רָמָתַיִם צוֹפִים (ra.ma.ta.yim tso.phim)
ra.ma.ta.yim tso.phim
Ramathaim-zophim
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The proper noun Ramathaim-zophim, found only in 1 Samuel 1:1, identifies the hometown of the prophet Samuel. The name translates to "the double heights of the watchers," a title that likely reflects its location on elevated ground within the hill country of Ephraim.
Lexical sources note that the second part of the compound, zophim, derives from a root meaning to watch or observe. This suggests the area may have been known for sentinels or lookouts, fitting its strategic position in the highlands. The text explicitly links this place to Ramah and Mizpah, indicating it was part of a network of significant settlements in that region.
While some translations render the term as a singular location, the dual form "Ramathaim" points to two distinct heights or neighborhoods joined together. This specific detail anchors Samuel’s origins in a tangible, geographically defined setting before his call to national leadership.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Ramathaim-zophim means "the double heights of the watchers." It was the home of Elkanah and the place where Hannah prayed for a child. This setting shows that God hears prayers from ordinary places on high ground.
Samuel’s story begins here, in a town defined by watchfulness. His mother’s quiet plea at this location changed Israel’s history. We can trust that our own requests, offered from our own hills and valleys, are seen and heard by the Lord.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Zophim1×
- <the>/ Ramathaim1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- צוֹפִ֖ים1×
- הָ/רָמָתַ֛יִם1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 1:1
Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
This verse introduces Elkanah’s family line and anchors the narrative of Hannah’s prayer in a specific geographic location known for its watchful position.