רָמָה (ra.mah)
ra.mah
Ramah
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 34 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The name Ramah simply means "high place" or "hill," reflecting its location in the rugged terrain of ancient Israel. It is not the name of a single town, but rather a label applied to at least four different settlements across the land. The most prominent of these sits on the border between the tribes of Benjamin and Ephraim, just north of Jerusalem.
This specific Ramah holds significant narrative weight as the home of the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 1:19). It is also a frequent setting for conflict and political maneuvering, appearing in accounts of battles between Israel and Syria (1 Kings 15:20) and in Jeremiah’s lament about Rachel weeping for her children (Jeremiah 31:15). Its elevated position made it a strategic landmark in the hill country.
Other towns bearing this name appear in the territories of Naphtali and Gilead, as well as among the Asherites. The repetition of the name underscores how geography shaped identity in the biblical world, with many settlements defined by their physical prominence on the landscape rather than unique proper names.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Ramah simply means "high place." In the biblical world, geography often shaped identity, with many settlements defined by their physical prominence on the landscape rather than unique proper names. This word appears in at least four different towns across Israel, reflecting how common such landmarks were in the rugged terrain of ancient times.
One specific Ramah holds significant narrative weight as the home of the prophet Samuel. It was a place where people gathered for judgment and worship, serving as a spiritual center in the hill country. The elevated position made it a strategic landmark, visible to those traveling through the region.
Understanding these locations helps us see how God worked through ordinary places and people. Whether referring to a border town or a prophet's home, Ramah reminds us that God is present in the high places of our lives, offering perspective and clarity amidst the valleys below.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 34 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <the>/ Ramah12×
- in <the>/ Ramah9×
- <the>/ Ramah/ towards7×
- at <the>/ Ramah2×
- and/ <the>/ Ramah2×
- of Ramah1×
- in/ Ramah1×
- [was] <the>/ Ramah/ towards1×
- Ramah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בָּ/רָמָ֑ה4×
- הָֽ/רָמָה֙3×
- הָ/רָמָ֑ה3×
- בָּ/רָמָֽה\׃3×
- הָֽ/רָמָ֔ה2×
- הָ/רָמָ֑תָ/ה2×
- רָמָ֖ה1×
- רָ֣אמַת1×
- וְ/הָֽ/רָמָ֖ה1×
- וְ/הָ/רָמָ֖ה1×
- הָֽ/רָמָ֑ה1×
- הָֽ/רָמָ֑ה1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 1:19
They rose up in the morning early and worshiped Yahweh, then returned and came to their house to Ramah. Then Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and Yahweh remembered her.
This verse establishes Ramah as the home of Samuel and his family, grounding the narrative in a specific domestic setting after worship.
-
I Samuel 7:17
His return was to Ramah, for his house was there, and he judged Israel there; and he built an altar to Yahweh there.
Here Ramah is described as Samuel's base for judging Israel and building an altar, highlighting its role as a center of spiritual leadership.
-
I Kings 15:22
Then King Asa made a proclamation to all Judah. No one was exempted. They carried away the stones of Ramah, and its timber, with which Baasha had built; and King Asa used it to build Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.
This passage shows the strategic military value of Ramah, as King Asa dismantled its fortifications to build other cities in Judah.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Ramah mean?
Is Ramah a single city or multiple places?
Why is Ramah significant in the Bible?
Every Occurrence (34 verses across 11 books)
Joshua 4 verses
Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,
Joshua 19:8and all the villages that were around these cities to Baalath Beer, Ramah of the South. This is the inheritance of the…
Joshua 19:29The border turned to Ramah, to the fortified city of Tyre; and the border turned to Hosah. It ended at the sea by the…
Joshua 19:36Adamah, Ramah, Hazor,