רָם
Ram, the name of an Arabian and of an Israelite
Definition
The proper noun רָם (Râm) refers to the name of at least two distinct individuals in the Old Testament. Primarily, it denotes an Israelite, the son of Hezron and father of Amminadab, making him an ancestor of King David and, by extension, Jesus Christ in the genealogical lists (Ruth 4:19, 1 Chronicles 2:9-10). In a separate context, it refers to an Arabian, the father, son, or brother of Elihu, who appears as one of Job's friends (Job 32:2). The name itself means 'high' or 'exalted,' which is significant given the elevated status of the Davidic line.
Biblical Usage
The name is used exclusively as a personal name in genealogical or narrative contexts. It appears six times: four times in the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles 2 (verses 9, 10, 25, 27), once in the genealogy of Ruth 4:19, and once in the book of Job (32:2) identifying Elihu's lineage. Its usage is concentrated in texts concerned with establishing familial and tribal lineage, particularly the Judahite line leading to David.
Etymology
רָם (Râm) is the active participle of the root רוּם (RWM, H7311), meaning 'to be high' or 'to rise up.' As a participle, it literally means 'high one' or 'exalted one.' It functions as a personal name, a common practice in Hebrew where descriptive terms or attributes of God (like 'El' for 'God') are used in theophoric names.
Semantic Range
The name רָם carries theological weight due to its meaning ('high/exalted') and its placement in the genealogy of the Messiah. As an ancestor of David (Ruth 4:19-22) and thus of Christ (Matthew 1:3-4, Luke 3:33), the name subtly points to the exaltation of the coming royal line. Understanding its meaning enriches the reading of these genealogies, seeing them not merely as lists but as narratives pointing toward God's sovereign plan to raise up a 'high' and exalted king from Judah.
In ancient Israelite culture, names were often meaningful and descriptive, reflecting hopes, circumstances, or attributes. A name meaning 'high' or 'exalted' likely conveyed a sense of dignity, aspiration, or perhaps acknowledged God's exalted nature. The use of such a name for a key link in the Davidic lineage aligns with the cultural importance of names carrying prophetic or aspirational significance.
גָּבֹהַּ (Gavoah, H1364) — an adjective meaning 'high' or 'lofty,' often describing physical height or pride, not used as a personal name. רָם (Râm, H7311) — the verbal root meaning 'to be high,' from which the name is derived.
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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