רָעַם
𐤓𐤏𐤌
râʻam
H7481 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To thunder, to make a loud rumbling or roaring noise, most often referring to natural phenomena such as thunder. The term can also denote violent commotion, turmoil, or agitation, whether of the skies (thunderstorm), seas, or metaphorically, of people or events. Occasionally, it is used in a figurative sense to express agitation or disturbance, whether emotional or situational.
Semantic Range
to thunder (literal meteorological event), to make a loud noise, to roar, to be violently agitated (as of seas, peoples, or events), to cause turmoil or disturbance, to agitate emotionally or spiritually (poetic/figurative)
Root / Etymology
Root: רעם. The root primarily signifies 'to roar' or 'to thunder.' The verb derives directly from this root and originally referred to the sound of thunder or intense natural uproar. Its basic meaning thus centers on powerful, resonant, and often awe-inspiring noise, whether literal or metaphorical.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, רָעַם is most frequently employed in poetic or prophetic contexts to describe thunder as an expression of divine power or the voice of a deity (e.g., 1 Samuel 7:10, Psalms 18:14). At times, the verb is also extended to describe commotion or agitation among peoples or nations, conveying a movement or turmoil analogous to natural turbulence. The use of רָעַם in the sense of emotional agitation (to trouble, to stir up wrath) emerges primarily in poetic language, not as the primary or literal meaning. In late biblical or post-biblical Hebrew, the term narrows predominantly to the sound of thunder, losing much of its metaphorical extension. Related terms include שָׁאָג (sha'ag, 'to roar'), which is used for the roar of lions or tumult among peoples, and רָנַן (ranan, 'to shout for joy'). English translations such as 'roar,' 'thunder,' or 'crash' often approximate its meaning but may not fully capture the context-dependent sense of divine power or overwhelming disturbance.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to tumble, i.e. be violently agitated; specifically, to crash (of thunder); figuratively, to irritate (with anger); make to fret, roar, thunder, trouble.
Bantu Hebrew
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רעם (r-ʿ-m) — to roar, to thunder, to make loud noise
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7482 | רַעַם | in thunder-peal |
| H7483 | רַעְמָה | quivering mane |
| H7484 | רַעְמָה | Thunderer |
| H7485 | רַעַמְיָה | Yahweh has caused trembling |
Word Forms
7 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7481-06 |
יַרְעֵ֔ם | yareem | HVhi3ms |
he will thunder | he causes thunder | he causes thunder | 4 |
H7481-07 |
יִֽרְעַ֥ם | yiream | HVqi3ms |
let roar | he thunders | let it roar | 3 |
H7481-05 |
וַ/יַּרְעֵ֣ם | vayareem | HC/Vhw3ms |
and He thundered | and he made them thunder | and it thundered | 2 |
H7481-01 |
הַרְּעִמָ֑/הּ | hareimah | HVhc/Sp3fs |
to irritate her | to make her thunder | to irritate her | 1 |
H7481-02 |
הִרְעִ֑ים | hireim | HVhp3ms |
thunders | he caused to thunder | he caused to thunder | 1 |
H7481-04 |
תַרְעֵֽם | tareem | HVhi2ms |
can you thunder | you cause to thunder | you thunder | 1 |
H7481-03 |
רָעֲמ֖וּ | raamu | HVqp3cp |
trembled | they thundered | trembled | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
13 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7481-01 |
1 Samuel 1:6 | הַרְּעִמָ֑/הּ | hareimah | HVhc/Sp3fs |
to irritate her | to make her thunder | to irritate her |
H7481-06 |
1 Samuel 2:10 | יַרְעֵ֔ם | yareem | HVhi3ms |
he will thunder | he causes thunder | he will thunder |
H7481-05 |
1 Samuel 7:10 | וַ/יַּרְעֵ֣ם | vayareem | HC/Vhw3ms |
and thundered | and he made them thunder | and it thundered |
H7481-06 |
2 Samuel 22:14 | יַרְעֵ֥ם | yareem | HVhi3ms |
thundered | he causes thunder | he thundered |
H7481-03 |
Ezekiel 27:35 | רָעֲמ֖וּ | raamu | HVqp3cp |
trembled | they thundered | trembled |
H7481-05 |
Psalms 18:14 | וַ/יַּרְעֵ֬ם | vayareem | HC/Vhw3ms |
and He thundered | and he made them thunder | and it thundered |
H7481-02 |
Psalms 29:3 | הִרְעִ֑ים | hireim | HVhp3ms |
thunders | he caused to thunder | he caused to thunder |
H7481-07 |
Psalms 96:11 | יִֽרְעַ֥ם | yiream | HVqi3ms |
let roar | he thunders | let it roar |
H7481-07 |
Psalms 98:7 | יִרְעַ֣ם | yiream | HVqi3ms |
let it roar | he thunders | let it roar |
H7481-06 |
Job 37:4 | יַ֭רְעֵם | yareem | HVhi3ms |
he thunders | he causes thunder | he causes thunder |