רוֹמָה (ro.mah)
ro.mah
haughtily
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew adverb romah describes an attitude of proud arrogance or haughty behavior. It appears only once in the Old Testament, carrying a sharp critique of social injustice. The term paints a picture of people who act with contemptuous superiority, looking down on others with disdain.
In Micah 2:3, this word characterizes those who scheme to seize land and homes from their neighbors. The prophet uses it to highlight the moral corruption of leaders who exploit the vulnerable for personal gain. Their actions are not merely greedy but are driven by a sense of entitlement and pride that disregards the rights of others.
Translators often render romah as "haughtily" or "proudly," capturing the spiritual posture behind the physical act of oppression. The word serves as a warning against the abuse of power, reminding readers that such arrogance is seen as a serious offense against divine justice. It underscores the biblical theme that true leadership requires humility and care for the weak.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word romah describes a posture of haughty arrogance, where individuals look down on others with contemptuous superiority. It appears only once in the Old Testament, specifically in Micah 2:3, to characterize those who scheme to seize land and homes from their neighbors. This is not simple greed but a deep-seated sense of entitlement that disregards the rights of the vulnerable.
God’s response to this behavior is severe because it represents a serious offense against divine justice. The prophet warns that such arrogance leads to inevitable judgment, where even the ability to walk with pride will be taken away. This serves as a stark reminder that true leadership and community life require humility and care for the weak.
For your faith, this word invites self-examination regarding how you treat those with less power or status. It challenges us to reject any attitude of superiority and instead embrace a spirit of service and justice. May we cultivate hearts that honor God by lifting up others rather than stepping on them.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- haughtily1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רוֹמָ֔ה1×
Key Verses
-
Micah 2:3
Therefore Yahweh says: “Behold, I am planning against these people a disaster, from which you will not remove your necks, neither will you walk haughtily, for it is an evil time.
This verse uniquely links the act of seizing property with the haughty attitude of romah, showing that the sin is rooted in spiritual pride as much as physical oppression.