שִׁמָּמוֹן
𐤔𐤌𐤌𐤅𐤍
shimmâmôwn
H8078 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
State or condition of devastation, desolation, or utter ruin; by extension, the sense of being appalled or shocked by a scene of destruction. The term primarily denotes an uninhabited, ruined, or desolate place, often with the connotation of being left in such a state as to evoke horror or astonishment in an onlooker.
Semantic Range
devastation, utter ruin, horrifying desolation, state provoking shock or stupefaction, appalled astonishment at destruction
Root / Etymology
Root: שׁמם (to be desolate, appalled). שִׁמָּמוֹן is a noun formation, likely indicating a state (patterned after abstract nouns in Hebrew), describing the result or effect of devastation or ruination deriving from the root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שִׁמָּמוֹן appears primarily in poetic or prophetic texts (notably in Isaiah and Ezekiel), typically to intensify the idea of overwhelming desolation left after judgment, war, or divine intervention. It denotes not only the material aspect of waste or ruin but also the psychological impact—evoking shock, horror, and appalled awe. The term is more intense than common words for 'waste' (e.g., חָרְבָּה), emphasizing the utter, shocking nature of what has transpired. Translations such as 'astonishment' in older English versions reflect the word's association with being appalled at the sight of devastation, but the primary focus is on the state of ruin itself. In post-exilic and later biblical Hebrew, similar terms appear with comparable semantic range, but שִׁמָּמוֹן is less common and carries a heightened poetic nuance. Equivalent expressions in English ('devastation,' 'appalling desolation') often do not entirely capture the terror or awe implied for ancient Israelite audiences.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׁמֵם; stupefaction; astonishment.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
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שׁמם (š-m-m) — be desolate, be devastated, be appalled, be astonished
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4923 | מְשַׁמָּה | to desolations |
| H8047 | שַׁמָּה | for utter desolation |
| H8049 | שַׁמְהוּת | Shamhuth |
| H8054 | שַׁמּוֹת | Shammoth |
| H8060 | שַׁמַּי | Shammay |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8078-01 |
בְּ/שִׁמָּמ֣וֹן | beshimamon | HR/Ncmsa |
in-dismay | in devastating desolation | 1 |
H8078-02 |
וּ/בְ/שִׁמָּמ֖וֹן | uveshimamon | HC/R/Ncmsa |
and in horror | and in devastating desolation | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8078-02 |
Ezekiel 4:16 | וּ/בְ/שִׁמָּמ֖וֹן | uveshimamon | HC/R/Ncmsa |
and in horror | and in devastating desolation |
H8078-01 |
Ezekiel 12:19 | בְּ/שִׁמָּמ֣וֹן | beshimamon | HR/Ncmsa |
in-dismay | in devastating desolation |