בָּמָה
Bamah, a place in Palestine
Definition
Bamah (בָּמָה) is a proper noun referring to a specific location in Palestine, mentioned only once in Ezekiel 20:29. The name itself is identical to the common Hebrew noun bamah (H1116), meaning 'high place'—a raised platform or sanctuary used for pagan worship. In this context, the prophet Ezekiel uses the place name 'Bamah' as a pointed wordplay, rebuking the Israelites for inquiring at a high place dedicated to foreign gods. Thus, the word carries a dual sense: a literal geographical site and a symbolic representation of idolatrous worship.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only in Ezekiel 20:29. The prophet recounts Israel's history of rebellion, stating, 'Then I said to them, What is the high place (hab-bāmâ) whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah (Bāmâ) unto this day.' Here, the proper name 'Bamah' is used rhetorically. Ezekiel transforms the inquiry about a generic 'high place' into a specific, scornful label for the site, emphasizing the enduring nature of their idolatrous practices from the wilderness period to his own time.
Etymology
The word בָּמָה (Bāmâh) is linguistically identical to the common noun בָּמָה (bāmâ, H1116), meaning 'high place.' It derives from a root suggesting 'to be high' or 'exalted.' As a place name, it is simply the application of this descriptive noun to a specific location, likely one known for its elevated terrain or its function as a cultic site. Its plural, בָּמוֹת (bāmôth, H1120), is frequently used throughout the Old Testament for pagan high places.
Semantic Range
The single usage of 'Bamah' in Ezekiel 20:29 is theologically significant. It serves as a powerful prophetic indictment, collapsing the distinction between a mere place name and a defining characteristic of Israel's sin. By naming the place 'Bamah' (High Place), Ezekiel permanently labels Israel's idolatrous inclination. Understanding this Hebrew wordplay enriches the reading by revealing how the prophet uses language to condemn syncretism and underscore that worship at unauthorized high places is, in God's eyes, the defining feature of that location.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, 'high places' (bamot) were elevated natural or artificial sites considered closer to the divine realm, commonly used for Canaanite pagan worship. By the time of Ezekiel, the term was strongly associated with idolatry and apostasy from Yahweh. The prophet's rhetorical use of the name 'Bamah' would have immediately evoked this entire context of illicit worship and broken covenant for his original audience.
בָּמָה (bāmâ, H1116) — The common noun for 'high place,' from which the proper name is derived. בָּמוֹת (bāmôth, H1120) — The plural form, frequently used for pagan shrines throughout the historical and prophetic books.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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