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
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
שַׁמָּה H8047
Pronunciation shammah
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 It a desolation 11× 2 Kings 22:19, Isaiah 13:9, Jeremiah 18:16, Jeremiah 19:8
an object of horror 6× Deuteronomy 28:37, 2 Chronicles 30:7, Jeremiah 25:9, Jeremiah 25:18
a horror 3× Jeremiah 44:22, Jeremiah 50:23, Jeremiah 51:41
laid waste 3× Psalms 73:19, Jeremiah 46:19, Hosea 5:9
waste 3× Jeremiah 2:15, Jeremiah 4:7, Joel 1:7
desolate 2× Isaiah 5:9, Jeremiah 48:9
horror 2× 2 Chronicles 29:8, Jeremiah 8:21
[and] horror 1× Jeremiah 44:12
A horrible 1× Jeremiah 5:30
a ruin 1× Zephaniah 2:15
and horror 1× Jeremiah 42:18
devastation 1× Psalms 46:8
in ruins 1× Isaiah 24:12
into a desolation 1× Zechariah 7:14
of devastation 1× Ezekiel 23:33
wasteland 1× Jeremiah 25:11
Show sample aligned rows
Deuteronomy 28:37 לְשַׁמָּ֔ה to an object of horror Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular 2 Kings 22:19 לְשַׁמָּה֙ to a desolation Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular 2 Chronicles 29:8 לְשַׁמָּ֣ה to horror Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular 2 Chronicles 30:7 לְשַׁמָּ֔ה to an object of horror Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular Psalms 46:8 שַׁמּ֣וֹת to devastation Noun - feminine plural Psalms 73:19 לְשַׁמָּ֣ה to laid waste Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular Isaiah 5:9 לְשַׁמָּ֣ה to desolate Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular Isaiah 13:9 לְשַׁמָּ֔ה to a desolation Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular Isaiah 24:12 שַׁמָּ֑ה to in ruins Noun - feminine singular Jeremiah 2:15 לְשַׁמָּ֔ה to waste Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Deuteronomy 28:37
Aligned rows 39
Books represented 12
Deuteronomy 1 2 Kings 1 2 Chronicles 2 Psalms 2 Isaiah 3 Jeremiah 24 Ezekiel 1 Hosea 1 Joel 1 Micah 1 Zephaniah 1 Zechariah 1
Source forms
לְשַׁמָּ֔ה 10x lə·šam·māh Deuteronomy 28:37, 2 Chronicles 30:7, Isaiah 13:9, Jeremiah 2:15
לְשַׁמָּ֣ה 7x lə·šam·māh 2 Chronicles 29:8, Psalms 73:19, Isaiah 5:9, Jeremiah 25:9
לְשַׁמָּ֖ה 3x lə·šam·māh Jeremiah 18:16, Jeremiah 19:8, Jeremiah 51:29
לְשַׁמָּ֛ה 3x lə·šam·māh Jeremiah 25:18, Jeremiah 50:23, Jeremiah 51:41
וּלְשַׁמָּה֙ 2x ū·lə·šam·māh Jeremiah 29:18, Jeremiah 42:18
לְשַׁמָּ֑ה 2x lə·šam·māh Jeremiah 25:11, Jeremiah 49:17
לְשַׁמָּ֗ה 2x lə·šam·māh Micah 6:16, Zephaniah 2:15
וּלְשַׁמָּ֧ה 1x ū·lə·šam·māh Jeremiah 44:22
Parsing patterns
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular 30x Deuteronomy 28:37, 2 Kings 22:19, 2 Chronicles 29:8, 2 Chronicles 30:7
Noun - feminine singular 5x Isaiah 24:12, Jeremiah 5:30, Jeremiah 8:21, Jeremiah 51:37
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular 3x Jeremiah 29:18, Jeremiah 42:18, Jeremiah 44:22
Noun - feminine plural 1x Psalms 46:8
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Desolation as both physical ruin and the psychological terror it inspires in observers
Strong's H8047
Lexical occurrences 40 verses Word forms 1 form 7 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Hosea 5:8-15 Source Gloss
ruin ; by implication, consternation
Extended definition Source: 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 groups 1 Aligned forms 7
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 1×
Perfect Zech 7:14 1×
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.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain