לְאֹם (le.om)
le.om
people
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 21 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun le’om refers to a people or a nation, often carrying a poetic or later biblical tone. Derived from a root meaning to gather, it describes a community bound together by shared identity. The word appears in key passages such as Genesis 25:23, where God reveals that two nations will emerge from Rebekah’s womb, and in Psalm 7:8, where the Lord judges among the peoples.
In Proverbs 14:28, le’om highlights the dignity of a large population, suggesting that national greatness lies in its people. Isaiah uses it frequently to contrast Israel with surrounding nations, as in Isaiah 55:4, where God promises a covenant “for a witness to the peoples.” The term can also denote specific groups, such as the Arabian tribe Leummim in Genesis 25:3.
Unlike some words for people that emphasize ethnicity or lineage, le’om focuses on collective presence and political or social reality. Translators often render it simply as “nation” or “people,” depending on context. Its usage reflects how ancient Israel understood itself in relation to the wider world — not just as a family line, but as a gathered community with purpose and destiny.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word le’om describes a people gathered together by shared identity, purpose, or destiny. It moves beyond simple lineage to capture the reality of a community standing as one unit before God. This concept reminds us that we are never isolated individuals but part of a larger story woven by the Creator.
In Genesis 25:23, this word appears when God tells Rebekah that two nations will emerge from her womb. This moment shows how le’om carries weight in divine plans, shaping history through collective groups rather than just single lives. It invites us to see our own communities as part of God’s broader narrative.
Psalm 148:11 calls kings and all peoples to praise the Lord together. Here, le’om emphasizes unity in worship, where every group joins in acknowledging God’s sovereignty. This word encourages us to value the people around us, recognizing that our shared faith connects us across boundaries.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 21 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- peoples7×
- and/ peoples4×
- nations3×
- a people2×
- to a people1×
- peoples of1×
- more than/ a people1×
- and/ nations1×
- and/ a people1×
- and/ O peoples1×
- and/ O nation/ my1×
- O peoples1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְאֻמִּ֔ים4×
- וּ/לְאֻמִּ֖ים4×
- לְאֻמִּֽים\׃2×
- לְאֻמִּ֣ים2×
- לְאֻמִּ֑ים2×
- מִ/לְאֹ֣ם1×
- לְאוּמִּ֖ים1×
- לְאֻמִּ֗ים1×
- לְאֻמִּ֖ים1×
- לְא֑וֹם1×
- לְ֝אֹ֗ם1×
- וּ֝/לְאֻמִּ֗ים1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 25:23
Yahweh said to her, “Two nations are in your womb. Two peoples will be separated from your body. The one people will be stronger than the other people. The elder will serve the younger.”
This verse uses le’om to show God’s sovereign plan shaping two distinct nations from one womb, highlighting the word's role in divine destiny.
-
Psalms 148:11
kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all judges of the earth,
Here le’om joins with kings and princes in a universal call to worship, emphasizing collective praise across all social ranks.
-
Isaiah 55:4
Behold, I have given him for a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander to the peoples.
The word appears in God’s promise to make David a witness to the peoples, linking national identity with a mission of revelation.
-
Proverbs 14:28
In the multitude of people is the king’s glory, but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.
This proverb connects the king’s glory directly to the multitude of people, showing that national strength reflects divine favor and wise leadership.