Desolate

Desolate - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

DESOLATE, a.

1. Destitute or deprived of inhabitants; desert; uninhabited; denoting either stripped of inhabitants, or never having been inhabitated; as a desolate isle; a desolate wilderness.

I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant. Jer 9.

2. Laid waste; in a ruinous condition; neglected; destroyed; as desolate altars; desolate towers. Ezek. Zeph.

3. Solitary; without a companion; afflicted.

Tamar remained desolate in Absaloms house. 2 Sam 13.

4. Deserted of God; deprived of comfort.

My heart within me is desolate. Psa 143.

Desolation - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

DESOLATION, n.

1. The act of desolating destruction or expulsion of inhabitants; destruction; ruin; waste.

Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. Mat 12.

2. A place deprived of inhabitants, or otherwise wasted, ravaged and ruined.

How is Babylon become a desolation among the nations. Jer 50.

3. A desolate state; gloominess; sadness; destitution.

The abomination of desolation, Roman armies which ravaged and destroyed Jerusalem. Mat 24.

des'-o-lat (very frequently in the Old Testament for shamem, and its derivatives; less frequently, charebh, and its derivatives, and other words. In the New Testament it stands for eremos (Mt 23:38; Ac 1:20; Ga 4:27) eremoo (Re 17:16), and monoo (1Ti 5:5)): From Latin de, intens., solus, alone. Several shades of meaning can be distinguished:

(1) Its primary sense is "left lonely," "forlorn," e. g. Ps 25:16, "Have mercy upon me; for I am desolate" (Hebrew yachidh, "alone"); 1Ti 5:5, "she that is a widow indeed, and desolate" (Greek memonomene, "left alone").

(2) In the sense of "laid waste," "destitute of inhabitants," e. g. Jer 4:7, "to make thy land desolate, that thy cities be laid waste, without inhabitant."

(3) With the meaning "comfortless," "afflicted," e. g. Ps 143:4, "My heart within me is desolate."

(4) In the sense of "barren," "childless," "unfruitful," e. g. Job 15:34; Isa 49:21 (Hebrew galmudh).

D. Miall Edwards

Definition

The terms “desolate” and “desolation,” when used to refer to a place or location, refer to the state or condition of being ruined and left fully or partially uninhabited. The term “desolate,” when referring to a person or group of people, describes a state or condition of ruin, loneliness, and grief.

• If a field where crops are growing is made desolate, it means that something has destroyed the crops, such as insects or an invading army.
• A “desolate region” refers to an area of land that is partially deserted or abandoned and therefore has few people living there.
• If a city is “made desolate” it means that its buildings and goods have been destroyed or stolen, and its people have been killed or captured. The city becomes “empty” and “ruined.” This is similar to the meaning of “devastate” or “devastated,” but with more emphasis on the emptiness.
• A “desolate land” or “wilderness” was often where outcasts (such as lepers) and dangerous animals lived.
• Depending on the context, this term, when referring to a city or region, could be translated as “ruined” or “destroyed” or “laid waste” or “abandoned” or “deserted.”
• Depending on the context, this term, when referring to a person or people group, could be translated as “lonely and outcast” or “deserted.”
• A “desolator” is one who causes desolation.

(See also: desert, devastate, ruin, waste)

Bible References

• 2 Kings 22:19
• Acts 1:20
• Daniel 9:17-19
• Lamentations 3:11
• Luke 11:17
• Matthew 12:25

Word Data

• Strong’s: H0490, H0816, H0910, H1565, H2717, H2720, H2721, H2723, H3173, H3341, H3456, H3582, H4875, H4923, H5352, H5800, H7582, H7701, H7722, H8047, H8074, H8076, H8077, G20480, G20490, G20500, G34430