רַעְמָה (ra.mah)
ra.mah
Raamah
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Raamah identifies a specific figure in the genealogies of Genesis and Chronicles, appearing only twice in Scripture (Genesis 10:7; 1 Chronicles 1:9). He is listed as a son of Cush and a brother to notable figures such as Nimrod, Havilah, and Seba. In these tables, he serves as the father of Sheba and Dedan, linking his lineage to regions known for trade and wealth in the ancient world.
Lexical sources note that the Hebrew form can mean "horse's mane," though this etymology is not explicitly connected to the character’s story in the biblical text. The name appears alongside other patriarchal figures who are associated with distant lands, suggesting Raamah represents a ancestral link to peoples living beyond the immediate sphere of Israel.
Because the references are brief and genealogical, no narrative details about Raamah’s life or actions are provided. His significance lies entirely in his position within the "Table of Nations," marking him as part of the broader spread of humanity described in early Genesis.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Raamah appears in two brief genealogical lists within Scripture, identifying him as a son of Cush and a brother to Nimrod, Havilah, and Seba. These records serve as anchors for understanding the spread of humanity after the flood, connecting distant regions like Sheba and Dedan to the broader family of nations.
While the text offers no narrative details about his personal life or character, his inclusion highlights the vastness of God’s creation. It reminds us that the biblical story encompasses peoples from every corner of the ancient world, weaving their histories into a single, coherent tapestry of human origin.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Raamah2×
- Raamah2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רַעְמָ֖ה1×
- רַעְמָ֖א1×
- וְ/רַעְמָ֖ה1×
- וְ/רַעְמָ֖א1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 10:7
The sons of Cush were: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah were: Sheba and Dedan.
This verse establishes Raamah as a key link in the Table of Nations, connecting the lineage of Cush to the trade-rich regions of Sheba and Dedan.
-
I Chronicles 1:9
The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raama, Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.
The Chronicler repeats this genealogy to affirm the historical continuity of Israel’s ancestors and their place among the nations.