הָמָה (ha.mah)
ha.mah
to roar
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 21 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb hamah describes a deep, resonant sound that ranges from the low growl of an animal to the roaring of turbulent waters. Its core meaning involves making noise or being in a state of commotion, capturing both the physical act of vocalizing and the internal agitation that produces it.
This word carries a wide range of nuances depending on its subject. It describes the snarling of dogs in Psalm 59:7, the cooing of doves in Ezekiel 7:16, and the rumbling of waves in Isaiah 51:15. It also applies to human emotion, depicting the murmuring of a soul in discouragement as seen in Psalm 55:18 or the clamorous shouting of crowds.
The term often links internal distress with external expression. When used for people, it suggests a loss of composure, whether through rage, mourning, or prayerful lament. Translators render it variously as roar, murmur, or tumult, reflecting how the Bible views human emotion not just as feeling, but as a force that shakes and disturbs.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word hamah captures a sound that rises from deep within, whether it is the thundering of the sea or the heavy sigh of a weary heart. In Psalm 55:18, the psalmist describes his soul murmuring in distress, showing that God hears the quiet, turbulent noises of our inner life just as clearly as the roaring waves He commands in Isaiah 51:15.
When your emotions feel like a storm, remember that this agitation is not hidden from Him. The same God who stirs the waters to roar also listens to the mournful cries of His people. You do not need to silence your feelings to approach Him; instead, you can bring your unrest as it is.
This understanding invites you to trust that your inner turmoil is seen and valued. It is a reminder that even in your loudest moments of confusion or grief, there is a steady presence waiting to hear you out with compassion.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 21 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- it will groan2×
- and/ they roared2×
- [which] it roars2×
- [is] boisterous2×
- we growl1×
- turbulent1×
- they will be in an uproar1×
- they were turbulent1×
- they roar/ !1×
- they make a sound1×
- they are in a tumult1×
- noisy [places]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יֶהֱמֶ֔ה3×
- תֶּהֱמִ֪י1×
- נֶהֱמֶ֤ה1×
- כַּ/הֲמ֥וֹת1×
- יֶהֱמָי֑וּ/ן1×
- יֶהֱמֶ֑ה1×
- יֶֽהֱמ֑וּ1×
- וַ/יֶּהֱמ֣וּ1×
- וַ/יֶּהֱמ֖וּ1×
- וְ/הָמ֥וּ1×
- וְ/הָמ֤וּ1×
- הוֹמָֽה\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 51:15
For I am Yahweh your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar. Yahweh of Armies is his name.
Here the term describes God’s power over the sea, showing His sovereignty even when creation roars in chaos.
-
Jeremiah 4:19
My anguish, my anguish! I am pained at my very heart! My heart trembles within me. I can’t hold my peace, because you have heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
The prophet uses this word for his heart trembling and inability to hold peace, illustrating how deep grief manifests as audible unrest.
-
Isaiah 59:11
We all roar like bears and moan sadly like doves. We look for justice, but there is none, for salvation, but it is far off from us.
This passage combines roaring like bears with moaning like doves, capturing the complex noise of a community seeking justice.