רוּם (rum)
rum
height
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun ruwm denotes both physical elevation and moral arrogance. In its literal sense, it describes height or loftiness, often applied to mountains, towers, or high places. This concrete meaning grounds its metaphorical use, where "height" becomes a symbol for prideful self-exaltation.
Scripture frequently links ruwm with haughtiness, portraying arrogance as a dangerous elevation above one’s proper station. Proverbs 16:18 warns that pride goes before destruction, using the concept of rising too high to illustrate spiritual peril. Similarly, Isaiah uses the term to describe the lofty attitudes of nations and leaders who oppose God’s order.
Translators often render ruwm as "pride" or "haughtiness" when the context implies moral failure, but they retain "height" or "loftiness" in descriptive passages. This dual usage highlights a key biblical theme: physical elevation can mirror spiritual danger when it leads to self-importance rather than reverence for God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word ruwm describes physical height, such as towering mountains or high towers, but Scripture often uses this concrete image to describe a dangerous spiritual condition. When applied to people, it signals pride—a self-exaltation that places one above proper reverence for God. This dual meaning reminds us that elevation in status or ability can easily become a trap if it leads to arrogance rather than humility.
In Proverbs 21:4, the text links a proud heart directly with sin, warning that looking down on others is a form of moral failure. Isaiah 2:11 offers hope by promising that these lofty looks will be brought low, leaving only God exalted. This passage encourages believers to guard their hearts against the subtle rise of pride, choosing instead to find security in God’s sovereignty.
Reflecting on this word helps us recognize that true greatness is found in humility. When we feel the urge to elevate ourselves or judge others, we can remember that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. This understanding invites us to walk gently before God, acknowledging our dependence on Him rather than our own achievements.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] pride of2×
- haughtiness of1×
- for <the>/ height1×
- and/ [the] loftiness of1×
- [the] haughtiness of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ר֣וּם2×
- רוּם\־1×
- ר֥וּם1×
- לָ֭/רוּם1×
- וְ/רֻ֥ם1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 21:4
A high look and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
This verse explicitly identifies the proud heart as sin, linking physical loftiness with moral failure.
-
Isaiah 2:11
The lofty looks of man will be brought low, the arrogance of men will be bowed down, and Yahweh alone will be exalted in that day.
Here the word describes arrogance that will be humbled, emphasizing God's ultimate exaltation over human pride.
-
Jeremiah 48:29
“We have heard of the pride of Moab. He is very proud in his loftiness, his pride, his arrogance, and the arrogance of his heart.
The term illustrates Moab’s excessive pride in its own loftiness, showing how self-exaltation leads to judgment.