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עַם

𐤏𐤌

ʻam

H5972 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עם to gather, be joined, associate, be with

Definition

A collective designation for a group of people, typically connected by kinship, descent, or shared social or ethnic identity; in most contexts, refers to a 'people,' in the sense of an ethnos or nation; can also denote a more limited group such as a tribe, or, less frequently, a gathering, troops, followers, or attendants, depending on context.

Semantic Range

people (as an ethnic, social, or kin group), nation, tribe, collective, troops, followers, group, flock

Root / Etymology

Root: עַם. From the root meaning 'to gather, be together,' indicating collectivity or group. The noun עַם derives from this root and expresses the concept of peoplehood or gathered communal identity. Though morphologically identical, the Aramaic form is used distinctively in Aramaic textual material, but with essentially the same meaning.

Historical & Contextual Notes

עַם is the standard term across Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic for a people or ethnic group, especially in contrast to גּוֹי (goy), which can refer to a nation, often with implications of foreign identity or political sovereignty. In Israelite texts, עַם usually describes either the entire Israelite population or other ethnic collectives (e.g., 'peoples of the land'). In certain legal or military contexts, it may indicate troops, followers, or members of a unified body acting together. In exilic and post-exilic periods, the sense of עַם as a shared heritage community takes on added significance, especially in oppositional contrast to foreigners or non-Israelite groups. Standard translations as 'people' or 'tribe' occasionally obscure the nuance that עַם emphasizes common ancestry and social cohesion more than formal political organization. In Aramaic sections, its function and semantic range closely mirror those in Hebrew. The English term 'Jew' is not an appropriate translation for עַם in pre-Hellenistic contexts and may appear only as a rendering in much later translations for closely related terms in post-biblical writings.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to עַם; {a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock}; people.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עמם (ʿ-m-m) — gather, associate, assemble, be numerous

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3818 לֹא עַמִּי my people
H532 אָמִי my people
H5971 עַם gathered people
H5980 עֻמָּה in alignment with
H5991 עַמִּיחוּר My-Kinsman-is-Hur

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5972-04 עַֽמְמַיָּ֔/א amemaya ANcmpd/Td the-peoples the gathered peoples 7
H5972-05 לְ/עַ֥ם leam AR/Ncmsa to people to a gathered-people 2
H5972-03 עַמָּ֨/ה amah ANcmsd/Td the people forearm-measure 2
H5972-02 עַמָּ֤/א ama ANcmsd/Td of the people the gathered people 1
H5972-01 עַ֨ם am ANcmsa people a gathered people 1
H5972-07 וְ/עַמָּ֖/ה veamah AC/Ncmsd/Td and his people and a cubit-measure 1
H5972-06 וְ/עַם֙ veam AC/Ncmsa and-people and a people 1

Occurrences in Scripture

15 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5972-05 Daniel 2:44 לְ/עַ֥ם leam AR/Ncmsa to people to a gathered-people
H5972-04 Daniel 3:4 עַֽמְמַיָּ֔/א amemaya ANcmpd/Td peoples the gathered peoples
H5972-04 Daniel 3:7 עַמְמַיָּ֡/א amemaya ANcmpd/Td the-peoples the gathered peoples
H5972-04 Daniel 3:7 עַֽמְמַיָּ֜/א amemaya-2 ANcmpd/Td the-peoples the gathered peoples
H5972-01 Daniel 3:29 עַ֨ם am ANcmsa people a gathered people
H5972-04 Daniel 3:31 עַֽמְמַיָּ֞/א amemaya ANcmpd/Td peoples the gathered peoples
H5972-04 Daniel 5:19 עַֽמְמַיָּ֗/א amemaya ANcmpd/Td peoples the gathered peoples
H5972-04 Daniel 6:26 עַֽמְמַיָּ֞/א amemaya ANcmpd/Td the-peoples the gathered peoples
H5972-04 Daniel 7:14 עַֽמְמַיָּ֗/א amemaya ANcmpd/Td the peoples the gathered peoples
H5972-05 Daniel 7:27 לְ/עַ֖ם leam AR/Ncmsc to people to a gathered-people
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