זַמְזֹם
a Zamzumite, or native tribe of Palestine
Definition
Zamzôm (זַמְזֹם) refers to a member of the Zamzummim, an ancient people group who inhabited the region later known as Ammon before the Ammonites displaced them. The term appears only in Deuteronomy 2:20, where it is used as an ethnic designation for a pre-Israelite tribe. The Zamzummim are described as a people 'great and many, and tall as the Anakim,' a comparison that highlights their formidable reputation. The biblical text classifies them among the other Rephaim-like peoples (like the Anakim and Emim) whom the Lord dispossessed to make way for other nations.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Deuteronomy 2:20. It functions strictly as a proper noun, identifying a specific ethnic group within a historical narrative. The context is Moses's recounting of Israel's journey, explaining that the land of the Ammonites was formerly the land of the Zamzummim, whom the Lord destroyed before the Ammonites.
Etymology
The noun זַמְזֹם (Zamzôm) is derived from the root זָמַם (zāmam, H2161), which means 'to plan, devise, or plot,' often with a negative connotation of intrigue or evil purpose. This etymological connection suggests the name may have carried a sense of 'plotters' or 'intriguers,' possibly reflecting how neighboring peoples perceived them. It is a reduplicated form, which can sometimes indicate intensity.
Semantic Range
The mention of the Zamzummim in Deuteronomy 2:20 serves a key theological purpose in the narrative of conquest. It demonstrates God's sovereign authority over all nations and lands, not just Israel's. The Lord is shown actively shaping history, removing one people to establish another (the Ammonites), long before Israel's arrival. This reinforces the theme that Israel's own possession of Canaan is part of a broader divine plan for the nations, based on God's judgment and grace.
In its original context, 'Zamzummim' identified a specific, likely feared, pre-Israelite tribe known for their stature and strength, comparable to the legendary Anakim. Their classification among the Rephaim (often considered ancient giants or mighty warriors) places them within a common Ancient Near Eastern motif of legendary, primordial peoples who inhabited the land before current nations. Understanding this helps modern readers see the conquest narratives within their historical and cultural framework of competing ethnic groups and divine intervention.
Anakim (H6062) — another tall, pre-Israelite people group compared to the Zamzummim. Emim (H368) — a people described as 'great and many, and tall,' dispossessed by the Moabites, analogous to the Zamzummim's fate. Rephaim (H7497) — a broader term often used for these ancient, formidable inhabitants of the land.
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 →