1116. bamah

Lexicon

bamah: High place

Original Word: בָּמָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: bamah
Pronunciation: bah-MAH
Phonetic Spelling: (bam-maw')
Definition: High place
Meaning: an elevation

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

height, high place, wave

From an unused root (meaning to be high); an elevation -- height, high place, wave.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
a high place
NASB Translation
heights (3), high place (19), high places (76), places (1), waves (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

בָּמָה₁₀₄ noun feminine high place (√ apparently בום on account of firm ָ֯; compare Assyrian bâmâtê Zim^{BP 48, Moab.} במת MI^{3, 27}) — Jeremiah 48:35 18t.; הַבָּמָ֫תָה 1 Samuel 9:13; plural בָּמוֺת Numbers 21:19 62t.; construct בָּֽמֳתֵי Job 9:8; Isaiah 14:14; Amos 4:13; בָּֽמֳו֯תֵי Deuteronomy 32:13; Isaiah 58:14; Micah 1:3 (Ew^{§ 211 d} Ges^{§ 87}, 5 archaic feminine construct with retracted accent before monosyl. in poetry, bâm©-thê not b©m); suffix בָּמֹתַי 2 Samuel 22:34 3t.; בָּמוֺתַי Psalm 18:34 10t.; —

1 high place, mountain: בָּמוֺת יָעַר forest mountains Micah 3:12 = Jeremiah 26:18; במות עולם ancient mountains Ezekiel 36:2; במות ארנן Numbers 21:28 (E poetry)

2 high places, battle-fields, the chief places of the land giving possession, victory, dominion: על במותיך on thy high places (Gilboa, the battle-field) 2 Samuel 1:19,25 (in 2 Samuel 1:19 ᵐ5 has a doublet מֵתֶיךָ thy dead, see We Dr).

a. of Israel: רכב על במתי ארץ ride upon the high places of the land Deuteronomy 32:13 & Isaiah 58:14 compare Deuteronomy 33:29; Psalm 18:34 = 2 Samuel 22:34; Habakkuk 3:19.

b. of God: דרך על במתי ארץ tread upon the high places of the earth Amos 4:13 compare Micah 1:3; במתי ים Job 9:8; עלה על במתי עב (aspiration of the king of Babylon) Isaiah 14:14.

3 high places, as places of worship, at first on hills and mountains, later on artificial mounds or platforms, under green trees, and in cities; still later for the chapels erected thereon, and once apparently for a portable sanctuary (decked with diverse colours) Ezekiel 16:16. The ancient worship of Israel was conducted on these high places. In the times of Samuel and David they ascended to them, descended from them, and offered sacrifices on them, 1 Samuel 9:12-25; 1 Samuel 10:5,13 (הבמה for הביתה We Dr). The custom continued in the reign of Solomon, but Gibeon was הבמה הגדולה 1 Kings 3:2-4 compare 1 Chronicles 16:39; 1 Chronicles 21:29; 2Chronicles 1:3,13. High places of Baal were also used Numbers 22:41 (E) Jeremiah 19:5; Jeremiah 32:35; of Moab Isaiah 15:2; Isaiah 16:12; Jeremiah 48:35 (compare MI²⁷); these must be demolished Numbers 33:52 (J). Solomon built במות (platforms or chapels) to Chemosh and Milkom on the Mt. of Evil Counsel opposite Jerusalem 1 Kings 11:7: Jeroboam made temples on the ancient high places of Dan and Bethel 1 Kings 12:31,32; 2Chronicles 11:15; they are called במות און Hosea 10:8, במות ישׂחק Amos 7:9: the kings of Israel built במות and בתי הבמות in all their cities 2 Kings 17:9, and the people worshipped there 2 Kings 17:11; these were also used by the mixed population after the exile of Israel 2 Kings 17:29,32 (twice in verse): these various idolatrous high places were first destroyed by Josiah 1 Kings 13:2; 1 Kings 13:32; 1 Kings 13:38; 2 Kings 23:5-20 2Chronicles 34:3. The worship of Yahweh on high places continued in Judah until the exile 1 Kings 22:44; 2 Kings 15:35; the sanctity code predicts that Yahweh will destroy them Leviticus 26:30; they were regarded as the reason for the rejection of Shiloh Psalm 78:58. The compiler of Kings, writing from the point of view of the Deuteronomic code, complains רַק הַבָּמוֺת לֹא סָרוּ 2 Kings 12:4; 2 Kings 14:4; 2 Kings 15:4,35 compare 2 Chronicles 15:17; 20:33, and praises the few pious kings who destroyed them.

a. Rehoboam built במות with מצבות & אשׁרים on every high hill and under every green tree 1 Kings 14:23.

b. Asa did not remove the high places 1 Kings 15:14 (2 Chron 14:2; 2 Chronicles 14:4 is incorrect unless במות בעל).

c. Jehoshaphat in his reform on the basis of the covenant code did not remove them 1 Kings 22:44 (עוֺד הֵסִיר אֶתהַֿבָּמוֺת2Chronicles 17:16 is doubtless incorrect, possibly read מצבות); Jehoram, his son, made high places in the cities of Judah 2Chronicles 21:11 (ᵐ5 ᵑ9; not mountains HCT); and Ahaz sacrificed on high places on the hills and under every green tree and in every city of Judah 2 Kings 16:4; 2Chronicles 28:4,25; compare Micah 1:5 (read חטאת? so ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ7 Che and others; yet compare JBL^{1890, 73 f.})

d. Hezekiah removed them 2 Kings 18:4,22; 2Chronicles 31:1; 32:12; Isaiah 36:7; but Manasseh rebuilt them 2 Kings 21:3; 2Chronicles 33:3,19, and the people continued to sacrifice thereon to Yahweh 2 Chronicles 33:17.

e. Josiah, in his reform, based on the Deuteronomic code, defiled them and brake them down from Geba to Beersheba 2 Kings 23:5,8,9; but subsequently there were במות התפת in the valley of Ben Hinnom Jeremiah 7:31, and במות throughout Judah Jeremiah 17:3 compare Ezekiel 6:3,6; Ezekiel 20:29 (questioned by Ew & Co).

4 funereal mound (?) Ezekiel 43:7 (Thes, but in their high places AV RV; in their death ᵑ7 Theod Ew Hi RVm), Isaiah 53:9 (Lowth Ew Bö Rodwell Orelli; but in his death AV RV, or martyr death De Che Br).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to be high.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G18: ἀγαθός (agathos) • good, beneficial
- G144: αἰγιαλός (aigialos) • shore, beach
- G1015: βουνός (bounos) • hill, mound
- G1041: γαζοφυλάκιον (gazophylakion) • treasury
- G1497: εἴδωλον (eidolon) • idol
- G2048: ἔρημος (erēmos) • desert, wilderness
- G2379: θυσιαστήριον (thysiastērion) • altar
- G2479: ἰσχύς (ischys) • strength, might
- G5101: τίς (tis) • who, which, what
- G5308: ὑψηλός (hypsēlos) • high, lofty
- G5311: ὕψος (hypsos) • height, high place

These Greek terms provide a range of meanings related to elevation, worship, and religious practices, reflecting the diverse uses and implications of "בָּמָה" in the Hebrew Bible.

Usage: The term "בָּמָה" is used in the Hebrew Bible to refer to high places, which were often sites of worship, both legitimate and illegitimate. These high places could be natural elevations or constructed platforms used for religious rituals.

Context: The Hebrew word "בָּמָה" (bāmāh) appears frequently in the Old Testament, often in the context of worship practices. High places were significant in ancient Israelite religion and culture, serving as locations for altars and religious ceremonies. Initially, these sites were used for the worship of Yahweh, as seen in the early history of Israel. However, as time progressed, they became associated with idolatrous practices and the worship of foreign gods, which the prophets and reformers like King Josiah condemned.

In the historical books, such as 1 and 2 Kings, the term is often used to describe the places where the Israelites engaged in syncretistic worship, blending the worship of Yahweh with Canaanite religious practices. For example, 1 Kings 14:23 states, "For they also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree."

The prophets frequently spoke against the use of high places for idolatry. In Jeremiah 7:31, the prophet condemns the high places of Topheth, where child sacrifices were made: "They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Hinnom to burn their sons and daughters in the fire, something I did not command, nor did it enter My mind."

Despite their association with idolatry, high places were not inherently negative. Before the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem, high places were legitimate sites for worship. However, after the Temple's establishment, worship was centralized, and the use of high places was discouraged.

Forms and Transliterations

בְּבָמוֹתָ֑ם בַּבָּמ֑וֹת בַּבָּמ֔וֹת בַּבָּמ֖וֹת בַּבָּמָ֖ה בַּבָּמָֽה׃ בַּבָּמֽוֹת׃ בַּבָּמוֹת֙ בָּ֝מֹתַ֗י בָּ֣מֳתֵי בָּ֥מֳתֵי בָּמ֑וֹת בָּמ֔וֹת בָּמ֣וֹת בָּמ֥וֹת בָּמ֨וֹת בָּמָ֗ה בָּמֹֽתֵיכֶ֗ם בָּמֹתֶ֕יךָ בָּמֹתָ֖יו בָּמֹתָ֖ם בָּמֹתָ֣יו בָּמֽוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ בָּמוֹת֙ בָּמוֹתֵ֥ימוֹ בָּמוֹתֶ֖יךָ בָּמוֹתַ֖י בָּמוֹתָֽם׃ בָמ֔וֹת בָמ֖וֹת בָמָ֔ה בָמֽוֹת׃ בָּ֣מֳתֵי בָּ֥מֳתֵי בבמה בבמה׃ בבמות בבמות׃ בבמותם במה במות במות׃ במותי במותיך במותיכם׃ במותימו במותם׃ במתי במתיו במתיך במתיכם במתם הַ֠בָּמוֹת הַבָּמ֔וֹת הַבָּמ֖וֹת הַבָּמ֗וֹת הַבָּמ֜וֹת הַבָּמ֞וֹת הַבָּמ֤וֹת הַבָּמ֥וֹת הַבָּמָ֑ה הַבָּמָ֔ה הַבָּמָ֖ה הַבָּמָ֛ה הַבָּמָ֜תָה הַבָּמָ֣ה הַבָּמָֽה׃ הַבָּמָה֙ הַבָּמֽוֹת׃ הַבָּמוֹת֙ הבמה הבמה׃ הבמות הבמות׃ הבמתה וְהַ֨בָּמ֔וֹת וְהַבָּמ֑וֹת וְהַבָּמ֖וֹת וּבָמ֣וֹת ובמות והבמות לְבָמ֥וֹת לַבָּמ֖וֹת לַבָּמָ֖ה לַבָּמָ֤ה לבמה לבמות מֵֽהַבָּמָ֔ה מֵהַבָּמָ֖ה מהבמה bā·māh ḇā·māh bā·mō·ṯām bā·mō·ṯāw bā·mō·ṯay bā·mo·ṯê bā·mō·ṯe·ḵā bā·mō·ṯê·ḵem bā·mō·w·ṯām bā·mō·w·ṯay bā·mō·w·ṯe·ḵā bā·mō·w·ṯê·ḵem bā·mō·w·ṯê·mōw bā·mō·wṯ ḇā·mō·wṯ bab·bā·māh bab·bā·mō·wṯ babbaMah babbāmāh babbaMot babbāmōwṯ baMah bāmāh ḇāmāh baMot bamoTai bamoTam bāmōṯām bamoTav bāmōṯāw bāmōṯay bāmoṯê bamoTeicha bamoteiChem bamoTeimov bāmōṯeḵā bāmōṯêḵem bāmōwṯ ḇāmōwṯ bāmōwṯām bāmōwṯay bāmōwṯeḵā bāmōwṯêḵem bāmōwṯêmōw bə·ḇā·mō·w·ṯām bəḇāmōwṯām bevamoTam Bomotei hab·bā·mā·ṯāh hab·bā·māh hab·bā·mō·wṯ habbaMah habbāmāh habbaMatah habbāmāṯāh habbaMot habbāmōwṯ lab·bā·māh lab·bā·mō·wṯ labbaMah labbāmāh labbaMot labbāmōwṯ lə·ḇā·mō·wṯ ləḇāmōwṯ levaMot mê·hab·bā·māh mehabbaMah mêhabbāmāh ū·ḇā·mō·wṯ ūḇāmōwṯ uvaMot vaMah vaMot vehabbaMot wə·hab·bā·mō·wṯ wəhabbāmōwṯ

Englishman's Concordance

Leviticus 26:30
HEB: וְהִשְׁמַדְתִּ֞י אֶת־ בָּמֹֽתֵיכֶ֗ם וְהִכְרַתִּי֙ אֶת־
NAS: I then will destroy your high places, and cut down
KJV: And I will destroy your high places, and cut down
INT: will destroy your high and cut your incense

Numbers 21:28
HEB: מוֹאָ֔ב בַּעֲלֵ֖י בָּמ֥וֹת אַרְנֹֽן׃
INT: of Moab the dominant height of the Arnon

Numbers 33:52
HEB: וְאֵ֥ת כָּל־ בָּמֹתָ֖ם תַּשְׁמִֽידוּ׃
NAS: and demolish all their high places;
KJV: and quite pluck down all their high places:
INT: and destroy all their high and demolish

Deuteronomy 32:13
HEB: [בָּמֹותֵי כ] (בָּ֣מֳתֵי ק) אָ֔רֶץ
NAS: He made him ride on the high places of the earth,
KJV: He made him ride on the high places of the earth,
INT: ride and height of the earth ate

Deuteronomy 33:29
HEB: וְאַתָּ֖ה עַל־ בָּמוֹתֵ֥ימוֹ תִדְרֹֽךְ׃ ס
NAS: before you, And you will tread upon their high places.
KJV: unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
INT: you upon their high will tread

1 Samuel 9:12
HEB: הַיּ֛וֹם לָעָ֖ם בַּבָּמָֽה׃
NAS: have a sacrifice on the high place today.
KJV: to day in the high place:
INT: today the people the high

1 Samuel 9:13
HEB: בְּטֶרֶם֩ יַעֲלֶ֨ה הַבָּמָ֜תָה לֶאֱכֹ֗ל כִּ֠י
NAS: he goes up to the high place to eat,
KJV: him, before he go up to the high place to eat:
INT: before goes to the high to eat because

1 Samuel 9:14
HEB: לִקְרָאתָ֔ם לַעֲל֖וֹת הַבָּמָֽה׃ ס
NAS: them to go up to the high place.
KJV: them, for to go up to the high place.
INT: toward to go to the high

1 Samuel 9:19
HEB: עֲלֵ֤ה לְפָנַי֙ הַבָּמָ֔ה וַאֲכַלְתֶּ֥ם עִמִּ֖י
NAS: up before me to the high place, for you shall eat
KJV: before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat
INT: Go before to the high shall eat with

1 Samuel 9:25
HEB: וַיֵּרְד֥וּ מֵהַבָּמָ֖ה הָעִ֑יר וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר
NAS: When they came down from the high place into the city,
KJV: And when they were come down from the high place into the city,
INT: came the high the city spoke

1 Samuel 10:5
HEB: נְבִיאִים֙ יֹרְדִ֣ים מֵֽהַבָּמָ֔ה וְלִפְנֵיהֶ֞ם נֵ֤בֶל
NAS: coming down from the high place with harp,
KJV: coming down from the high place with a psaltery,
INT: of prophets coming the high before harp

1 Samuel 10:13
HEB: מֵֽהִתְנַבּ֔וֹת וַיָּבֹ֖א הַבָּמָֽה׃
NAS: he came to the high place.
KJV: he came to the high place.
INT: prophesying came to the high

2 Samuel 1:19
HEB: יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַל־ בָּמוֹתֶ֖יךָ חָלָ֑ל אֵ֖יךְ
NAS: is slain on your high places! How
KJV: is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty
INT: Israel on your high is slain How

2 Samuel 1:25
HEB: יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן עַל־ בָּמוֹתֶ֖יךָ חָלָֽל׃
NAS: Jonathan is slain on your high places.
KJV: [thou wast] slain in thine high places.
INT: Jonathan on your high is slain

2 Samuel 22:34
HEB: כָּאַיָּל֑וֹת וְעַ֥ל בָּמוֹתַ֖י יַעֲמִדֵֽנִי׃
NAS: [feet], And sets me on my high places.
KJV: [feet]: and setteth me upon my high places.
INT: hinds' on my high and sets

1 Kings 3:2
HEB: הָעָ֔ם מְזַבְּחִ֖ים בַּבָּמ֑וֹת כִּ֠י לֹא־
NAS: sacrificing on the high places, because
KJV: sacrificed in high places, because there was no house
INT: the people sacrificing the high because no

1 Kings 3:3
HEB: אָבִ֑יו רַ֚ק בַּבָּמ֔וֹת ה֥וּא מְזַבֵּ֖חַ
NAS: and burned incense on the high places.
KJV: and burnt incense in high places.
INT: of his father but the high he sacrificed

1 Kings 3:4
HEB: כִּ֥י הִ֖יא הַבָּמָ֣ה הַגְּדוֹלָ֑ה אֶ֤לֶף
NAS: for that was the great high place; Solomon
KJV: [was] the great high place: a thousand
INT: for that high was the great A thousand

1 Kings 11:7
HEB: יִבְנֶ֨ה שְׁלֹמֹ֜ה בָּמָ֗ה לִכְמוֹשׁ֙ שִׁקֻּ֣ץ
NAS: built a high place for Chemosh
KJV: build an high place for Chemosh,
INT: built Solomon A high Chemosh the detestable

1 Kings 12:31
HEB: אֶת־ בֵּ֣ית בָּמ֑וֹת וַיַּ֤עַשׂ כֹּֽהֲנִים֙
NAS: houses on high places, and made
KJV: an house of high places, and made
INT: made houses high and made priests

1 Kings 12:32
HEB: אֶת־ כֹּהֲנֵ֥י הַבָּמ֖וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָֽׂה׃
NAS: the priests of the high places which
KJV: the priests of the high places which he had made.
INT: Bethel the priests of the high which had made

1 Kings 13:2
HEB: אֶת־ כֹּהֲנֵ֤י הַבָּמוֹת֙ הַמַּקְטִרִ֣ים עָלֶ֔יךָ
NAS: the priests of the high places who burn incense
KJV: the priests of the high places that burn incense
INT: against the priests of the high burn against

1 Kings 13:32
HEB: כָּל־ בָּתֵּ֣י הַבָּמ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּעָרֵ֥י
NAS: the houses of the high places which
KJV: and against all the houses of the high places which [are] in the cities
INT: all the houses of the high which the cities

1 Kings 13:33
HEB: הָעָם֙ כֹּהֲנֵ֣י בָמ֔וֹת הֶֽחָפֵץ֙ יְמַלֵּ֣א
NAS: priests of the high places
KJV: priests of the high places: whosoever would,
INT: the people priests of the high would accomplish

1 Kings 13:33
HEB: וִיהִ֖י כֹּהֲנֵ֥י בָמֽוֹת׃
NAS: of the high places from among all
KJV: him, and he became [one] of the priests of the high places.
INT: become to be priests places

102 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1116
102 Occurrences

bab·bā·māh — 3 Occ.
bab·bā·mō·wṯ — 11 Occ.
bā·māh — 1 Occ.
bā·mō·wṯ — 14 Occ.
bā·mō·w·ṯay — 3 Occ.
bā·mō·ṯām — 2 Occ.
bā·mō·ṯāw — 3 Occ.
bā·mō·w·ṯe·ḵā — 3 Occ.
bā·mō·ṯê·ḵem — 2 Occ.
bā·mō·w·ṯê·mōw — 1 Occ.
bə·ḇā·mō·w·ṯām — 1 Occ.
bā·mo·ṯê — 6 Occ.
hab·bā·māh — 9 Occ.
hab·bā·mā·ṯāh — 1 Occ.
hab·bā·mō·wṯ — 24 Occ.
lab·bā·māh — 2 Occ.
lab·bā·mō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
lə·ḇā·mō·wṯ — 2 Occ.
mê·hab·bā·māh — 2 Occ.
ū·ḇā·mō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
ḇā·māh — 1 Occ.
ḇā·mō·wṯ — 5 Occ.
wə·hab·bā·mō·wṯ — 4 Occ.