sha.mem describes a person, land, city, or sanctuary left ruined, desolate, or overcome by devastation.

The supplied verses use the term for persons and places left in a ruined or desolate condition: Tamar remains in Absalom's house, the land mourns without anyone taking it to heart, and a sanctuary, desolations, and cities stand damaged or forsaken.

1. Left ruined or desolate · dominant

   In 2 Samuel 13:20, the feminine singular active participle describes Tamar as remaining in Absalom's house after Absalom tells her not to take the matter to heart; the APB renders the clause "Tamar remained devastated." In Jeremiah 12:11 the feminine singular adjective describes the land as mourning, while Daniel 9:17, Ezekiel 36:4, Lamentations 1:13, and Lamentations 3:11 apply the condition to a sanctuary, desolations and forsaken cities, and an afflicted speaker.

   2 Samuel 13:20Daniel 9:17Ezekiel 36:4Jeremiah 12:11Lamentations 1:13Lamentations 3:11

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB presents this condition with "devastated" in 2 Samuel 13:20, Daniel 9:17, Jeremiah 12:11, and Lamentations 1:13, and with "desolate" in Lamentations 3:11. In Ezekiel 36:4 it applies "devastated" to desolations alongside forsaken cities; these are translation renderings rather than definitions.