יָשַׁם

יָשַׁם

to lie waste

Definition

The Hebrew verb יָשַׁם (yâsham) primarily means 'to be desolate' or 'to lie waste,' describing a state of ruin, emptiness, or abandonment. In Genesis 47:19, it conveys the desperation of the Egyptians who, facing famine, declare their land is 'waste' (desolate) and offer themselves as servants to Pharaoh for food. In the prophetic books, particularly Ezekiel, the word takes on a stronger tone of divine judgment, describing how cities, altars, and the land itself will be made desolate as a consequence of sin (Ezekiel 6:6, 12:19). In Ezekiel 19:7, it is used metaphorically to describe the ruin of a kingdom ('he laid waste their cities'), extending the sense beyond physical geography to political collapse.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used only four times in the Old Testament, appearing in narrative (Genesis) and prophetic (Ezekiel) contexts. In Genesis 47:19, it describes the tangible, economic desolation of the land due to famine. In Ezekiel, all three uses are in oracles of judgment, where desolation is a direct result of covenant disobedience. For example, Ezekiel 6:6 prophesies that idolatrous altars 'shall be laid waste,' and Ezekiel 12:19 warns that the land of Judah will be 'laid waste' because of the violence of its inhabitants. The usage pattern shows a shift from describing a circumstantial condition to proclaiming a divinely enacted punishment.

Etymology

יָשַׁם is considered a primitive root. It is related to the noun שְׁמָמָה (shĕmâmâh, H7722), which means 'desolation' or 'wasteland,' showing how the verbal action results in that state. Cognates in other Semitic languages also point to meanings of devastation and ruin, confirming its core sense of making or being made empty and deserted.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it is tightly connected to the biblical theme of covenant curses. Desolation (yâsham) is not merely a natural disaster but is often presented in the prophets as God's judicial response to idolatry and social injustice (e.g., Ezekiel 6:6). Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of judgment passages, revealing that the 'waste' is a deliberate undoing of creation's order and fruitfulness, a reversal of blessing into curse. It underscores the serious consequences of breaking covenant with God. In the ancient Near East, a fertile, inhabited land was a sign of divine favor and societal stability. For a land to 'lie waste' (yâsham) meant the complete breakdown of this order: crops failed, cities were abandoned, and the community dissolved. This was the ultimate cultural fear—a return to chaos. The prophets leveraged this profound dread to communicate the severity of God's coming judgment. חָרַב (chārab, H2717) — more common verb for 'to be waste, desolate, dry'; often interchangeable but can emphasize dryness. שָׁמֵם (shāmēm, H8074) — a close synonym meaning 'to be appalled, devastated, desolate'; can include the sense of horror or astonishment at the desolation.

Word Details