רְמָא (re.mah)
re.mah
to cast
A:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb remah simply means to cast or throw something. It appears eight times in the Old Testament, with a notable concentration in the books of Daniel and Ezra. In these contexts, the action is often physical and decisive, describing the act of throwing an object into a specific place.
A key example occurs in Daniel 6:24, where the king commands that the accusers of Daniel be cast into the lions' den. This usage highlights the finality and weight of the action. The word does not imply a gentle placement but rather a forceful projection or disposal.
Its root sense remains consistent across its occurrences: an act of casting, whether it involves throwing stones, placing items, or metaphorically casting lots. Translators typically render it as "cast" or "throw," preserving the directness of the original Hebrew action without adding emotional nuance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word remah describes a decisive act of casting or throwing. It is not a gentle placement but a forceful projection, often carrying weight and finality. In the Old Testament, this verb appears in moments where authority is exercised or judgment is enacted, such as when Nebuchadnezzar commanded his servants to cast Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the fiery furnace.
For your faith, this word reminds us that God’s justice is real and His sovereignty is absolute. When human powers try to enforce their will through fear or force, they are ultimately subject to a higher authority. The same God who allowed the faithful to be cast into the fire was present with them in the flames, delivering them not from suffering always, but from its ultimate power.
Even in our own lives, there are times when we feel thrown by circumstances beyond our control. Yet, this word points to a God who holds all things in His hands. He is the Ancient of Days, seated on a throne of fire, overseeing history with perfect wisdom and justice. We can trust that no casting is outside His gaze or purpose.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to/ throw2×
- he will be thrown2×
- you will be thrown1×
- they were placed1×
- did we throw1×
- and/ they were thrown1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תִתְרְמ֔וֹן1×
- רְמֵ֤ינָא1×
- רְמִ֔יו1×
- לְ/מִרְמֵ֥א1×
- לְ/מִרְמֵ֕א1×
- יִתְרְמֵ֕א1×
- יִתְרְמֵ֔א1×
- וּ/רְמִ֕יו1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 3:6
Whoever doesn’t fall down and worship shall be cast into the middle of a burning fiery furnace the same hour.”
This verse establishes the severe consequence for refusing to worship Nebuchadnezzar's image, using remah to describe the immediate and irreversible act of casting into the furnace.
-
Daniel 3:20
He commanded certain mighty men who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
Here the king’s command is executed by mighty men, highlighting the physical force involved in casting the three men bound in their clothes into the fire.
-
Daniel 7:9
“I watched until thrones were placed, and one who was Ancient of Days sat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool. His throne was fiery flames, and its wheels burning fire.
In this visionary context, thrones are placed (cast/set) before the Ancient of Days, symbolizing the establishment of divine judgment and authority.