Bible Word Study
רָאַם
râʼam · to rise
רָאַם
to rise
Definition
The Hebrew verb רָאַם (râʼam) means 'to rise' or 'to be lifted up,' specifically in a topographical or physical sense. In its sole biblical occurrence, Zechariah 14:10, it describes the land around Jerusalem being 'raised up' or elevated, contrasting with the city itself which will remain level. This lifting is part of a dramatic geographical transformation in the prophetic vision. The word conveys a sense of physical exaltation and alteration of the landscape.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only once in the Old Testament, in the prophetic book of Zechariah. It appears in Zechariah 14:10 within a detailed description of future geographical changes to Jerusalem and its surrounding region. The context is eschatological, depicting the Lord's coming reign. The usage is specific to describing the elevation of terrain ('all the land shall be turned into a plain... but Jerusalem shall remain aloft upon its site').
Etymology
רָאַם (râʼam) is considered a primitive root in Hebrew. It is related by some scholars to an Arabic cognate meaning 'to be high.' As a rare verb, its derivation and connection to other Semitic roots are not extensively documented, but its core meaning of 'lifting up' is clear from its biblical context.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, רָאַם contributes to the profound theological theme of God's sovereign transformation of creation in the last days. In Zechariah 14, the lifting of the land around Jerusalem signifies a divine re-ordering of the world, making access to the holy city and the reign of God universal and unimpeded. Understanding this specific term highlights the concrete, physical nature of the prophetic hope—salvation involves the very earth being remade. In an ancient Near Eastern context, elevated cities and lands were often associated with security, prominence, and divine favor. The prophecy in Zechariah subverts this by having the holy city remain on its height while the surrounding country is raised to meet it, symbolizing a removal of barriers and a new era of direct access to God's presence. The imagery would resonate with an audience familiar with the strategic and symbolic importance of topography. רוּם (rûm, H7311) — a more common verb for 'to be high, exalted,' often used metaphorically for pride or God's majesty. נָשָׂא (nāśāʼ, H5375) — means 'to lift, carry, bear,' with a wider range of physical and metaphorical uses (e.g., lifting a burden, lifting the head).
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]