קוּם (qum)
qum
to stand: rise
A:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 23 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:V
Word Overview
The Aramaic verb qum means to stand, rise, or establish itself. In the books of Daniel and Ezra, it appears frequently to describe both physical movement and political change. It captures the moment a person gets up from rest, as when Nebuchadnezzar rises in terror after his dream (Daniel 4:33), or when kings gather their forces against Jerusalem (Psalm 2:2).
Its range extends beyond simple motion to include setting something up firmly. This is clear in Daniel 2:31, where a great statue stands before the king, and in Ezra 6:18, where the priests establish the divisions of their service. The word carries weight because it implies stability; what rises often remains standing.
A notable feature is its use as an imperative call for divine action. In Psalms like 3:8 and 7:7, believers cry "Arise!" to God, urging Him to act in defense. This usage transforms a physical command into a theological appeal, asking the Lord to move from hiddenness into active intervention on behalf of His people.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word qum invites us to consider both movement and stability. It describes the simple act of rising from a seat or bed, but it also carries the weight of establishing something firm and lasting. When we see this verb in Scripture, we are reminded that God is active in history. He raises leaders and brings down empires, yet His own purposes remain unshaken.
For your daily life, this word offers a quiet assurance. Just as Zerubbabel and Jeshua rose to rebuild the temple despite overwhelming odds, you too are called to stand firm in your faith. The God who sets up kingdoms will never be destroyed is the same God who sustains you through uncertainty. You can trust that He is working even when the path ahead seems unclear.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 23 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- he had set up4×
- you have set up2×
- they will arise2×
- they were standing1×
- they arose1×
- it will endure1×
- it will arise1×
- it was raised1×
- it was made to stand1×
- he will set up1×
- he will arise1×
- he will appoint1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הֲקֵ֖ים5×
- הֲקֵ֖ימְתָּ2×
- תְּק֥וּם1×
- תְּק֛וּם1×
- קָאֵ֣ם1×
- קָ֣אֲמַיָּ֔/א1×
- קָ֠מוּ1×
- ק֥וּמִֽי1×
- יְקוּמ֥וּן1×
- יְקוּמ֑וּן1×
- יְקֻמ֑וּן1×
- יְקִים֩1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 5:2
Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build God’s house which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.
This verse shows leaders rising to take practical action in rebuilding God's house, linking physical movement with spiritual restoration.
-
Daniel 2:44
“In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, nor will its sovereignty be left to another people; but it will break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it will stand forever.
Here the word emphasizes God's eternal kingdom that will stand forever, contrasting human empires with divine stability.
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Daniel 7:17
‘These great animals, which are four, are four kings, who will arise out of the earth.
The verb describes kings arising from the earth, highlighting how human power rises and falls under God's sovereign oversight.