← H7214 H7216 →

רָאמָה

𐤓𐤀𐤌𐤄

râʼmâh

H7215 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ראַם to be high, to be exalted, to lift up

Definition

A precious material from the sea, most likely referring to coral, particularly red coral valued as a luxury item or ornament in antiquity. The term refers to an object esteemed for its rarity, beauty, and high worth, and is primarily found in contexts denoting wealth or comparison with other costly materials.

Semantic Range

coral, precious coral, valuable marine material, highly valued object

Root / Etymology

From the root רָאַם (rʼm), meaning 'to be high, exalted, lifted up.' The noun רָאמָה is derived as a substantive denoting something that is elevated or highly valued, with the lexical meaning shifting from the general sense of 'something exalted or raised' to the specific material 'coral' due to its lustrous appearance and rarity. This connection relies on semantic extension rather than direct shared substance.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The word occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in poetic contexts such as Job 28:18, which lists items of high value. Its identification as 'coral' is supported by comparative Semitic evidence (cf. Arabic 'raman' for red coral), as well as by the link to the rare and valued object in economic lists. In ancient trade, coral was obtained from the Mediterranean, contributing to its association with luxury. English translations traditionally render it 'coral,' but the original term may cover a broader range of precious marine materials and not only red coral. Later translations and interpretive traditions sometimes understood this word generically as 'precious stone' or 'precious thing.' The root רָאַם is otherwise not attested in the sense of 'coral,' and the semantic shift reflects the association of height/exaltation with value. The term should be distinguished from פְּנִינִים (H6443, 'pearls'), though both are listed among valuable sea products.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from רָאַם; something high in value, i.e. perhaps coral; coral.

Bantu Hebrew

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

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

רום (r-w-m) — to be high, to rise, to be exalted

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1297 בְּרַם however
H2036 הֹרָם Horam
H2037 הָרֻם Exalted One
H3141 יוֹרָם YHWH-is-Exalted
H3406 יְרִימוֹת to Heights

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7215-01 רָאמ֣וֹת ramot HNcfpa coral Heights of Gilead 1
H7215-02 וְ/רָאמֹ֣ת veramot HC/Ncfpa and coral precious corals 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7215-02 Ezekiel 27:16 וְ/רָאמֹ֣ת veramot HC/Ncfpa and coral precious corals
H7215-01 Job 28:18 רָאמ֣וֹת ramot HNcfpa coral Heights of Gilead
← H7214 Hebrew Lexicon H7216 →