רָמָה
a height (as a seat of idolatry)
Definition
The Hebrew noun רָמָה (râmâh) refers to a 'height' or 'high place,' specifically denoting a topographically elevated location. In the Old Testament, it is used exclusively in a negative, cultic sense to describe a site of pagan worship, often associated with idolatry and illicit religious practices. All four occurrences are found in Ezekiel 16, where the prophet uses the term metaphorically to describe Jerusalem's unfaithfulness, constructing these 'high places' for ritual prostitution (Ezekiel 16:24-25, 31, 39). The word inherently carries the connotation of a place set apart for false worship, contrasting with the divinely sanctioned worship at the temple.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the book of Ezekiel, within a single, extended metaphor in chapter 16. The prophet Ezekiel employs רָמָה to symbolize the idolatrous 'high places' built by personified Jerusalem as she engages in spiritual adultery with foreign nations. The usage is consistently negative and metaphorical, illustrating the depth of Israel's covenant betrayal by comparing it to the construction of physical sites for pagan worship (Ezekiel 16:24-25, 31, 39). It is part of a vivid allegory for idolatry.
Etymology
רָמָה is the feminine active participle of the root רום (rûm, H7311), meaning 'to be high' or 'to rise up.' As a participle used as a noun, it literally means 'a high thing' or 'an elevated place.' This derivation directly informs its meaning, as pagan worship sites were typically constructed on hills or raised platforms. The root is common in Semitic languages, and its basic sense of physical height evolved in this specific noun to denote a cultic location.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it encapsulates the biblical theme of idolatry as spiritual adultery. In Ezekiel 16, understanding רָמָה enriches the reading of God's lawsuit against Jerusalem, revealing that her sin was not passive but involved active construction—'building' a rival religious system. It highlights the seriousness of syncretism and the violation of covenant exclusivity. The term connects to the broader Old Testament condemnation of the 'high places' (often בָּמָה, bāmâ), which were persistent centers of apostasy that diverted worship from Yahweh.
In the ancient Near East, 'high places' (bāmôt) were elevated, open-air sanctuaries commonly used for Canaanite worship, often involving sacrifices, pillars (masseboth), and Asherah poles. They were typically located on hills or artificial platforms. While the more common Hebrew term is בָּמָה, Ezekiel's use of רָמָה in this specific allegory evokes the same cultural understanding—a physically and spiritually elevated site dedicated to false gods, starkly opposed to the centralized worship God commanded in Jerusalem.
בָּמָה (bāmâ, H1116) — The standard, more frequent term for a 'high place' as a cultic site; used historically of both illegitimate pagan sites and, early on, legitimate altars before the temple was built.
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.
Full methodology & sources →