Lexical Summary rum: height Original Word: רוּם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance height (Aramaic) from ruwm; (literally) altitude -- height. see HEBREW ruwm NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) from rum Definition height NASB Translation height (5). Brown-Driver-Briggs [רוּם] noun masculineDan 4:7 height; — suffix רוּמֵהּ, of temple Ezra 6:3, image Daniel 3:1, tree in vision Daniel 4:7; Daniel 4:8; Daniel 4:17. Topical Lexicon Overview of UsageStrong’s Hebrew 7314 appears five times, each time describing literal height or exaltation of a structure or object. Two settings involve post-exilic Judah (Ezra 6:3), while three belong to the Babylonian narratives of Daniel (Daniel 3:1; 4:10, 11, 20). The term consistently marks something conspicuous—so tall that it invites notice, response, and, in two cases, divine judgment. Occurrences and Biblical Context • Ezra 6:3. When King Cyrus decrees the rebuilding of the temple, he specifies, “its height shall be sixty cubits”. The measurement underscores both the majesty God intends for His dwelling and the king’s willingness to finance a project of grand scale. Height testifies to the restoration of worship after exile, pointing to God’s faithfulness to His promises. • Daniel 3:1. Nebuchadnezzar erects a golden image “sixty cubits high and six cubits wide”. The deliberate enormity contrasts sharply with the humble faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The height functions as a call to idolatry and state power, setting the stage for God’s deliverance of His servants. • Daniel 4:10-11, 20. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream features a tree “whose height was great… its top reached the sky”. The repetition of height mirrors the king’s soaring pride. God’s subsequent command to chop down the tree dramatizes His sovereignty: just as He grants height, He can remove it. Daniel interprets the tree as the king himself, highlighting the peril of self-exaltation. Symbolic Themes 1. Divine Majesty versus Human Pride In Ezra, height magnifies God’s dwelling; in Daniel, it exposes Babylonian arrogance. The same word can glorify God or indict man, depending on the heart behind the elevation. 2. Visibility and Influence Height makes something impossible to ignore. The temple, the statue, and the tree dominate their horizons, paralleling the influence their builders or owners seek. Scripture employs the imagery to teach that influence must be surrendered to God’s purposes, lest it become idolatrous. 3. Judgment and Restoration High structures in Daniel invite divine scrutiny. The tree’s downfall proclaims that “the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He wills” (Daniel 4:17). In contrast, the temple’s height indicates restoration, demonstrating that God can raise up what He once allowed to be torn down. Historical Significance Cyrus’s decree (Ezra 6) proves that even pagan rulers serve God’s redemptive plans, funding a sanctuary of impressive stature. A generation later, Nebuchadnezzar’s towering image and dream tree reveal a different Gentile monarch resisting the same sovereignty. The chronological progression—temple height first, Babylonian heights later—reminds readers that God’s purposes for His people stand, even amid imperial grandeur. Ministry Implications • Worship Spaces. The temple’s height encourages churches today to pursue excellence in spaces dedicated to God, not as vanity but as testimony to His worth. • Confronting Idolatry. Nebuchadnezzar’s statue challenges believers to discern modern “high places” that demand allegiance—cultural icons, political power, or personal ambition. • Humility in Leadership. The felled tree warns leaders that prominence without submission leads to humiliation. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you” (James 4:10). Christological Connections The contrast between man’s attempt to reach heaven (Daniel) and God’s descent in the incarnation foreshadows Jesus Christ, who “humbled Himself” (Philippians 2:8) and was afterward “highly exalted” (Philippians 2:9). True exaltation comes by way of humility, a principle Nebuchadnezzar learned the hard way. Reflection Height can proclaim God’s glory or man’s pride. Every believer must ask: Does what I build—whether ministry, reputation, or enterprise—point upward to the Lord or upward to myself? The recurring theme of רוּם invites a response of worshipful humility, ensuring that all elevation in our lives serves the One whose throne is truly “high and lifted up” (Isaiah 6:1). Forms and Transliterations וְרוּמֵ֥הּ וְרוּמֵהּ֙ ורומה רוּמֵהּ֙ רומה rū·mêh ruMeh rūmêh veruMeh wə·rū·mêh wərūmêhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 6:3 HEB: וְאֻשּׁ֖וֹהִי מְסֽוֹבְלִ֑ין רוּמֵהּ֙ אַמִּ֣ין שִׁתִּ֔ין NAS: be retained, its height being 60 KJV: thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore INT: the foundations laid the height cubits Daniel 3:1 Daniel 4:10 Daniel 4:11 Daniel 4:20 5 Occurrences |
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