Word study
Destroy
27 Hebrew and 9 Greek words behind this English word
The original-language words that the Berean Standard Bible translates with one of these: destroy, destroyed, destroying, destroys. English often uses one word where Hebrew or Greek has several, each with its own shade of meaning. Under each word are verses where it is translated this way; choose the word itself for its full study: every verse, how else it is translated, the forms it takes and what the dictionaries say.
At a glance
How often each original word is translated “destroy” or one of its forms.
Compare the Hebrew words side by side Compare the Greek words side by side
Hebrew and Aramaic words (Old Testament)
- שָׁחַת shâchathgo to ruin (?)translated this way 80 times of its 145 uses · Strong’s H7843Verb · Translated: destroy 58, destroyed 13, corrupt 7, corrupted 5Full study and all 135 verses →
Genesis 6:13 Then God said to Noah, “The end of all living creatures has come before Me, because through them the earth is full of violence. Now behold, I will destroy both them and the earth.
Deuteronomy 4:31 For the LORD your God is a merciful God; He will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers, which He swore to them by oath.
- שָׁמַד shâmadbe exterminated, destroyedtranslated this way 67 times of its 88 uses · Strong’s H8045Verb · Translated: destroyed 37, destroy 25, destruction 5, wipe 3Full study and all 86 verses →
Genesis 34:30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble upon me by making me a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people of this land. We are few in number; if they unite against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.”
Leviticus 26:30 I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars, and heap your lifeless bodies on the lifeless remains of your idols; and My soul will despise you.
- אָבַד âbadperishtranslated this way 47 times of its 179 uses · Strong’s H6Verb · Translated: perish 53, destroy 27, perished 15, destroyed 14Full study and all 173 verses →
Leviticus 23:30 I will destroy from among his people anyone who does any work on this day.
Numbers 21:29 Woe to you, O Moab! You are destroyed, O people of Chemosh! He gave up his sons as refugees, and his daughters into captivity to Sihon king of the Amorites.
- שָׁדַד shâdaddeal violently with, despoil, devastate, ruintranslated this way 20 times of its 56 uses · Strong’s H7703Verb · Translated: destroyed 11, destroyer 10, destroy 5, devastated 5Full study and all 47 verses →
Proverbs 11:3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the faithless destroys them.
Isaiah 21:2 A dire vision is declared to me: “The traitor still betrays, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, O Elam! Lay siege, O Media! I will put an end to all her groaning.”
- כָּלָה kâlâhbe complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, spenttranslated this way 15 times of its 206 uses · Strong’s H3615Verb · Translated: finished 54, fail 12, consumed 9, completed 7Full study and all 200 verses →
Exodus 33:3 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people; otherwise, I might destroy you on the way.”
Leviticus 26:16 then this is what I will do to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting disease, and fever that will destroy your sight and drain your life. You will sow your seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it.
- צָמַת tsâmathput an end to, exterminatetranslated this way 8 times of its 15 uses · Strong’s H6789Verb · Translated: destroy 5, destroyed 3Full study and all 14 verses →
2 Samuel 22:41 You have made my enemies retreat before me; I destroyed those who hated me.
Psalm 18:40 You have made my enemies retreat before me; I destroyed those who hated me.
- כָּרַת kârathcut off, cut downtranslated this way 7 times of its 284 uses · Strong’s H3772Verb · Translated: cut 144, made 47, make 28, fail 7Full study and all 276 verses →
Leviticus 26:22 I will send wild animals against you to rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and reduce your numbers, until your roads lie desolate.
Judges 4:24 And the hand of the Israelites grew stronger and stronger against Jabin king of Canaan until they destroyed him.
- מַשְׁחִית mashchîthruin, destructiontranslated this way 5 times of its 11 uses · Strong’s H4889Noun · Translated: destroy 3, destruction 3Full study and all 11 verses →
Exodus 12:13 The blood on the houses where you are staying will be a sign; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will fall on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
2 Chronicles 20:23 The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction. And when they had finished off the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
- חֲבַל chăbalruintranslated this way 5 times of its 6 uses · Strong’s H2255Verb · Translated: destroyed 3, destroy 2, hurt 1Full study and all 6 verses →
Ezra 6:12 May God, who has caused His Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to alter this decree or to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued the decree. Let it be carried out with diligence.
Daniel 2:44 In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself stand forever.
- הָרַס hârasthrow down, break or tear downtranslated this way 5 times of its 42 uses · Strong’s H2040Verb · Translated: demolish 7, tear 6, torn 6, destroyed 5Full study and all 42 verses →
2 Kings 3:25 They destroyed the cities, and each man threw stones on every good field until it was covered. They stopped up every spring and cut down every good tree. Only Kir-haraseth was left with stones in place, but men with slings surrounded it and attacked it as well.
Psalm 11:3 If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
- אָכַל âkaleattranslated this way 4 times of its 784 uses · Strong’s H398Verb · Translated: eat 341, ate 64, eaten 63, consumed 39Full study and all 696 verses →
Deuteronomy 7:16 You must destroy all the peoples the LORD your God will deliver to you. Do not look on them with pity. Do not worship their gods, for that will be a snare to you.
- אַל תַּשְׁחֵת Al tashchêth'Thou must not destroy'translated this way 4 times of its 6 uses · Strong’s H516Verb · Translated: Destroy 4, tune 2Full study and all 4 verses →
Psalm 57:1 For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul into the cave. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy, for in You my soul takes refuge. In the shadow of Your wings I will take shelter until the danger has passed.
Psalm 58:1 For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David. Do you indeed speak justly, O rulers? Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men?
- דָּמָה dâmâhcease, cause to cease, cut off, destroytranslated this way 4 times of its 13 uses · Strong’s H1820Verb · Translated: destroyed 3, perish 2, ruined 2, silenced 2Full study and all 12 verses →
Isaiah 15:1 This is the burden against Moab: Ar in Moab is ruined, destroyed in a night! Kir in Moab is devastated, destroyed in a night!
Hosea 4:5 You will stumble by day, and the prophet will stumble with you by night; so I will destroy your mother —
- נָכָה nâkâhsmitetranslated this way 3 times of its 496 uses · Strong’s H5221Verb · Translated: struck 145, strike 59, put 31, defeated 28Full study and all 460 verses →
Genesis 8:21 When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from his youth. And never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done.
Exodus 9:31 (Now the flax and barley were destroyed, since the barley was ripe and the flax was in bloom;
- חָבַל châbalbind, pledgetranslated this way 3 times of its 25 uses · Strong’s H2254Verb · Translated: destroy 3, security 2, broken 2, get collateral 2Full study and all 23 verses →
Ecclesiastes 5:6 Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, and do not tell the messenger that your vow was a mistake. Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands?
Isaiah 13:5 They are coming from faraway lands, from the ends of the heavens— the LORD and the weapons of His wrath— to destroy the whole country.
- שָׁמֵם shâmêmbe desoleted, appalledtranslated this way 3 times of its 85 uses · Strong’s H8074Verb · Translated: appalled 17, desolate 10, deserted 5, desolation 4Full study and all 81 verses →
Ecclesiastes 7:16 Do not be overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?
Hosea 2:12 I will destroy her vines and fig trees, which she thinks are the wages paid by her lovers. So I will make them into a thicket, and the beasts of the field will devour them.
- אֲבַד ăbadperishtranslated this way 3 times of its 6 uses · Strong’s H7Verb · Translated: destroy 2, perish 1, killed 1, execute 1Full study and all 5 verses →
Daniel 2:12 This response made the king so angry and furious that he gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
Daniel 2:24 Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon! Bring me before the king, and I will give him the interpretation.”
- שָׁבַר shâbarbreak, break in piecestranslated this way 3 times of its 146 uses · Strong’s H7665Verb · Translated: broken 32, shattered 23, break 21, broke 10Full study and all 142 verses →
Daniel 11:20 In his place one will arise who will send out a tax collector for the glory of the kingdom; but within a few days he will be destroyed, though not in anger or in battle.
Daniel 11:22 Then a flood of forces will be swept away before him and destroyed, along with a prince of the covenant.
- יָרַשׁ yârashtake possession of, inherit, dispossesstranslated this way 2 times of its 230 uses · Strong’s H3423Verb · Translated: possess 72, drive 27, take possession 21, driven 12Full study and all 204 verses →
Exodus 15:9 The enemy declared, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword; my hand will destroy them.’
Numbers 14:12 I will strike them with a plague and destroy them — and I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they are.”
- בָּלַע bâlaswallow down, swallow up, engulftranslated this way 2 times of its 49 uses · Strong’s H1104Verb · Translated: swallowed 19, swallow 12, swallows 3Full study and all 48 verses →
Job 10:8 Your hands shaped me and altogether formed me. Would You now turn and destroy me?
Lamentations 2:8 The LORD determined to destroy the wall of the Daughter of Zion. He stretched out a measuring line and did not withdraw His hand from destroying. He made the ramparts and walls lament; together they waste away.
- כָּלָה kâlâhcompletion, complete destruction, consumption, annihilationtranslated this way 2 times of its 17 uses · Strong’s H3617Noun · Translated: destruction 4, end 4, destroy 2Full study and all 17 verses →
Jeremiah 30:11 For I am with you to save you, declares the LORD. Though I will completely destroy all the nations to which I have scattered you, I will not completely destroy you. Yet I will discipline you justly, and will by no means leave you unpunished.”
Jeremiah 46:28 And you, My servant Jacob, do not be afraid, declares the LORD, for I am with you. Though I will completely destroy all the nations to which I have banished you, I will not completely destroy you. Yet I will discipline you justly, and will by no means leave you unpunished.”
- עָשָׂה âsâhdo, maketranslated this way 2 times of its 2,478 uses · Strong’s H6213Verb · Translated: done 292, made 265, make 143, did 112Full study and all 2,206 verses →
- הָפַךְ hâphakturn, overturntranslated this way 2 times of its 93 uses · Strong’s H2015Verb · Translated: turned 27, turn 7, changed 4, overthrew 3Full study and all 91 verses →
Genesis 19:25 Thus He destroyed these cities and the entire plain, including all the inhabitants of the cities and everything that grew on the ground.
Genesis 19:29 So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, He remembered Abraham, and He brought Lot out of the catastrophe that destroyed the cities where he had lived.
- חָרַב chârabbe dry, dried uptranslated this way 2 times of its 38 uses · Strong’s H2717Verb · Translated: dried 7, laid waste 6, dry 4, Kill 2Full study and all 36 verses →
Judges 16:24 And when the people saw him, they praised their god, saying: “Our god has delivered into our hands our enemy who destroyed our land and multiplied our dead.”
Isaiah 60:12 For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish; it will be utterly destroyed.
- כָּחַד kâchadhide, effacetranslated this way 2 times of its 32 uses · Strong’s H3582Verb · Translated: hide 8, hidden 4, conceal 3, destroyed 2Full study and all 30 verses →
Job 4:7 Consider now, I plead: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Or where have the upright been destroyed?
Job 22:20 ‘Surely our foes are destroyed, and fire has consumed their excess.’
- רָעַע râabe evil, badtranslated this way 2 times of its 97 uses · Strong’s H7489Verb · Translated: wicked 9, harm 8, evil 8, evildoers 8Full study and all 97 verses →
Psalm 74:3 Turn Your steps to the everlasting ruins, to everything in the sanctuary the enemy has destroyed.
Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
- חָסִיל châsîlravager, locusttranslated this way 2 times of its 6 uses · Strong’s H2625Noun · Translated: grasshoppers 2, destroying locust 2, grasshopper 1, locusts 1Full study and all 6 verses →
Joel 1:4 What the devouring locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust has left, the young locust has eaten; and what the young locust has left, the destroying locust has eaten.
Joel 2:25 I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts — the swarming locust, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust— My great army that I sent against you.
Greek words (New Testament)
- ἀπόλλυμι apóllymiI destroy, lose, am perishingtranslated this way 14 times of its 90 uses · Strong’s G622Verb · Translated: lost 12, lose 11, perish 10, destroy 9Full study and all 84 verses →
Matthew 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Mark 1:24 “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are — the Holy One of God!”
- καταλύω katalýōI break up, overthrow, unharness, find a lodgingtranslated this way 6 times of its 17 uses · Strong’s G2647Verb · Translated: destroy 4, thrown 3, abolish 2, going to destroy 2Full study and all 16 verses →
Matthew 26:61 and declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”
Mark 14:58 “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple, and in three days I will build another that is made without hands.’”
- λύω lýōI loose, untie, release, destroytranslated this way 5 times of its 42 uses · Strong’s G3089Verb · Translated: untie 8, released 7, untying 4, broken 3Full study and all 39 verses →
John 2:19 Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.”
2 Peter 3:10 But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.
- φθείρω phtheírōI corrupt, spoil, destroytranslated this way 4 times of its 9 uses · Strong’s G5351Verb · Translated: corrupted 3, destroyed 2, destroys 1, destroy 1Full study and all 8 verses →
1 Corinthians 3:17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
2 Peter 2:12 These men are like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be captured and destroyed. They blaspheme in matters they do not understand, and like such creatures, they too will be destroyed.
- καταργέω katargéōI bring to naught, sever, abolishtranslated this way 4 times of its 29 uses · Strong’s G2673Verb · Translated: nullify 4, released 2, destroy 2, destroyed 2Full study and all 26 verses →
1 Corinthians 6:13 “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food,” but God will destroy them both. The body is not intended for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
Hebrews 2:14 Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil,
- διαφθείρω diaphtheírōI destroy, waste, corrupttranslated this way 4 times of its 6 uses · Strong’s G1311Verb · Translated: destroy 2, destroys 1, wasting away 1, depraved 1Full study and all 5 verses →
Luke 12:33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.
Revelation 8:9 a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
- ἀφανίζω aphanízōI cause to disappear, I hide, remove, disfiguretranslated this way 2 times of its 5 uses · Strong’s G853Verb · Translated: destroy 2, disfigure 1, perish 1, vanishes 1Full study and all 5 verses →
Matthew 6:19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
Matthew 6:20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
- πορθέω porthéōI lay waste, destroytranslated this way 2 times of its 3 uses · Strong’s G4199Verb · Translated: tried to destroy 2, wreaked havoc 1Full study and all 3 verses →
Galatians 1:13 For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how severely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.
Galatians 1:23 They only heard the account: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”
- ἐρημόω erēmóōI destroy, strip, robtranslated this way 2 times of its 5 uses · Strong’s G2049Verb · Translated: laid waste 2, destroyed 2, desolate 1Full study and all 5 verses →
Revelation 18:17 For in a single hour such fabulous wealth has been destroyed!” Every shipmaster, passenger, and sailor, and all who make their living from the sea, will stand at a distance
Revelation 18:19 Then they will throw dust on their heads as they weep and mourn and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, where all who had ships on the sea were enriched by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been destroyed.”
How to study a word well
- Start from the verse, not the dictionary. Find which Hebrew or Greek word stands in the verse you are studying. One English word often translates several different original words.
- Read every place the word is used. A word means what its writers used it to mean. The list of verses and the count by book show its range, and who uses it most.
- Look at how it is translated. A word rendered five different ways has a wider meaning than any one English word can carry.
- Notice the form. A command is not a statement, and a passive verb is something done to the subject. The form in your verse is part of the meaning.
- See what it keeps company with. The words that appear beside it again and again show how the Bible itself connects ideas.
- Then read the dictionaries. They give the considered view of scholars, with their evidence.
- Come back to the verse. Context decides. A word does not carry every one of its meanings into every verse, and where a word came from does not settle what it means in a sentence written centuries later.
Scripture text and translation counts: Berean Standard Bible. Full entry: Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906, public domain), in the digital edition Brown-Driver-Briggs Enhanced by unfoldingWord (Joel Ruark, J. de Joode), based on data by Eliran Wong and Stephen Ku; its additions are used under CC BY 4.0. Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary: Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible Project, CC BY 4.0. Hebrew-to-English verse numbering: original work of the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible available at https://github.com/openscriptures/morphhb, CC BY 4.0. We reformatted the data, linked the references to this site’s Bible text and left out words in other scripts that the source holds only as images. These are historical reference works; an entry gives its authors’ view, and a word’s meaning in any verse depends on how it is used there.