Lexical Summary amam: To dim, to darken, to grow faint Original Word: עָמַם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance become dim, hide A primitive root; to associate; by implication, to overshadow (by huddling together) -- become dim, hide. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to darken, dim NASB Translation dark the has become (1), match (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. [עָמַם] verb darken, dim (Late Hebrew id.; Arabic  cover, veil, conceal; ᵑ7 עֲמַם grow dark); — Qal Perfect3plural suffix עֲמָמֻהוּ Ezekiel 31:8 dubious, but probably (as Thes) cedars did not eclipse him; עֲמָמוּךָ Ezekiel 28:3 no secret do they hold dark (= is held dark) for thee (Ges§ 117x). Hoph`al Imperfect3masculine singular יוּעַם זָהָב Lamentations 4:1 (figurative) how is the gold dimmed ! compare Bu. עֲמָמִים, עַמְמֵי see I. עַם above עִמָּנוּאֵל see below עִם above Topical Lexicon Conceptual Scope and Nuances The root עָמַם conveys the idea of something once bright, open, or distinguished that becomes dull, hidden, or no longer comparable in brilliance. It functions poetically to picture loss of luster, concealment of secrets, and the impossibility of equals. While the lexical core is compact, its imagery is rich, spanning the physical (tarnished gold), the intellectual (concealed mysteries), and the political (matchless grandeur). Canonical Distribution 1. Lamentations 4:1 – Judah’s treasured glory grows dim in the ashes of Jerusalem’s fall. Imagery of Diminishment and Judgment (Lamentations 4:1) “How the gold has grown dim, the fine gold become dull! The sacred gems are scattered at the head of every street.” Here עָמַם frames Jerusalem’s collapse. Precious metals often symbolize covenant blessing (Exodus 25:11; 1 Kings 6:20). Their dimming dramatizes sin’s capacity to tarnish what God once called “glorious” (Psalm 72:19). The temple stones, once radiant reflections of divine presence, now lie common in the dust—a sober reminder that holiness without obedience fades into reproach (Lamentations 2:1). Concealment of Secrets and the Illusion of Omniscience (Ezekiel 28:3) “Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you!” The Lord mocks Tyre’s monarch by granting him a reputation of inscrutable perception, only to expose his limits moments later (Ezekiel 28:6–10). עָמַם underscores that human sagacity, however dazzling, is bound by creaturely finitude; God alone “knows what lies in darkness” (Daniel 2:22). The verse juxtaposes worldly acumen with true prophetic insight, urging readers to seek wisdom that begins with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7). Incomparable Majesty and the Pride of Empires (Ezekiel 31:8) “The cedars in the Garden of God could not rival it … no tree in the Garden of God could compare with its beauty.” Assyria’s empire, likened to a cedar, is declared peerless. The verb’s nuance of “no match” magnifies both its greatness and the impending severity of its downfall (Ezekiel 31:12–14). Just as the cedar’s height invited judgment, so nations—or individuals—who exalt themselves will be humbled (James 4:6). Adoration of a created splendor that eclipses the Creator is idolatry draped in botanical poetry. Historical Setting • Lamentations 4:1 dates to the aftermath of 586 B.C., when Babylon leveled Jerusalem. The dimmed gold may refer to soot-covered temple articles or the psychological tarnish of disgrace. Theological Threads 1. Glory Lost and Regained – The dimmed gold anticipates humanity’s fall (Romans 3:23) and points forward to restoration, when “the city has no need of the sun” because God’s glory illumines it (Revelation 21:23). Pastoral and Homiletical Applications • Call to Repentance – Just as gold can tarnish, so churches and believers may drift from first love (Revelation 2:4). Regular self-examination and confession keep the heart bright. Christological Fulfillment Whereas gold in Jerusalem dimmed, Christ shines as “the radiance of God’s glory” (Hebrews 1:3). Secrets that baffled sages are disclosed in Him (Matthew 13:17). No earthly kingdom matches His dominion (Revelation 11:15). Thus, every aspect of עָמַם—dimming, hiding, and surpassing—finds its resolution in the unblemished, revealed, and unrivaled glory of Jesus Christ. Concluding Observations Though infrequent, עָמַם captures a sweeping biblical motif: what is merely human inevitably fades, conceals, or falls short; what is of God endures in everlasting brilliance. From Jerusalem’s ashes to Tyre’s hubris and Assyria’s cedars, the verb signals the stark contrast between transient splendor and the enduring majesty that calls all people to humility, repentance, and worship. Forms and Transliterations יוּעַ֣ם יועם עֲמָמֻהוּ֮ עֲמָמֽוּךָ׃ עממהו עממוך׃ ‘ă·mā·mu·hū ‘ă·mā·mū·ḵā ‘ămāmuhū ‘ămāmūḵā amaMucha amamuHu yū‘am yū·‘am yuAmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Lamentations 4:1 HEB: אֵיכָה֙ יוּעַ֣ם זָהָ֔ב יִשְׁנֶ֖א NAS: How dark the gold has become, KJV: How is the gold become dim! [how] is the most INT: how dark the gold has changed Ezekiel 28:3 Ezekiel 31:8 3 Occurrences |
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