Original Word: יְשִׁימַה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: yshiymah
Pronunciation: yeh-shee-MAH
Phonetic Spelling: (yesh-ee-maw')
KJV: let death seize (from the margin)
Word Origin: [from H3456 (יָשַׁם - appalled)]

1. desolation

let death seize

From yasham; desolation -- let death seize (from the margin).

see HEBREW yasham

Word Origin
another reading for maveth, q.v.

[יְשִׁימָה] noun feminine desolation, only intensive plural יְשִׁימוֺת Psalm 55:16 Kt (Qr יַשִּׁיא מָוֶת), so Ges Hup and others, compare proper name, of a location בית הישׁימות above; ᵐ5 Ew Ol Pe De Bae and others follow Qr, let death come deceitfully upon them, see נשׁא.

Overview

יְשִׁימַה (yeshimah) appears once in the Old Testament, in Psalm 55:15. The term evokes an image of utter ruin, a place or condition laid waste under divine judgment. When David prays that his treacherous opponents be cast into such ruin, the word frames their fate as more than physical demise; it is a descent into moral and spiritual desolation that only God can decree.

Immediate Context: Psalm 55:15

Psalm 55 records David’s anguish over betrayal by a close confidant. His imprecatory plea culminates in, “Let death seize them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is in their homes and within them” (Psalm 55:15). The verse moves from the suddenness of death to the ongoing corruption that follows. יְשִׁימַה deepens the picture: the betrayers are not merely to die, but to be plunged into a state of irreversible devastation, a fitting outcome for those whose hearts are already a moral wasteland.

Historical Background

David’s life included seasons of betrayal—most notably Ahithophel’s treachery during Absalom’s revolt (2 Samuel 15–17). Many commentators see that event behind Psalm 55. The psalm therefore voices a king’s righteous indignation against conspirators threatening the covenant community. By invoking יְשִׁימַה, David asks God to defend His anointed by judging the wicked in a way that vindicates divine justice before the nation.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Justice. יְשִׁימַה underscores that God’s judgments are comprehensive. They touch body, soul, and legacy, reversing the wicked person’s self-made security into barren ruin (Psalm 73:18–19).
2. Moral Accountability. The single use of the term within an imprecatory prayer reminds believers that evil cannot be excused as mere circumstance; it is a posture that invites devastating recompense (Romans 2:5–8).
3. Covenant Protection. David’s invocation of ruin upon betrayers functions as a shield around the faithful remnant. The covenant Lord stands ready to desolate the forces that imperil His people (Genesis 12:3).

Prophetic Echoes

Though confined to one psalm, the concept behind יְשִׁימַה reverberates throughout Scripture. Prophets employ similar vocabulary to describe God’s future judgment on nations opposing His purposes (Isaiah 13:9; Jeremiah 25:12). The eschatological “day of the Lord” will unveil a cosmic יְשִׁימַה for unrepentant humanity (2 Peter 3:7).

Christological Insight

David’s betrayal foreshadows the greater Son of David, Jesus Christ, betrayed by Judas (Matthew 26:14–16). Yet whereas David called for the betrayer’s ruin, Jesus bore the ruin of sin upon Himself (Isaiah 53:5). At the cross, the ruin deserved by His enemies was transferred to Him, making salvation possible for all who repent (Acts 3:17–19).

Ministry Application

1. Honest Prayer. Psalm 55 legitimizes pouring out anguish over injustice. Believers may entrust calls for judgment to the righteous Judge, resisting personal revenge (Romans 12:19).
2. Pastoral Care. Those wounded by betrayal should be guided to lament, intercede, and surrender outcomes to God. יְשִׁימַה warns against harboring unrepentant malice; it also assures victims that God sees and will act.
3. Proclamation of Grace. Preachers can contrast the ruin sin brings with the restoration offered in Christ (Ephesians 2:1–7). The severity of יְשִׁימַה highlights the magnitude of mercy.

Related Passages for Study

Psalm 35:4–8; Psalm 94:1–3; Isaiah 34:8–11; Nahum 1:2–6; Revelation 19:1–3.

Homiletical Outline Suggestion

1. The Pain of Betrayal (Psalm 55:12–14)
2. The Prayer for Ruin (Psalm 55:15)
3. The Promise of Deliverance (Psalm 55:16–18, 22)
4. The Preview of the Cross (Luke 22:47–48)
5. The Practice of Trust (1 Peter 2:23)

Conclusion

יְשִׁימַה serves as a solemn reminder that God’s response to entrenched evil is neither partial nor passive. While the word surfaces only once, its force magnifies the biblical tension between justice and mercy—a tension resolved at Calvary, where ruin fell on the sin-bearer so that restoration might reach the repentant sinner.

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