Ῥαμᾶ
Rhamâ
G4471 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A toponym referring to 'Ramah,' a settlement in the southern Levant, specifically known from biblical texts. The name signifies an 'elevated place' or 'height.' In Hellenistic and Roman period literature, including the Septuagint and New Testament genealogies, Ῥαμᾶ designates a specific location (or locations) associated with Israelite heritage and historical narratives.
Semantic Range
the town or locality called Ramah/Rama; elevated place or height (by origin and implication in Hebrew, but not lexicalized in Greek); specific geographic site referenced in Israelite and Judean tradition
Root / Etymology
Borrowed from Hebrew רָמָה (Ramah), meaning 'height' or 'elevated place.' The Greek form is a transliteration adjusted for Greek phonology and orthography.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Ῥαμᾶ occurs exclusively as a proper noun—never with generic meaning—in Greek biblical texts. In the Septuagint, it reflects the transliteration of the Hebrew place name Ramah, a site mentioned frequently in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. In the Greek New Testament (e.g., Matthew 2:18), the name appears in allusions to prophecies involving Rachel and mourning, retaining its geographical reference without broadening to metaphoric senses. English translations conventionally render it 'Ramah' or 'Rama,' but this does not always convey the word's connotation of elevation or strategic height. Multiple ancient sites bore the name Ramah; context must clarify which is intended. The Greek transliteration matches broader Hellenistic practice of adapting Semitic place names for Greek script.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Hebrew origin (רָמָה); Rama (i.e. Ramah), a place in Palestine:--Rama.
Root Family
Ῥαμᾶ- (Rhamâ) — Ramah (place name), elevated place, height (by extension of root)
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4471-01 |
Ῥαμὰ | rama | N DAT F SG |
Ramah | to Ramah | Rhama | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4471-01 |
Matthew 2:18 | Ῥαμὰ | rama | N DAT F SG |
Ramah | to Ramah | Rhama |