Lexical Summary romemuth: Exaltation, loftiness, elevation Original Word: רֹמֵמֻת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance lifting up of self From the active participle of ramam; exaltation -- lifting up of self. see HEBREW ramam NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom rum Definition uplifting, arising NASB Translation lifting (1). Topical Lexicon Definition and Semantic Field Derived from the root רום (rum, “to be high, exalted”), רֹמֵמֻת captures the idea of majestic elevation. It portrays an action or state in which God manifests His supreme authority, causing every competing power to yield. While the noun appears only once, its theological reach is extensive, tying into a wider biblical pattern of Yahweh’s self-exaltation that elicits awe, obedience, and reverent fear. Old Testament Occurrence and Context Isaiah 33:3 stands alone in using רֹמֵמֻת: “At the sound of Your roaring, peoples flee; when You rise up, nations scatter”. Spoken to Judah during Assyria’s menace, the verse contrasts human terror with divine poise. The prophet assures that when the LORD exalts Himself, imperial forces dissolve. רֹמֵמֻת therefore anchors a message of comfort to the faithful remnant: ultimate security rests not in human treaties but in the transcendent intervention of God. Historical Setting Around 701 B.C., Jerusalem faced Sennacherib’s armies. Isaiah 33 bridges lament and hope: the Assyrian threat looms, yet God’s “rising” promises deliverance. The single use of רֹמֵמֻת frames the turning point. Where diplomacy failed and walls seemed thin, covenantal faithfulness prevailed. Archaeological corroboration—such as Sennacherib’s annals boasting of caging Hezekiah—highlights the stark reversal when the angel of the LORD struck down the invaders (2 Kings 19:35). Isaiah’s vocabulary captures that miracle in miniature. Theological Significance 1. Divine Sovereignty. רֹמֵמֻת emphasizes God’s unilateral action; He has no equal (Isaiah 2:11, Psalm 46:10). Related Concepts and New Testament Parallels • The Septuagint renders רֹמֵמֻת with ὕψωσις (hypsōsis), a term shared with Philippians 2:9: “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place.” The Messiah’s exaltation fulfills the pattern set in Isaiah. Application in Ministry • Worship: Highlight God’s self-exaltation, steering congregations from celebrity culture to adoration of His unrivaled majesty (Psalm 34:3). Messianic and Prophetic Implications Isaiah 33 merges immediate deliverance with future hope. The exaltation language later concentrates on the Servant-Messiah (Isaiah 52:13) and culminates in His resurrection and ascension. Thus, רֹמֵמֻת lays groundwork for interpreting the cross as both humiliation and the prelude to exaltation—“He humbled Himself … therefore God exalted Him” (Philippians 2:8–9). Summary Although appearing only once, רֹמֵמֻת radiates a rich theology of divine exaltation that shapes worship, bolsters faith under pressure, and anticipates the Messiah’s victory. The nations may gather, but when God rises, they scatter; His people therefore live in confident expectation of His final, glorious self-manifestation. Forms and Transliterations מֵר֣וֹמְמֻתֶ֔ךָ מרוממתך mê·rō·wm·mu·ṯe·ḵā meRommuTecha mêrōwmmuṯeḵāLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 33:3 HEB: נָדְד֖וּ עַמִּ֑ים מֵר֣וֹמְמֻתֶ֔ךָ נָפְצ֖וּ גּוֹיִֽם׃ NAS: flee; At the lifting up of Yourself nations KJV: fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations INT: flee peoples the lifting disperse nations 1 Occurrence |
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