The meaning of Desolate in the Bible
(From International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)

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 (Matthew 23:38; Acts 1:20; Galatians 4:27) eremoo (Revelation 17:16), and monoo (I Timothy 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. Psalms 25:16, "Have mercy upon me; for I am desolate" (Hebrew yachidh, "alone"); I Timothy 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. Jeremiah 4:7, "to make thy land desolate, that thy cities be laid waste, without inhabitant." (3) With the meaning "comfortless," "afflicted," e.g. Psalms 143:4, "My heart within me is desolate." (4) In the sense of "barren," "childless," "unfruitful," e.g. Job 15:34; Isaiah 49:21 (Hebrew galmudh).

D. Miall Edwards

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