רֶגֶם
Regem, an Israelite
Definition
Regem is a proper noun referring to an Israelite individual mentioned in the Old Testament genealogies. The name appears as a son of Jahdai in the lineage of Caleb (1 Chronicles 2:47). While the name itself is a personal identifier, its meaning is derived from its root, signifying 'stoneheap' or 'pile of stones.' This suggests the name may have carried connotations of strength, permanence, or perhaps a memorial, as stone heaps were sometimes used as landmarks or memorials in ancient Israelite culture. The name is not associated with any narrative action; its significance lies solely in its place within the recorded genealogy.
Biblical Usage
The word is used exclusively as a proper name for a person within genealogical lists. It appears only twice in the Old Testament, both times in 1 Chronicles 2:47, which lists the descendants of Caleb. There is no narrative usage or variation in meaning; its function is purely to identify an individual within a family line.
Etymology
The name Regem (רֶגֶם) is directly derived from the Hebrew root רָגַם (ragam, H7275), which means 'to stone' or 'to pile up stones.' As a noun, רֶגֶם can refer to a 'stoneheap' or 'pile of stones.' Therefore, the personal name Regem essentially means 'Stoneheap' or 'Pile of Stones,' likely used symbolically or descriptively.
Semantic Range
In the cultural context of ancient Israel, names were often meaningful and descriptive, sometimes reflecting circumstances of birth, parental hopes, or physical characteristics. A name meaning 'stoneheap' might imply strength, solidity, or a lasting memorial. Stone heaps (or cairns) were common landmarks or memorials in the ancient Near East (e.g., Joshua 4:20, Genesis 31:46). Bearing such a name could connect an individual to these concepts of permanence and commemoration within the community's memory, as preserved in its genealogical records.
אֶבֶן (even, H68) — The generic word for 'stone,' whereas Regem's root implies a collected heap or pile. גַּל (gal, H1530) — A 'heap' or 'pile,' often of stones, but can be more general; Regem is specifically derived from the act of stoning or piling.
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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