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עַם

𐤏𐤌

Am

H5971 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A group of people bound by shared kinship, geographic proximity, or social association; often denotes the population of an ethnic group, tribe, or nation, but can also refer more broadly to any collective of persons. In the context of ancient Israel, frequently designates the Israelite people as a whole or a subgroup thereof; also used generically for the population of other groups.

Semantic Range

people, populace, tribe, folk, group, community, attendants, nation, collective body

Root / Etymology

Root עָמַם (ʿmm), meaning 'to gather, be dark, be associated, be numerous.' The noun עַם (ʿam) is derived from this root, signifying those who are gathered or associated, i.e., a people. The relationship between the concepts of 'darkness' and 'people' in the root is debated; some suggest 'obscurity' refers to the masses, but the primary derived meaning is association or group.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, עַם typically refers to a collective body, ranging from all Israelite tribes ('the people of Israel') to specific populations (Moabites, Egyptians, etc.), or even generic masses. Unlike גּוֹי (gôy), which can denote a political nation or people group—and which is sometimes used in opposition to Israelite identity—עַם emphasizes the communal, kinship, or socio-cultural bond, frequently of a smaller scale or as a component of a larger nation. Over time, עַם came to be associated with corporate Israelite identity, but it remains context-dependent; its usage in post-exilic texts can reflect evolving ideas of peoplehood apart from political sovereignty. Standard translations such as 'people,' 'folk,' or 'nation' usually capture its range, though English 'nation' often connotes later ideas of statehood not inherent in עַם. In Psalms and prophetic books, עַם can be metaphorical (e.g., of God's assembled people) or refer to nations in a general sense. Notably, in later periods and translation traditions, 'people' might be rendered as 'Jew' or 'Jews,' but this does not accurately reflect the term's usage in early Israelite history.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

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

Root עמם to gather, associate, assemble
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3818 לֹא עַמִּי my people
H532 אָמִי my people
H5972 עַם a gathered people
H5980 עֻמָּה in alignment with
H5991 עַמִּיחוּר My-Kinsman-is-Hur

Word Forms

74 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H5971-25 הָ/עָֽם haam HTd/Ncmsa the people the gathered people the people 744
H5971-01 עַ֤ם am HNcmsa people gathered people people 210
H5971-12 עַמִּ֛/י ami HNcmsc/Sp1cs my people my people my people 181
H5971-14 עַמּ֑/וֹ amo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his people his gathered people his people 99
H5971-13 עַמִּ֖ים amim HNcmpa peoples assembled peoples peoples 80
H5971-05 עַמֶּֽ/ךָ amekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your people your people your people 77
H5971-26 הָ֣/עַמִּ֔ים haamim HTd/Ncmpa the peoples the gathered peoples the peoples 71
H5971-34 לָ/עָ֛ם laam HRd/Ncmsa to the people to the gathered people to the people 51
H5971-73 וְ/הָ/עָ֗ם vehaam HC/Td/Ncmsa and the people and the gathered people and the people 43
H5971-35 לְ/עַם leam HR/Ncmsc a people to a gathered people of to a people 41

Occurrences in Scripture

1870 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H5971-01 Genesis 11:6 עַ֤ם am HNcmsa the people gathered people people
H5971-25 Genesis 14:16 הָ/עָֽם haam HTd/Ncmsa the people the gathered people the people
H5971-48 Genesis 17:14 מֵ/עַמֶּ֑י/הָ meameyha HR/Ncmpc/Sp3fs from his people from her peoples from her peoples
H5971-13 Genesis 17:16 עַמִּ֖ים amim HNcmpa peoples assembled peoples peoples
H5971-25 Genesis 19:4 הָ/עָ֖ם haam HTd/Ncmsa the people the gathered people the people
H5971-35 Genesis 23:7 לְ/עַם leam HR/Ncmsc to the people to a gathered people of to the people of
H5971-12 Genesis 23:11 עַמִּ֛/י ami HNcmsc/Sp1cs my people my people my people
H5971-01 Genesis 23:12 עַ֥ם am HNcmsc the people gathered people the people
H5971-01 Genesis 23:13 עַם am HNcmsc the people gathered people the people
H5971-04 Genesis 25:8 עַמָּֽי/ו amayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his people his gathered peoples his people
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