Lexical Summary shemam: Desolation, waste, horror Original Word: שְׁמַם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be astonished (Aramaic) corresponding to shamem -- be astonied. see HEBREW shamem NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to shamem Definition to be appalled NASB Translation appalled (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שְׁמַם] verb Ethpo`l. be appalled (ᵑ7 (rare); see Biblical Hebrew; Christian-Palestinian Aramaic ![]() Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Root Connections The verb encapsulated in Strong’s Hebrew number 8075 occurs only once, yet it sits within a larger family of words that convey shock, devastation, or stunned desolation. While its cognates often describe ruined landscapes or temples left in shambles, the single usage of 8075 focuses the same force on the inner life of a man of God. Thus the term moves seamlessly between physical desolation and emotional paralysis, reminding readers that the Lord’s word can level the soul as surely as it levels cities. Contextual Setting in Daniel Daniel 4:19 records the moment Daniel receives revelation concerning Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the great tree: “For a moment Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar, was stunned, and his thoughts alarmed him” (Daniel 4:19). The narrative locates Daniel in the Babylonian royal court, already renowned for wisdom, yet suddenly struck silent. His reaction bridges two worlds: he bears the burden of prophetic truth while standing in loyal service to a pagan monarch. The verb portrays a brief but genuine paralysis that precedes faithful proclamation. Prophetic and Emotional Intensity Daniel’s stunned silence is not mere surprise; it is the cost of bearing God-given insight into looming judgment. Like Isaiah who cried, “Woe to me, for I am ruined” (Isaiah 6:5), Daniel is shaken by the weight of holiness. The word highlights how revelation can overwhelm the messenger before it corrects the hearer. In ministry, moments of holy shock often precede clarity and courage. Theological Implications 1. Holiness Exposes Frailty—The same God who humbles emperors first humbles His servants. Pastoral Application • Preachers may find themselves momentarily overwhelmed by hard texts or hard truths. Scripture validates that reaction but also calls for eventual proclamation. Intertextual Resonances Though 8075 itself does not recur, its root family appears in descriptions of desolated Zion (Jeremiah 9:11), devastated idolatrous centers (Ezekiel 6:6), and even the prophetic astonishment of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 3:15). These parallels reinforce that the Lord’s word can bring both external ruin and internal awe, binding history and heart in a single semantic thread. Conclusion Strong’s 8075 captures the hush that falls when finite humanity collides with infinite revelation. Daniel’s stunned pause invites every reader to linger before speaking, to let the gravity of God’s purposes settle in, and then—like Daniel—to offer truth laced with compassion, confident that the same sovereign hand that appalls also restores. Forms and Transliterations אֶשְׁתּוֹמַם֙ אשתומם ’eš·tō·w·mam ’eštōwmam eshtoMamLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 4:19 HEB: שְׁמֵ֣הּ בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּ֗ר אֶשְׁתּוֹמַם֙ כְּשָׁעָ֣ה חֲדָ֔ה NAS: is Belteshazzar, was appalled for a while KJV: [was] Belteshazzar, was astonied for one INT: name is Belteshazzar was appalled A while one 1 Occurrence |