׁמֵ֖דtowill be utterly destroyedVerb - Nifal - Infinitive absolute
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 34:30
Aligned rows90
Books represented25
Genesis1Leviticus1Numbers1Deuteronomy29Joshua6Judges11 Samuel12 Samuel51 Kings32 Kings31 Chronicles12 Chronicles3Esther5Psalms6Proverbs1Isaiah6Jeremiah2Lamentations1Ezekiel4Daniel1Hosea1Amos5Micah1Haggai1Zechariah1
Source forms
לְהַשְׁמִ֥יד3xlə·haš·mîḏDeuteronomy 9:8, Deuteronomy 9:25, Daniel 11:44
הִשָּׁמְדָֽךְ׃2xhiš·šā·mə·ḏāḵDeuteronomy 28:24, Deuteronomy 28:61
הִשְׁמִ֣יד2xhiš·mîḏ2 Kings 21:9, 2 Chronicles 33:9
לְהַשְׁמִ֣יד2xlə·haš·mîḏDeuteronomy 9:19, Isaiah 10:7
אַשְׁמִ֖יד1x’aš·mîḏEzekiel 34:16
אַשְׁמִ֛יד1x’aš·mîḏAmos 9:8
אַשְׁמִ֣ידְךָ֔1x’aš·mî·ḏə·ḵāEzekiel 25:7
הִשָּׁמֵ֖ד1xhiš·šā·mêḏDeuteronomy 4:26
Parsing patterns
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct12xDeuteronomy 9:8, Deuteronomy 9:19, Deuteronomy 9:25, 2 Samuel 14:16
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular5xDeuteronomy 2:22, Deuteronomy 31:4, 2 Kings 21:9, 1 Chronicles 5:25
Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular5xDeuteronomy 28:20, Deuteronomy 28:24, Deuteronomy 28:45, Deuteronomy 28:51
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular4xLeviticus 26:30, Amos 9:8, Micah 5:14, Haggai 2:22
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct4xDeuteronomy 28:63, Joshua 9:24, 1 Kings 13:34, 2 Chronicles 20:23
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular3xJeremiah 48:8, Jeremiah 48:42, Ezekiel 32:12
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular3xDeuteronomy 31:3, Psalms 145:20, Isaiah 13:9
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular3xDeuteronomy 4:3, 1 Kings 15:29, 2 Kings 10:17
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Do not apply destruction texts to ethnic, religious, political, or sexual minorities as targets for present harm.
- Do not threaten a wrongdoer's relatives, descendants, livelihood, or name as a form of biblical justice.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that H8045 makes genocide, collective punishment, or forced disappearance permissible for Christians.
- Do not claim that every fallen government or institution is a directly identified fulfillment of a destruction oracle.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Complete annihilation or extermination; often divine judgment producing total destruction and obliteration
Strong'sH8045
Lexical occurrences90 versesWord forms2 forms26 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkIsaiah 14:16-23Source Gloss
to desolate
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Complete annihilation or extermination; often divine judgment producing total destruction and obliteration
to desolate BDB: be exterminated Usage: destory(-uction), bring to nought, overthrow, perish, pluck down, × utterly.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms26
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action19×
ImperfectDeut 31:3 · Isa 13:9 · Ps 145:20 · Amos 9:8 · Ezek 34:16 · Josh 7:12 · Num 33:52 · 1Sam 24:22 · 2Sam 14:119×
Perfect1Chr 5:25 · 2Chr 33:9 · 2Kgs 21:9 · Deut 2:22 · Deut 31:4 · Amos 2:9 · Ps 106:347×
Infinitive absoluteAmos 9:8 · Isa 14:232×
Sequential imperfectDeut 33:271×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action7×
PerfectPs 37:38 · Ps 83:11 · 2Sam 21:5 · Judg 21:164×
ImperfectIsa 48:19 · Prov 14:112×
Infinitive absoluteDeut 4:261×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
To annihilate or destroy completely.
Showing 1 selected witness from 90 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
שָׁמַד is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
The term reinforces the thorough and decisive nature of divine judgment.Isaiah 14:16-23
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
H8045 names destruction with enough force to expose how violence expands. Haman's wounded pride becomes a plan against an entire people, using imperial administration to convert prejudice into law. Esther therefore shows why targeted rhetoric, records, access to rulers, and collective courage matter before violence reaches execution. Saul's request to David reflects another ancient danger: kings often secured succession by erasing a rival's descendants and name.
David's oath places a boundary around that cycle. Prophets use the same verb for God's overthrow of arrogant powers and idolatrous systems, but divine judgment is not a blank authorization for human extermination. Faithful application resists dehumanization early, protects threatened groups and families, preserves evidence, and refuses collective punishment.
It trusts that oppressive kingdoms do not possess final power while leaving vengeance and final judgment to God.
Anchor passage
Esth.3.6
Doctrinal connections
- H8045: personal hatred can become genocidal policy when joined to unchecked political power.
- H8045: preserving a family name and descendants interrupts the customary logic of dynastic revenge.
- H8045: idolatrous and oppressive powers remain subject to God's judgment.
- H8045: reports of destruction disclose human suffering and are not invitations to triumphal enjoyment.
- H8045: God's people may use truthful advocacy, solidarity, fasting, and lawful action to resist annihilation.
- H8045: divine authority over judgment cannot be transferred to ethnic, national, or ecclesial enemies.
H8045 is a Hebrew verb expressing destruction or extermination and can occur actively or passively. Objects range from people and dynasties to political power and cultic structures, so scope and agency must be traced.
From Old to New Testament
The New Testament announces God's judgment of beastly powers while commanding enemy love, rejecting vengeance, and gathering a people from every nation under the slain Lamb. Jesus also rejects retaliation and forms a people whose witness does not imitate the destroyer.