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שָׁאָה

𐤔𐤀𐤄

shâʼâh

H7582 verb

SILEX Entry

Root שׁאה to devastate, to be desolate, to lay waste, to cause horror

Definition

To devastate, lay waste, or be desolate; to be in a state of shock or horror due to destruction. The verb שָׁאָה primarily refers to the experience or creation of devastation, often involving sudden and overwhelming desolation. In certain contexts, it can also reflect the act of making a sudden noise associated with catastrophic destruction, or figuratively describe an intense feeling of horror resulting from such calamity.

Semantic Range

to be ruined or laid waste, to devastate, to experience horror at destruction, to rush violently (rare), to make a howling noise of devastation (poetic/figurative)

Root / Etymology

From the root שָׁא־, likely referring to 'ravaging,' 'laying waste,' or being in a state of 'desolation or horror.' The root carries the base meaning of violent disturbance or devastation, but the verb form used in the Hebrew Bible indicates both causative (to cause devastation) and stative (to be devastated) usages.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, שָׁאָה most frequently appears in poetic and prophetic texts to describe violent calamity, national ruin, or the aftermath of divine judgment (e.g., Isaiah 6:11; 24:12; Zephaniah 1:15). The term often conveys more than simply physical wasteland; it carries overtones of emotional devastation and horror experienced by those confronted with overwhelming ruin. The English translation 'desolate' or 'lay waste' approximates the sense, but may flatten the emotional and existential weight the Hebrew word carries. In distinction from other Hebrew verbs for 'destroy' (such as שָׁדַד, 'to plunder/deal violently'), שָׁאָה emphasizes the effect—ruination or horror—rather than the act of breaking or plundering. During the prophetic and exilic periods, the term is associated with impending devastation or the aftermath of divine punishment, and is used to evoke terror and awe at the scale of ruin. Later Biblical Hebrew maintains these connotations, though the term is rare outside poetic or high literary usage. Where English translations (e.g., 'rush,' 'waste') reflect KJV traditions, they may miss the full sense of devastation and horror inherent in the Hebrew.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to rush; by implication, to desolate; be desolate, (make a) rush(-ing), (lay) waste.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שאה (š-ʾ-h) — devastation, desolation, causing horror, violent ruin

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4876 מַשּׁוּאָה to ruined sites
H7583 שָׁאָה the one appalling himself
H7584 שַׁאֲוָה like a crashing storm
H7588 שָׁאוֹן like roaring tumult
H7591 שְׁאִיָּה and devastation

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7582-05 יִשָּׁאֽוּ/ן yishaun HVNi3mp/Sn they roar they will be devastated 2
H7582-01 לַ/הְשׁ֛וֹת laheshot HR/Vhc to lay waste to cause desolation 1
H7582-02 לְ/הַשְׁא֛וֹת lehasheot HR/Vhc to lay waste to devastate 1
H7582-04 תִּשָּׁאֶ֥ה tishaeh HVNi3fs is desolate she will be devastated 1
H7582-03 שָׁא֨וּ shau HVqp3cp are wasted they were devastated 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7582-01 2 Kings 19:25 לַ/הְשׁ֛וֹת laheshot HR/Vhc to lay waste to cause desolation
H7582-03 Isaiah 6:11 שָׁא֨וּ shau HVqp3cp are wasted they were devastated
H7582-04 Isaiah 6:11 תִּשָּׁאֶ֥ה tishaeh HVNi3fs is desolate she will be devastated
H7582-05 Isaiah 17:12 יִשָּׁאֽוּ/ן yishaun HVNi3mp/Sn they rush they will be devastated
H7582-05 Isaiah 17:13 יִשָּׁא֔וּ/ן yishaun HVNi3mp/Sn they roar they will be devastated
H7582-02 Isaiah 37:26 לְ/הַשְׁא֛וֹת lehasheot HR/Vhc to lay waste to devastate
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