Lexical Summary paam: To beat, to strike, to impel, to move, to trouble Original Word: פָעַם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance move, trouble A primitive root; to tap, i.e. Beat regularly; hence (generally) to impel or agitate -- move, trouble. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to thrust, impel NASB Translation anxious (1), stir (1), troubled (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מָּעַם] verb thrust, impel (probably originally strike, hit, see derivatives, and Phoenician פעם foot); — Qal Infinitive construct suffix לְפַעֲמוֺ Judges 13:25 the spirit of ׳י began to impel him. Niph`al be distrurbed, Perfect1singular נִפְעַמְתִּי Psalm 77:5; Imperfect3feminine singular וַתִּמָּ֫עֶם רוּחוֺ Genesis 41:8; Daniel 2:3; so Hithpa`el Imperfect3feminine singular וַתִּתְמָּ֫עֶם רוּחוֺ Daniel 2:1. Topical Lexicon Summary of UsageThe verb פָעַם (paʿam, Strong’s 6470) appears five times in Scripture and consistently depicts an interior stirring—whether emotional, spiritual, or physical—that God employs to advance His redemptive purposes. The contexts span royal courts (Genesis 41; Daniel 2), personal lament (Psalm 77), and the formative years of a judge (Judges 13), illustrating the breadth of divine interaction with human hearts. Narrative Settings 1. Genesis 41:8 – Pharaoh awakens from troubling dreams: “his spirit was troubled”. The agitation presses him to seek supernatural insight, setting the stage for Joseph’s exaltation and Israel’s preservation. Themes and Theology The word spans two primary motifs: • Divine Disruption for Revelation Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar are jolted awake so that God’s servants may interpret their distress and proclaim His sovereignty. Paʿam thus frames the intersection between human helplessness and divine wisdom. • Holy Impulse for Empowerment In Judges 13, paʿam signals the Spirit’s preliminary work in Samson, a prototype of New-Covenant empowerment (cf. Acts 1:8). What begins as an inward stirring culminates in visible acts of deliverance. Spiritual and Pastoral Significance 1. Awakening to Seek God The unrest of Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, and Asaph shows that inner turmoil can be providential, driving individuals toward divine counsel. Ministry practitioners may encourage seekers to view personal agitation as an invitation to prayer and Scripture. 2. Preparation for Service Samson’s early stirrings disclose that vocational calling often starts with an inexplicable restlessness the Spirit uses to align desires with God’s mission. 3. Lament as Worship Psalm 77 validates honest expression of distress within worship. Troubled saints need not suppress emotion but can pour it out before the Lord, trusting Him to transform agitation into assurance. Historical Implications Paʿam marks pivotal junctures in redemptive history: Joseph’s rise ensured Israel’s survival; Samson’s impulses initiated deliverance from Philistine oppression; Daniel’s interpretation anchored exiles in hope. Each instance demonstrates God’s active guidance of nations and individuals through interior movement. Christological and Eschatological Glimpses The disturbed monarchs of Genesis and Daniel prefigure a greater King whose birth likewise “troubled” Herod and all Jerusalem (Matthew 2:3). The motif anticipates the final shaking of kingdoms (Hebrews 12:26-27) when every heart will be stirred to acknowledge Christ’s lordship. Application for Today • Discern unrest: differentiate between conviction from the Spirit and mere anxiety by measuring against Scripture. Conclusion Whether troubling a king, stirring a judge, or unsettling a psalmist, paʿam highlights God’s prerogative to move within human spirits for His glory and our good. Recognizing and responding to such divine disturbances remains vital for faithful living and effective ministry. Forms and Transliterations וַתִּפָּ֣עֶם וַתִּתְפָּ֣עֶם ותפעם ותתפעם לְפַעֲמ֖וֹ לפעמו נִ֝פְעַ֗מְתִּי נפעמתי lə·p̄a·‘ă·mōw lefaaMo ləp̄a‘ămōw nifAmti nip̄‘amtî nip̄·‘am·tî vattipPaem vattitPaem wat·tip·pā·‘em wat·tiṯ·pā·‘em wattippā‘em wattiṯpā‘emLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 41:8 HEB: וַיְהִ֤י בַבֹּ֙קֶר֙ וַתִּפָּ֣עֶם רוּח֔וֹ וַיִּשְׁלַ֗ח NAS: his spirit was troubled, so he sent KJV: that his spirit was troubled; and he sent INT: become the morning was troubled his spirit sent Judges 13:25 Psalm 77:4 Daniel 2:1 Daniel 2:3 5 Occurrences |
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