שְׁמַד
𐤔𐤌𐤃
shᵉmad
H8046 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To destroy utterly, cause to perish, exterminate; frequently implies comprehensive or deliberate destruction, often in the context of eliminating populations, objects, or practices.
Semantic Range
to destroy utterly, to exterminate, to bring to ruin, to cause desolation, to annihilate, to cause to perish
Root / Etymology
From the root שׁמד, which carries the core sense of destroying or exterminating. This Aramaic verb functions as the counterpart to the Hebrew שָׁמַד (shamad), retaining a similar, though not identical, semantic range. Shᵉmad (שְׁמַד) is the causative (Pael/D-stem) of the root, denoting the act of causing desolation or destruction, as opposed to merely experiencing it.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the biblical Aramaic corpus (notably Daniel and Ezra), שְׁמַד primarily conveys acts of destruction often related to political or religious upheaval (e.g., threats against Daniel and his companions or against the Israelite community). While the Hebrew equivalent also means 'to destroy' or 'exterminate,' the Aramaic form appears predominantly in imperial or administrative contexts, reflecting imperial decrees or threats against groups. Later Aramaic usage maintains the sense of deliberate, sometimes total, annihilation. The term does not inherently include religious connotations such as 'devote to destruction (herem),' but can overlap in contexts of eradicating peoples or practices. English 'consume' or 'desolate' do not fully capture the comprehensive, active, and sometimes systematic aspect implied by שְׁמַד. In translation, the nuances between utter destruction and extermination may be lost, especially if rendered simply as 'destroy.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to שָׁמַד; {to desolate}; consume.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׁמד (sh-m-d) — to destroy, to exterminate, to cause to perish
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H8045 | שָׁמַד | I will annihilate |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8046-01 |
לְ/הַשְׁמָדָ֥ה | lehashemadah | AR/Vhc |
to consume | to exterminate | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8046-01 |
Daniel 7:26 | לְ/הַשְׁמָדָ֥ה | lehashemadah | AR/Vhc |
to consume | to exterminate |