רָמַס (ra.mas)
ra.mas
to trample
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 14 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb ramas describes the physical act of trampling, specifically crushing something underfoot with force. It appears fourteen times in the Old Testament, most frequently in the prophetic books of Isaiah and Daniel, as well as in II Kings. The word captures a violent interaction where one party dominates another through weight and pressure, leaving the object beneath completely flattened.
This imagery carries significant theological weight in Scripture. In Isaiah 63:1-6, for example, God is depicted treading the winepress alone, symbolizing judgment against enemies. Similarly, Daniel uses the term to describe nations trampling the holy city, illustrating a state of oppression and humiliation. The word is not merely about walking; it implies destruction and subjugation.
Grammatically, ramas functions in both the active Qal stem, where someone performs the trampling, and the passive Niphal stem, describing the victim who is being crushed. This duality allows the text to shift focus between the aggressor’s power and the sufferer’s helplessness. Translators typically render it simply as "trample" or "tread down," preserving the stark, physical reality of the original language.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word for trampling paints a stark picture of force and domination. In Scripture, it often describes how power crushes the vulnerable or how judgment falls upon the proud. We see this in the tragic death of the king’s captain, who was crushed by the panic of the people, and in the prophetic warning that arrogant leaders will be trodden down like weeds. It reminds us that human strength is fleeting and that oppression leaves a mark on both the victim and the world.
Yet this imagery also points to God’s ultimate justice. In Psalm 91, we are promised that those who trust in God will tread on the lion and the serpent. This does not mean we become cruel, but that we share in Christ’s victory over evil. The same power that crushed the enemies of God in Isaiah 63 is now offered to us as protection. We do not need to fear the forces that seek to trample our peace, for God stands with the needy and the poor.
When life feels overwhelming, remember that no pressure can crush your worth in God’s eyes. The world may try to flatten our hopes, but God lifts up the humble. We rest in the assurance that justice will prevail and that our lives are held securely in His hands, beyond the reach of any crushing force.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 14 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ it trampled2×
- you will trample1×
- to trample1×
- they will be trampled1×
- it will trample/ it1×
- and/ they trampled/ him1×
- and/ they trampled1×
- and/ it trampled/ them1×
- and/ it trampled/ it1×
- and/ he trampled/ her1×
- and/ I trampled/ them1×
- [who] he tramples1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ/תִּרְמֹ֖ס2×
- תֵּֽרָמַ֑סְנָה1×
- תִּרְמֹ֖ס1×
- תִּרְמְסֶ֖/נָּה1×
- רֹמֵ֖ס1×
- רְמֹ֥ס1×
- יִרְמָס\־1×
- וַֽ/תִּרְמְסֵֽ/ם\׃1×
- וַֽ/יִּרְמְסֶֽ/נָּה\׃1×
- וַֽ/יִּרְמְסֵ֔/הוּ1×
- וַ/יִּרְמְסֻ֧/הוּ1×
- וַ/יִּרְמְס֨וּ1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 91:13
You will tread on the lion and cobra. You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot.
This verse uses the word to describe the believer’s authority over danger, showing that trust in God turns a threat into something we step on.
-
Isaiah 63:3
“I have trodden the wine press alone. Of the peoples, no one was with me. Yes, I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath. Their lifeblood is sprinkled on my garments, and I have stained all my clothing.
Here the word emphasizes God’s solitary judgment, highlighting that He alone executes justice without human assistance.
-
II Kings 7:17
The king had appointed the captain on whose hand he leaned to be in charge of the gate; and the people trampled over him in the gate, and he died as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him.
This occurrence shows the destructive side of panic, where the crowd’s movement literally crushes the man who failed to protect the gate.
-
Isaiah 26:6
The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor and the steps of the needy.”
The text contrasts the proud with the poor, noting that God’s foot will tread down the way of the wicked while protecting the needy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word ramas mean?
How is this word used in the Psalms?
Does this word appear in the New Testament?
Why is trampling mentioned in Isaiah?
Every Occurrence (14 verses across 5 books)
II Kings 4 verses
The king had appointed the captain on whose hand he leaned to be in charge of the gate; and the people trampled over…
II Kings 7:20It happened like that to him, for the people trampled over him in the gate, and he died.
II Kings 9:33He said, “Throw her down!” So they threw her down; and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses.…
II Kings 14:9Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar…