2229. zaram

Lexical Summary

zaram: To pour down, to rain upon

Original Word: זָרַם
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: zaram
Pronunciation: zah-RAHM
Phonetic Spelling: (zaw-ram')
KJV: carry away as with a flood, pour out
NASB: away like, away like a flood, poured, swept them away like
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to gush (as water)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

gush, carry away as with a flood, pour out

A primitive root; to gush (as water) -- carry away as with a flood, pour out.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to pour forth in floods, flood away
NASB Translation
away like (1), away like a flood (1), poured (1), swept them away like (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[זָרַם] verb pour forth in floods, flood away (Assyrian zarâmu, overwhelm, VR^{36, 57 c} Dl^{Pr 73 & in} Zim^{BP 119}) —

Qal Perfect2masculine singular suffix זְרַמְתָּם Psalm 90:5 thou floodest them with rain, sweepest them (men) away.

Po. Perfect3plural זֹ֫רְמוּ מַ֫יִם עָבוֺת Psalm 77:18 the cloud masses (Che) poured forth water.

Topical Lexicon

Overview

The verb זָרַם depicts a sudden, forceful movement akin to storm-driven torrents. In Scripture it is never used for gentle rain or quiet streams; it pictures water or circumstance rushing irresistibly under the hand of God. Both appearances lie in poetic prayers where the worshiper contemplates divine power and human limitation.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Psalm 77:17 – “The clouds poured down water; the skies resounded with thunder; Your arrows flashed back and forth”.
2. Psalm 90:5 – “You whisk them away in their sleep; they disappear in the morning like the new grass”.

Divine Sovereignty Displayed in Nature (Psalm 77:17)

Here זָרַם portrays a deluge unleashed at the Lord’s command. The psalm recounts Israel’s deliverance at the Red Sea (verses 16–20), but the language widens to any storm in which Yahweh rides upon the waters (compare Psalm 29:3–10). Thunder, lightning, and torrential rain become servants announcing His presence. The overwhelming flow reminds readers that creation responds instantly to its Maker; nothing restrains Him when He purposes to redeem or to judge.

Human Life Swept Away (Psalm 90:5)

Moses applies the same verb to the brevity of man. Just as a flash flood scours a wadi, the passing years carry generations to their grave. The image underscores the chasm between everlasting God (Psalm 90:2) and fragile humanity (Psalm 90:10). By employing storm language for mortality, the prayer confronts complacency and urges wisdom: “Teach us to number our days” (Psalm 90:12).

Theological Themes

• Judgment and Mercy: In both psalms the torrent originates with God, yet the purpose differs—deliverance in Psalm 77, discipline in Psalm 90. The dual usage affirms that His mighty acts always harmonize with His righteous character.
• Transcendence: The sudden, uncontrollable surge symbolizes divine transcendence. While people forecast weather and plan lifespans, God alone commands the storm and appoints the day of death.
• Dependence: When lives are “whisked away,” wisdom dictates seeking refuge in the One who rules the waters (Isaiah 43:2). The verb thus drives hearers toward faith and repentance.

Historical Background and Worship

Ancient Near Eastern peoples often feared chaotic waters as hostile deities. The psalmists, however, reframe the motif: the flood obeys Israel’s covenant Lord. Liturgical recitation of these psalms in Temple worship would reinforce national memory of Exodus miracles and sober reflection on mortality during communal fasts or New Year observances.

Ministry Implications

• Preaching: Ζָרַם texts serve to awaken awe of God’s might and soberness about life’s fragility, preparing hearts for the gospel promise of eternal security in Christ (John 10:28).
• Pastoral Care: In bereavement, Psalm 90 offers language that validates grief while directing hope to God’s permanence (Psalm 90:1).
• Prayer: Believers may echo Psalm 77 when interceding for deliverance, acknowledging that the Lord who once split seas still commands today’s “storms.”

Connections to New Testament Revelation

Jesus stilled the tempest with a word (Mark 4:39), manifesting authority identical to the One who sends the torrent in Psalms. Likewise, the sudden judgment of the flood-like days of Noah (Matthew 24:38–39) parallels the sweeping away of Psalm 90, warning of Christ’s imminent return.

Devotional Reflection

The same torrent that terrifies can, under God’s command, carve channels of grace. When life’s events rush unexpectedly, Psalm 77 invites remembrance of past deliverances, and Psalm 90 calls for humble numbering of days. Both guide worshipers to rest in the everlasting arms stronger than any flood.

Forms and Transliterations

זְ֭רַמְתָּם זֹ֤רְמוּ זרמו זרמתם zə·ram·tām zəramtām Zeramtom zō·rə·mū Zoremu zōrəmū

Englishman's Concordance

Psalm 77:17
HEB: זֹ֤רְמוּ מַ֨יִם ׀ עָב֗וֹת
NAS: The clouds poured out water; The skies
KJV: The clouds poured out water: the skies
INT: poured water the clouds

Psalm 90:5
HEB: זְ֭רַמְתָּם שֵׁנָ֣ה יִהְי֑וּ
NAS: You have swept them away like a flood, they fall
KJV: Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are [as] a sleep:
INT: have swept asleep fall

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 2229
2 Occurrences

zə·ram·tām — 1 Occ.
zō·rə·mū — 1 Occ.