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אֵימִים

𐤀𐤉𐤌𐤉𐤌

Eymim

H368 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אמה to frighten, to instill terror, to make afraid

Definition

Emim, the name of an ancient people group noted for their formidable stature and perceived as fearsome or terrifying by their neighbors; the term is also linked semantically to 'terrors' but in this context designates a specific ethnic group encountered by the Moabites, described as powerful and giant-like inhabitants of the land prior to Moabite occupation.

Semantic Range

Emim (name of an ancient people group), those causing terror, terrors (in a rare non-ethnic sense)

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root אִימָה ('ēmāh), meaning 'terror' or 'trepidation.' The plural form אֵימִים (ʼÊymîym) maintains a nominal value denoting not just the quality of 'terrors' but also applies this sense as a group designation, i.e., "those causing terror." The Hebrew name is thus an ethnonym with a semantic overlay of dread or fear, likely reflecting an outsider perception of the group's imposing nature.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, particularly in Deuteronomy 2:10–11, the Emim are described as a pre-Moabite population of the Transjordanian region, considered by the Moabites to have been of Rephaim (giant) stock, and noted for their great height and strength. Their name, drawn from the root for 'terror,' is likely an exonym, a designation given by outsiders pointing to the fear or awe that these people inspired. This aligns with patterns of ancient Near Eastern nomenclature, where peoples sometimes received names reflecting perceived characteristics. Unlike other groups (e.g., Anakim, Rephaim), 'Emim' appears seldom in the biblical text and is primarily referenced in historical retrospect, marking them as an extinct people by the time of the biblical writers. Later translations (including the Septuagint and Vulgate) tried to transliterate or interpret the name, but in English Bibles, 'Emim' often simply appears as a proper noun referring to this group, sometimes footnoted as meaning 'terrors.' The connection of the Emim to other legendary giants of the region illustrates shifting Israelite and Moabite understanding of earlier populations and contributes to broader narratives about the conquest and settlement of Transjordan. The English term 'Emim' does not carry the semantic nuance of 'terrors,' so some contextual richness may be lost in translation.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

plural of אֵימָה; terrors; Emim, an early Canaanitish (or Maobitish) tribe; Emims.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אמה (ʾ-m-h) — to frighten, to instill terror, to make afraid

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4965 מֶתֶג הָאַמָּה the cubit-measure
H519 אָמָה forearm-length measure
H520 אַמָּה forearm-measure
H522 אַמָּה forearm-length unit
H524 אֻמָּה the people-groups

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H368-01 אֵמִֽים emim HNp Emim Terror-Ones 1
H368-02 הָ/אֵמִ֥ים haemim HTd/Np the Emim the Terror-ones 1
H368-03 הָֽ/אֵימִ֔ים haeymim HTd/Ngmsa the Emim the Terror-Ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H368-03 Genesis 14:5 הָֽ/אֵימִ֔ים haeymim HTd/Ngmsa the Emim the Terror-Ones
H368-02 Deuteronomy 2:10 הָ/אֵמִ֥ים haemim HTd/Np the Emim the Terror-ones
H368-01 Deuteronomy 2:11 אֵמִֽים emim HNp Emim Terror-Ones
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