שָׁמֵם

From the study of Isaiah 52:14

Range of meaning

(1) Of places: to be desolate, laid waste, deserted (Isa 49:8, 19; 54:1, 3; Lam 1:4). (2) Of people: to be appalled or horrified, stunned speechless by a disaster (Lev 26:32; 1 Kgs 9:8; Jer 18:16; Ezek 27:35; Job 17:8). (3) In other stems: to devastate, or to sit stunned (Ezra 9:3–4, where Ezra 'sat appalled'). The core picture is ruin, and the frozen horror ruin causes in those who see it (BDB, HALOT s.v. שׁמם).

Against the English

KJV 'astonied' and WEB/ESV/NASB 'astonished' were strong words in 1611, close to 'stunned, struck senseless.' Today 'astonished' usually means amazed or impressed. NLT 'amazed' goes the same way. BSB/NIV 'appalled' is closest to the Hebrew.

How it drifted

English 'astonish' (from Old French estoner, 'to stun, as by a blow') has softened over the centuries. It now covers surprise and wonder more than horror.

Used elsewhere in the period

1 Kgs 9:8 and Jer 19:8: passers-by at a ruined temple or city 'will be appalled and hiss.' Ezek 27:35: the coastland kings are appalled over fallen Tyre. Lev 26:32: enemies are appalled over the ruined land. The Septuagint renders it ekstēsontai, 'they will be beside themselves.'

From the study of 2 Chronicles 36:21

Range of meaning

'To be desolate, deserted, laid waste', and also 'to be appalled, horrified'. Places and the people who see them share the same word: a ruined land makes onlookers shudder. The form here is a passive with 'its': 'its being made desolate'.

Against the English

'Desolation' (BSB, YLT) and 'lay desolate' (KJV, WEB, ESV) are accurate. English 'desolate' loses the horror that goes with the Hebrew word.

Used elsewhere in the period

Leviticus 26:31–35 (the covenant curse: 'I will make your sanctuaries desolate … your land shall be a desolation'). Jeremiah 25:11 ('this whole land shall become a ruin and a horror', from the same root family). Daniel 9:17–18, 27.

From the study of Amos 9:14

Range of meaning

To be desolate, deserted or ruined. Also to be appalled or horrified, the stunned reaction to seeing devastation. It describes land and cities emptied by war or judgment.

Against the English

"Ruined" (BSB, WEB) and "waste" (KJV) capture the physical state. They lose the overtone of shock at the sight of it and the sense of emptiness: an uninhabited place, not just damaged buildings.

Used elsewhere in the period

Leviticus 26:31–35 threatens "I will make your cities a waste… your land shall be desolate (shemamah)" as covenant curse. Amos 7:9 says "the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate (wenashammu)," using the same verb in the same passive form.