שָׁשָׁא
to annihilate
Definition
The Hebrew verb שָׁשָׁא (shâshâʼ) appears only once in the Old Testament, in Ezekiel 39:2, where it is traditionally understood to mean 'to annihilate' or 'to destroy utterly.' In this specific prophetic context, it describes God's decisive action against Gog. However, the word's meaning is complicated by its single occurrence and potential textual confusion. The King James Version translates the phrase based on a different root (שָׁשָׁה, H8341), rendering it 'leave by the sixth part,' which suggests a scribal or interpretive difficulty. Therefore, while the primary lexical sense points to complete destruction, its exact nuance in Ezekiel 39:2 remains a subject of discussion among scholars.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only in Ezekiel 39:2. It occurs in a prophetic oracle against Gog, where God declares, 'I will... and leave you but the sixth part of thee' (KJV) or, following the 'annihilate' sense, 'I will... and utterly destroy you.' Its usage is confined to this singular, dramatic context of divine judgment within the genre of prophetic judgment speech.
Etymology
שָׁשָׁא is identified as a primitive root. Its etymology is obscure due to its single biblical attestation. Scholars note it may be confused with or related to the root for 'six' (שֵׁשׁ, H8337 or שָׁשָׁה, H8341), which influenced the KJV's unique translation. There are no clear cognates in other Semitic languages to firmly establish its original meaning, leaving its derivation largely uncertain.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, שָׁשָׁא contributes to the theme of God's sovereign judgment in Ezekiel. If understood as 'annihilate,' it underscores the totality and finality of God's victory over the forces of chaos and evil, represented by Gog. This aligns with other prophetic visions of God's ultimate triumph. Understanding the textual uncertainty here reminds Bible students of the care needed in translation and the profound nature of God's decisive acts in salvation history.
The cultural context is the ancient Near Eastern motif of a divine warrior defeating cosmic enemies. The prophecy against Gog draws on imagery familiar to Israel's neighbors. The uncertainty in translation (annihilation vs. leaving a remnant) may reflect different ancient interpretative traditions about the scope of judgment—whether it is total or leaves a surviving fraction.
שָׁמַד (shâmad, H8045) — to destroy, exterminate; often used for divinely ordained destruction. כָּלָה (kâlâh, H3615) — to finish, complete, consume; can imply a complete end. אָבַד (ʼâbad, H6) — to perish, be lost; a broad term for destruction or ruin.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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