יָשַׁם
𐤉𐤔𐤌
yâsham
H3456 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To become desolate, to be laid waste, to undergo ruin or devastation. This verb primarily describes a condition or process in which a location, structure, or settlement loses its vitality and is rendered uninhabitable, often as a result of judgment, disaster, or abandonment. The semantic range also encompasses the notion of being deserted, ruined, or made unfit for habitation.
Semantic Range
to be desolate, to become waste, to lie in ruins, to be laid waste, to become uninhabited, suffer devastation, be deserted
Root / Etymology
The root יָשַׁם (y-š-m) is primarily associated with desolation or ruination. The verb form denotes a state of being or becoming desolate. The actual lexical meaning centers on conditions of devastation, ruin, or abandonment rather than constructing or actively destroying. While several forms derived from this root (such as nouns for 'waste,' 'ruin,' or participles indicating 'desolate place') develop from this core sense, the verb points to a process or resulting state rather than the action of devastation itself.
Historical & Contextual Notes
יָשַׁם occurs primarily in poetic and prophetic texts, often describing cities, sanctuaries, or lands after calamity or divine judgment (e.g., Lev 26:22, Ezek 6:6). The term frequently signals a reversal of prosperity, emphasizing the complete uninhabitability or symbolic abandonment of a site. In contrast, related Hebrew roots, such as שמם (sh-m-m), also mean to be desolate but sometimes focus on the horror or astonishment evoked by ruin (cf. Ezek 33:28-29). English translations typically render יָשַׁם as 'be desolate,' 'become waste,' or 'lie in ruins,' but may obscure nuances about the process versus the result. The term is rarely used for cultivated land reverting to nature, and more often for settlements, temples, or cities impacted by human or divine actions. In post-exilic literature, the connotation of divine judgment for covenantal breach often becomes more pronounced but the underlying sense of uninhabitability persists. Notably, 'desolate' in English Bibles captures the core sense, but may fail to convey the biblical distinction between shockingly ruined places (שמם) and those simply rendered uninhabitable (ישם).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to lie waste; be desolate.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ישם (y-š-m) — desolation, ruin, becoming waste, becoming uninhabited
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3456-01 |
תֵשָֽׁם | tesham | HVqi3fs |
be desolate | she will become desolate | be desolate | 2 |
H3456-02 |
תִּישָׁ֑מְנָה | tishamenah | HVqi3fp |
will be desolate | they will become desolate | they will become desolate | 1 |
H3456-03 |
וַ/תֵּ֤שַׁם | vatesham | HC/Vqw3fs |
and it was desolate | and she became desolate | and it became desolate | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3456-01 |
Genesis 47:19 | תֵשָֽׁם | tesham | HVqi3fs |
be desolate | she will become desolate | be desolate |
H3456-02 |
Ezekiel 6:6 | תִּישָׁ֑מְנָה | tishamenah | HVqi3fp |
will be desolate | they will become desolate | they will become desolate |
H3456-01 |
Ezekiel 12:19 | תֵּשַׁ֤ם | tesham | HVqi3fs |
it-may-be-desolated | she will become desolate | it will become desolate |
H3456-03 |
Ezekiel 19:7 | וַ/תֵּ֤שַׁם | vatesham | HC/Vqw3fs |
and it was desolate | and she became desolate | and it became desolate |