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אֻמָּה

𐤀𐤌𐤄

ʼummâh

H524 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A community, group, or population bound by common ties, usually referring to a nation or people as a collective entity. The word often denotes a nationally or ethnically defined group, but can refer to any social aggregation marked by shared identity.

Semantic Range

nation, people group, ethnic community, population, community as defined by common origin or ties, any collective group of persons distinguished by shared identity

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root אמה (ʼ-m-h), from which related nouns and forms denote 'mother' or sometimes a female servant, but the exact semantic development from the core root to this meaning is uncertain. The noun אֻמָּה may be connected to the idea of kinship or origin (as with 'mother'), hence a group seen as related or originating from a common source. Etymology remains uncertain; no universally agreed upon root, but commonly linked to the concept of 'mother' as origin point for a people.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term אֻמָּה is rare in Biblical Hebrew, appearing primarily in late biblical or Aramaic-influenced contexts (e.g., Daniel, Ezra). In most of the Hebrew Bible, other terms (גוֹי goy, עַם am) are preferred for 'nation' or 'people.' אֻמָּה tends to appear in lists where several terms for nationhood or ethnic groups are used together, possibly to emphasize inclusivity or comprehensiveness. In post-exilic and later periods, due to Aramaic influence, the term became slightly more common. In the Hellenistic and Roman periods, its usage may have overlapped with political or ethnic meanings associated with Greek 'ethnos.' Standard English translations as 'nation' or 'people' approximate the meaning, but do not always capture its nuance as a community defined by common origin. It is never used with the specific meaning of political state as in modern usage. Related Hebrew terms such as עַם (am) stress kinship or peoplehood, while גוֹי (goy) can mean a people group but sometimes carries outsider or foreign connotations; אֻמָּה is typically more neutral or technical. The word is not commonly used to refer specifically to Israelites and more often refers to other groups.

Translation Consistency

primary "nation" 8 occurrences

אֻמָּה typically denotes a people or nation as a collective entity. "Nation" is the most natural, common English equivalent and can be easily inflected to "nations" or other forms as needed, covering the semantic range (people/group/community) while matching the majority of occurrences.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to אֻמַּה; {a collection, i.e. community of persons}; nation.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

מה (m-h) — questioning, seeking specification, inquiry

Root אמה mother, female ancestor, origin point
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1099 בְּלִימָה what?
H1117 בָּמָה in what?
H4100 מָה with what?
H4101 מָה for what?
H4478 מָן the what-is-it

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H524-02 אֻמַּיָּ֖/א umaya ANcfpd/Td nations the people-groups the nations 7
H524-01 אֻמָּ֜ה umah ANcfsa nation and what? nation 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H524-02 Daniel 3:4 אֻמַּיָּ֖/א umaya ANcfpd/Td nations the people-groups the nations
H524-02 Daniel 3:7 אֻמַיָּ֣/א umaya ANcfpd/Td nations-the the people-groups the nations
H524-01 Daniel 3:29 אֻמָּ֜ה umah ANcfsa nation and what? nation
H524-02 Daniel 3:31 אֻמַיָּ֧/א umaya ANcfpd/Td nations the people-groups the nations
H524-02 Daniel 5:19 אֻמַיָּ/א֙ umaya ANcfpd/Td nations the people-groups the nations
H524-02 Daniel 6:26 אֻמַיָּ֧/א umaya ANcfpd/Td the-nations the people-groups the nations
H524-02 Daniel 7:14 אֻמַיָּ֛/א umaya ANcfpd/Td nations the people-groups the nations
H524-02 Ezra 4:10 אֻמַּיָּ֗/א umaya ANcfpd/Td of the peoples the people-groups the nations
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