רְמָה
to throw, set, (figuratively) assess
Definition
The Aramaic verb רְמָה (rᵉmâh) primarily means 'to throw' or 'to cast,' often with force or intention. In its literal sense, it describes the physical act of throwing someone into a dangerous place, such as a fiery furnace (Daniel 3:6, 11, 15, 20, 21) or a lions' den (Daniel 6:7). Figuratively, it extends to mean 'to impose' or 'to assess,' as seen in Ezra 7:24, where it refers to the king's decree imposing taxes, tribute, or tolls. This dual usage shows the word's range from concrete physical action to abstract legal imposition.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament, specifically in the books of Ezra and Daniel. Its usage falls into two clear patterns. First, it describes the violent act of casting people into execution devices, as repeatedly seen in Daniel 3 with the fiery furnace and in Daniel 6:7 with the lions' den. Second, in Ezra 7:24, it is used in a legal and administrative context, meaning to impose a decree, tax, or tribute. All 12 occurrences reinforce these contexts of royal authority, judgment, and enforcement.
Etymology
רְמָה (rᵉmâh) is an Aramaic verb corresponding to the Hebrew verb רָמָה (rāmâ, H7411), which also means 'to throw' or 'to cast.' This establishes it as part of a common Semitic root. The Aramaic form is used specifically in the post-exilic biblical texts, reflecting the language of the Persian imperial administration and the Jewish community living under its rule.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it appears in key narratives about divine sovereignty and deliverance. In Daniel, the act of 'casting' the faithful into peril (the furnace or the den) becomes the setting for God's miraculous intervention and vindication of His servants. In Ezra, the king's authority to 'impose' or forbid taxes on temple servants highlights God's providential care in the restoration of Jerusalem. Understanding this term enriches the reading of these passages by emphasizing the conflict between earthly decrees and divine protection.
In its cultural context, the act of 'casting' someone into a furnace or den was a form of capital punishment under Persian law, intended to inspire terror and enforce absolute obedience to the king's command. The administrative use in Ezra reflects the highly structured Persian imperial system of taxation and legal decrees. The word captures the absolute power wielded by ancient monarchs, making the biblical counter-narratives of God's deliverance even more striking.
שָׁלַךְ (shālak, H7993) — A more common Hebrew verb for 'to throw' or 'cast,' used in a wider variety of contexts. נָתַן (nāthan, H5414) — Often means 'to give' or 'to put,' but can overlap in the sense of 'imposing' a decree or condition.
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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