פָּעַם (pa.am)
pa.am
to trouble
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb pa’am carries a physical sense of thrusting or impelling, suggesting forceful movement rather than gentle urging. In its basic form, it describes an active pushing that drives someone or something forward. This imagery appears in Judges and Genesis, where the spirit of the Lord is said to impel a leader, indicating a powerful, internal drive that compels action.
The word also shifts to describe a state of being disturbed or beaten. In Daniel 2:1, it depicts a king who is troubled in spirit, unable to sleep because his mind is agitated by dreams. Here, the sense moves from active force to passive suffering, where external pressures or internal anxieties batter the individual until they are unsettled.
This duality highlights how biblical language often links physical motion with emotional states. Whether it is the Spirit driving a judge to deliver Israel or a king tossed by fear, pa’am conveys intensity. It reminds readers that spiritual influence and human distress can both feel like overwhelming forces that disrupt the status quo.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word pa’am captures the raw intensity of being pushed or shaken. It describes a force that breaks through calmness, whether it is the Spirit driving a leader to action or anxiety keeping a king awake. This duality shows us that powerful forces in life are rarely gentle; they disrupt our routine and demand attention.
When we feel unsettled by dreams or fears, as Nebuchadnezzar did, we are not alone in experiencing this kind of spiritual turbulence. The Bible acknowledges that distress can be a heavy weight. Yet, even in that agitation, there is space for God to speak. The same intensity that troubles us can also be the very energy that moves us toward truth.
Instead of fearing these moments of disruption, we can see them as invitations to look deeper. Whether it is a call to serve or a moment of personal crisis, pa’am reminds us that God is present in the storm. We do not need to have all the answers immediately; we only need to remain open to the One who holds our spirits.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ it was troubled3×
- to/ stir/ him1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ/תִּפָּ֣עֶם2×
- לְ/פַעֲמ֖/וֹ1×
- וַ/תִּתְפָּ֣עֶם1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 2:1
In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep went from him.
This verse establishes the word's meaning of deep internal agitation, showing how dreams can physically disturb a ruler's peace.
-
Judges 13:25
Yahweh’s Spirit began to move him in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
Here the word shifts to divine empowerment, describing the Spirit’s forceful movement upon Samson’s father before his birth.
-
Daniel 2:3
The king said to them, “I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.”
The king explicitly links this troubled state to a desperate need for interpretation, highlighting the anxiety that drives the search for meaning.