Original Word: שׁוּד
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: shuwd
Pronunciation: shood
Phonetic Spelling: (shood)
KJV: waste
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. (properly) to swell up
2. (figuratively, by implication of insolence) to devastate

waste

A primitive root; properly, to swell up, i.e. Figuratively (by implication of insolence) to devastate -- waste.

Word Origin
see shadad. shod
Definition
see NH7699b, NH7701.

Lexical Range and Nuance of שׁוּד

Though שׁוּד appears only once in the Old Testament, its semantic orbit includes ideas of violent devastation, ruinous assault, and overwhelming loss. It conveys more than mere misfortune; it evokes the image of a relentless force that strips away stability and vitality. This nuance enriches the single biblical text where it occurs, framing the term as a graphic emblem of severe, destructive power.

Biblical Usage

Psalm 91:6 is the lone canonical occurrence:

“nor the plague that stalks in darkness, nor the calamity that destroys at noon” (Psalm 91:6).

Here, שׁוּד (“calamity”) operates in poetic parallelism with “plague,” expanding the spectrum of dangers from disease to sudden devastation. The psalmist arrays an entire arsenal of threats—night terrors, arrows by day, pestilence, and ruin—only to declare that the one who dwells in the shelter of the Most High remains secure (Psalm 91:1). שׁוּד therefore functions as a foil, heightening the psalm’s central promise of divine protection.

Literary Context in Psalm 91

1. Structure: Psalm 91 employs escalating pairs (“terror by night” / “arrow by day”; “plague” / “calamity”) to encompass every conceivable peril. Shud’s midday setting—“at noon”—contrasts with the preceding “darkness,” underscoring total coverage: unseen threats at night and blatant assaults in broad daylight.
2. Covenant Confidence: The psalmist invokes covenant titles—“Most High” (ʿElyon) and “Almighty” (Shaddai)—to assure the faithful that even the most catastrophic שׁוּד cannot breach the divine refuge.

Historical Background

Ancient Near Eastern warfare and raiding often occurred during daylight for maximum effect and intimidation. A “calamity that destroys at noon” would summon memories of marauders sweeping through vulnerable agrarian villages under the blazing sun, leaving scorched fields and desolate homes in their wake. Israel’s communal memory of such episodes—whether Philistine incursions (1 Samuel 13:17-18) or Babylonian sieges (2 Kings 25)—imbues the word with visceral resonance.

Theological Themes

1. Sovereign Protection: Shud’s singular appearance amid an arsenal of threats underscores that no form of devastation lies outside divine jurisdiction. The psalm reaffirms that Yahweh’s guardianship extends “day and night.”
2. Comprehensive Salvation: The breadth—from covert plague to overt calamity—anticipates the holistic salvation later articulated in Jesus Christ, who delivers from both unseen sin’s plague and open persecution (John 16:33).
3. Judgment and Mercy: While שׁוּד evokes judgment upon the wicked (compare Isaiah 59:7), Psalm 91 repurposes the term to accentuate mercy toward those who “love Me” and “acknowledge My name” (Psalm 91:14).

Ministry and Pastoral Application

1. Assurance in Crisis: Modern believers assaulted by economic collapse, violent conflict, or sudden illness can appropriate Psalm 91’s promise. Shud represents every catastrophic headline; yet the psalm bids Christians rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2. Spiritual Warfare: The midday calamity symbolizes overt satanic attacks. Ephesians 6:12 informs warfare fought with spiritual armor, reinforcing reliance on God rather than self-sufficiency.
3. Counseling the Suffering: Pastors can draw upon שׁוּד to validate the real devastation congregants experience while directing them to the psalm’s antidote—abiding trust in God’s presence.

Intercanonical Links

1. Old Testament Foreshadows: Habakkuk 3:16 speaks of impending “calamity” (a cognate root), portraying faith’s response amid ruin—“yet I will rejoice in the Lord” (Habakkuk 3:18).
2. New Testament Fulfillment: Jesus’ authority over storms (Mark 4:39) and demons (Mark 5:13) demonstrates dominion over every form of shud-like devastation, fulfilling the protective intent of Psalm 91 (Luke 4:10-12).
3. Eschatological Hope: Revelation 7:16 promises, “Never again will they hunger… the sun will not beat down on them,” reversing the scorching noon of shud and consummating divine shelter.

Worship and Prayer

Psalm 91’s liturgical use—especially in evening or wartime prayers—invites believers to confess God’s supremacy over shud. Congregational recitation fortifies communal trust, while individual meditation transforms fear into praise (Psalm 91:2).

Summary

Shud, though occurring only once, amplifies the totality of threats nullified by God’s covenant faithfulness. Its inclusion in Psalm 91 crystallizes a timeless assurance: no instance of devastation, whether covert or conspicuous, lies beyond the sheltering wings of the Almighty.

יָשׁ֥וּד ישוד yā·šūḏ yaShud yāšūḏInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts