What does שַׁמָּה (shammah) mean in the Bible?
שַׁמָּה (shammah): Desolation as both physical ruin and the psychological terror it inspires in observers
Hebrew · H8047
שַׁמָּה
Ruin ; by implication, consternation
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שַׁמָּהH8047
Pronunciationshammah
What does שַׁמָּה (shammah) mean in the Bible?
שַׁמָּה (shammah): Desolation as both physical ruin and the psychological terror it inspires in observers
Full entry for שַׁמָּה (H8047) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H8047?
The BSB source-word alignment has 39 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include a desolation (11), an object of horror (6), a horror (3), laid waste (3), waste (3).
Where does שַׁמָּה (shammah) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Deuteronomy 28:37. Its strongest book concentrations include Jeremiah (24), Isaiah (3), 2 Chronicles (2), Psalms (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Ita desolation11×2 Kings 22:19, Isaiah 13:9, Jeremiah 18:16, Jeremiah 19:8
an object of horror6×Deuteronomy 28:37, 2 Chronicles 30:7, Jeremiah 25:9, Jeremiah 25:18
a horror3×Jeremiah 44:22, Jeremiah 50:23, Jeremiah 51:41
laid waste3×Psalms 73:19, Jeremiah 46:19, Hosea 5:9
waste3×Jeremiah 2:15, Jeremiah 4:7, Joel 1:7
desolate2×Isaiah 5:9, Jeremiah 48:9
horror2×2 Chronicles 29:8, Jeremiah 8:21
[and] horror1×Jeremiah 44:12
A horrible1×Jeremiah 5:30
a ruin1×Zephaniah 2:15
and horror1×Jeremiah 42:18
devastation1×Psalms 46:8
in ruins1×Isaiah 24:12
into a desolation1×Zechariah 7:14
of devastation1×Ezekiel 23:33
wasteland1×Jeremiah 25:11
Show sample aligned rows
Deuteronomy 28:37לְשַׁמָּ֔הtoan object of horrorPreposition-l | Noun - feminine singular2 Kings 22:19לְשַׁמָּה֙toa desolationPreposition-l | Noun - feminine singular2 Chronicles 29:8לְשַׁמָּ֣הtohorrorPreposition-l | Noun - feminine singular2 Chronicles 30:7לְשַׁמָּ֔הtoan object of horrorPreposition-l | Noun - feminine singularPsalms 46:8שַׁמּ֣וֹתtodevastationNoun - feminine pluralPsalms 73:19לְשַׁמָּ֣הtolaid wastePreposition-l | Noun - feminine singularIsaiah 5:9לְשַׁמָּ֣הtodesolatePreposition-l | Noun - feminine singularIsaiah 13:9לְשַׁמָּ֔הtoa desolationPreposition-l | Noun - feminine singularIsaiah 24:12שַׁמָּ֑הtoin ruinsNoun - feminine singularJeremiah 2:15לְשַׁמָּ֔הtowastePreposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowDeuteronomy 28:37
Aligned rows39
Books represented12
Deuteronomy12 Kings12 Chronicles2Psalms2Isaiah3Jeremiah24Ezekiel1Hosea1Joel1Micah1Zephaniah1Zechariah1
Source forms
לְשַׁמָּ֔ה10xlə·šam·māhDeuteronomy 28:37, 2 Chronicles 30:7, Isaiah 13:9, Jeremiah 2:15
לְשַׁמָּ֣ה7xlə·šam·māh2 Chronicles 29:8, Psalms 73:19, Isaiah 5:9, Jeremiah 25:9
לְשַׁמָּ֖ה3xlə·šam·māhJeremiah 18:16, Jeremiah 19:8, Jeremiah 51:29
לְשַׁמָּ֛ה3xlə·šam·māhJeremiah 25:18, Jeremiah 50:23, Jeremiah 51:41
וּלְשַׁמָּה֙2xū·lə·šam·māhJeremiah 29:18, Jeremiah 42:18
לְשַׁמָּ֑ה2xlə·šam·māhJeremiah 25:11, Jeremiah 49:17
לְשַׁמָּ֗ה2xlə·šam·māhMicah 6:16, Zephaniah 2:15
וּלְשַׁמָּ֧ה1xū·lə·šam·māhJeremiah 44:22
Parsing patterns
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular30xDeuteronomy 28:37, 2 Kings 22:19, 2 Chronicles 29:8, 2 Chronicles 30:7
Noun - feminine singular5xIsaiah 24:12, Jeremiah 5:30, Jeremiah 8:21, Jeremiah 51:37
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular3xJeremiah 29:18, Jeremiah 42:18, Jeremiah 44:22
Noun - feminine plural1xPsalms 46:8
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Desolation as both physical ruin and the psychological terror it inspires in observers
Strong'sH8047
Lexical occurrences40 versesWord forms1 form7 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkHosea 5:8-15Source Gloss
ruin ; by implication, consternation
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Desolation as both physical ruin and the psychological terror it inspires in observers
ruin; by implication, consternation BDB: waste Usage: astonishment, desolate(-ion), waste, wonderful thing.
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 groups1Aligned forms7
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action1×
PerfectZech 7:141×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
waste, devastation
Ruination or devastation resulting in astonishment.
Ruined or laid waste.
Showing 3 selected witnesses from 40 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
שַׁמָּה is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
It underscores the visible and humiliating consequences of covenant infidelity.Hosea 5:8-15
It underscores that restoration does not erase the moral seriousness of sin.Micah 6:9-16
Outcome of covenant breach.Micah 7:11-13
Canonical Themes
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.