Lexical Summary ramam: To be high, to rise, to be exalted Original Word: רָמַם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance exalt, get oneself up, lift up self, mount up A primitive root; to rise (literally or figuratively) -- exalt, get (oneself) up, lift up (self), mount up. Brown-Driver-Briggs I. [רָמֹם] verb be exalted ("" form (according to Masora) of רום ); — Qal Perfect3plural רוֺמּוּ מְעַט וְאֵינֶנּוּ Job 24:24 (perhaps passive form Ges§ 67m Bu; Du רֻמוֺ); — Participle רֹמֵם see רום Po-'1. Niph`al Imperfect1singular אֵרוֺמָ֔ם Isaiah 33:10 ("" אֶנָּשֵׂא; Hithpo`lel from רום Köi. 454 Ges§ 54c), 3 masculine plural וַיֵּרֹ֫מוּ Ezekiel 10:15 (of cherubim), יֵרוֺ֫מּוּ Ezekiel 10:17, וַיֵּרוֺ֫מּוּ Ezekiel 10:19; Imperative masculine plural הֵרֹ֫מוּ מִתּוֺח הָעֵדָה Numbers 17:10 (P). [רָמַם] verb denominative be wormy; — Imperfect3masculine singular (with accusative result, Ges§ 121d N) וַיָּ֫רֻם תּוֺלָעַים Exodus 16:20 (Ges§ 67n; +וַיִּבְאַשׁ). רֹמַמְתִּי עֶזֶר see below רום. Topical Lexicon Range of Meaning and Canonical Distribution רָמַם depicts both physical ascent and the more abstract sense of exaltation. Its seven appearances span Torah, Wisdom literature, Psalms, Prophets, and Ezekiel’s visionary narrative, enabling Scripture to connect tangible movement with the loftier reality of honor and supremacy. Commanded Separation and Urgency (Numbers 16:45) During Korah’s rebellion the Lord says, “Get away from this congregation, so that I may consume them in an instant” (Numbers 16:45). Here רָמַם urges Moses and Aaron to “rise up” from the people. The vocabulary underscores the urgency of distancing oneself from sin before judgment falls. In congregational life the verse remains a sober call to pastoral vigilance: spiritual leaders must rise from compromise and intercede, even as they stand in the breach. Fleeting Human Grandeur (Job 24:24) Job’s lament exposes the brevity of wicked success: “They are exalted for a little while, then they are gone” (Job 24:24). רָמַם highlights a hollow prestige soon erased by death and divine justice. The term warns against any ministry strategy that equates visible prominence with lasting blessing; only righteousness exalts a people. Covenantal Praise and Yahweh’s Triumph (Psalm 118:16) “The right hand of the LORD is exalted” (Psalm 118:16). Here רָמַם focuses solely on God’s victorious power. The psalmist’s confidence invites worshipers to magnify the Lord’s saving acts rather than their own abilities. Public worship that employs this verse situates every victory in the covenant faithfulness of God. Personal Adoration and Eschatological Hope (Isaiah 25:1) “O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You; I will praise Your name” (Isaiah 25:1). רָמַם merges thanksgiving for past wonders with anticipation of future deliverance. In Isaiah’s larger context—where death will be swallowed up and tears wiped away—exaltation becomes a foretaste of new-creation joy. Homiletically, the term anchors hope in the character of God rather than shifting geopolitical circumstances. Visionary Elevation and Divine Mobility (Ezekiel 10:15, 10:17, 10:19) Threefold repetition marks the climax of Ezekiel’s temple vision: “The cherubim rose up” (10:15); “When the cherubim moved, the wheels moved alongside them” (10:17); “Then the cherubim rose up... and the glory of the God of Israel was above them” (10:19). רָמַם describes literal upward motion that signifies the departure of divine glory. The prophet underscores that God is not confined to earthly structures; His holiness “rises” beyond polluted worship. In ministry application, institutional forms must never replace the dynamic presence of God’s Spirit. Theological Threads 1. Transcendence and Immanence: רָמַם marries the heights of God’s majesty with His active intervention in history. Christological Horizon Although רָמַם itself does not appear in the New Testament, its themes resonate in the exaltation language of Philippians 2:9 where God “highly exalted” His Son. The Old Testament pattern establishes a trajectory culminating in the risen Christ, whose ascension fulfills every anticipation of righteous exaltation and secures the believer’s hope of being “raised up” with Him (Ephesians 2:6). Practical Ministry Implications • Preaching: Contrast fleeting human status with the abiding exaltation of the Lord. Synthesis רָמַם encapsulates both upward movement and exalted status, depicting a God who lifts, judges, departs, and ultimately prevails. From Korah’s rebellion to Ezekiel’s vision, the word urges the covenant community to forsake self-aggrandizement, celebrate divine victories, and await the consummate exaltation revealed in Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations אֲרֽוֹמִמְךָ֙ ארוממך הֵרֹ֗מּוּ הרמו וַיֵּר֨וֹמּוּ וַיֵּרֹ֖מּוּ וירומו וירמו יֵר֣וֹמּוּ ירומו ר֤וֹמּוּ רוֹמֵמָ֑ה רומו רוממה ’ă·rō·w·mim·ḵā ’ărōwmimḵā aromiCha hê·rōm·mū heRommu hêrōmmū rō·w·mê·māh rō·wm·mū romeMah Rommu rōwmêmāh rōwmmū vaiyeRommu way·yê·rō·wm·mū way·yê·rōm·mū wayyêrōmmū wayyêrōwmmū yê·rō·wm·mū yeRommu yêrōwmmūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 16:45 HEB: הֵרֹ֗מּוּ מִתּוֹךְ֙ הָעֵדָ֣ה NAS: Get away from among this KJV: Get you up from among INT: Get among congregation Job 24:24 Psalm 118:16 Isaiah 25:1 Ezekiel 10:15 Ezekiel 10:17 Ezekiel 10:19 7 Occurrences |
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