עָרַם (a.ram)
a.ram
to pile up
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb aram appears only once in the Old Testament, specifically in the Niphal stem within Exodus 15:8. In this context, it describes the waters of the Red Sea being heaped up or piled high to form a wall for Israel’s passage. The meaning is concrete and physical, referring to the accumulation of liquid into a towering mass.
Its rarity makes this single occurrence particularly vivid. Rather than a general term for building or construction, it evokes the sudden, dramatic stillness of water suspended in place. The image relies on the idea of weight and pressure, where the sea is forced upward by divine power, creating a barrier that separates the path from the surrounding chaos.
Translators typically render this as "heaped up" or "piled," preserving the sense of vertical accumulation. This usage highlights the miraculous nature of the event, emphasizing not just the parting of the water but its temporary suspension in a solid-like form. The word anchors the poetic description of deliverance in a tangible, visual reality.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The verb for piling up appears just once in Scripture, painting a vivid picture of God’s power over chaos. In Exodus 15:8, the waters are described as being heaped up by the blast of His nostrils. This image captures more than a simple parting; it shows water standing like a solid wall, suspended in awe-inspiring stillness.
For your faith, this word reminds us that God can create order out of overwhelming circumstances. When you face situations that feel like they are closing in or rising against you, remember that the same power that held back the sea is at work. He does not just move obstacles; He can hold them in place, creating a clear path for you to walk through.
This single occurrence anchors our trust in His ability to act decisively. It invites us to rest in the knowledge that no barrier is too high or too deep for Him to manage. You are never alone when facing the impossible, for He makes a way where there seems to be none.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they were piled up1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נֶ֣עֶרְמוּ1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 15:8
With the blast of your nostrils, the waters were piled up. The floods stood upright as a heap. The deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea.
This verse uses the word to describe the waters standing upright as a heap, emphasizing the miraculous suspension of the sea rather than just its movement.