עָמַד
𐤏𐤌𐤃
ʻâmad
H5975 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To stand; to be in a standing position, to take one's place, or to remain in position, both literally (standing upright) and figuratively (remaining firm, persisting, enduring, occupying an office or position). The verb can refer to the act of physically rising or standing still, of taking a stance in readiness or opposition, of serving in an official or cultic capacity, or of enduring/changing states. In its causative (hiphil) stem, it often means 'to set up,' 'to appoint,' 'to establish,' or 'to cause to stand.' Across its occurrences, עָמַד expresses a range of staying, enduring, or being present in a situation, alongside senses of regularly appointed activity or official status.
Semantic Range
to stand upright; to remain or continue; to endure; to take one’s place or position; to be present (often in a formal, legal, or cultic sense); to serve or minister (by standing before someone of authority); to appoint or install (in an office or function); to establish or set up; to be employed in a particular role; to confront or oppose; to cause to stand (hiphil); to hold firm; to persist or subsist
Root / Etymology
Root עמד, meaning 'to stand.' The core imagery is that of vertical stability, 'standing' as opposed to sitting, lying down, or moving about. Various binyanim (verbal patterns) extend the meaning from physical standing to the idea of making something/someone stand or establishing a person in a role (e.g. as priest), or causing something to remain established or endure.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, עָמַד is used in multiple registers: 1) physically standing (Genesis 18:8; Exodus 17:6), 2) taking a position or stance in readiness, especially in encounters or battle situations (1 Samuel 17:16), 3) enduring or lasting, often of God’s word or decree (Psalm 33:11; Isaiah 40:8), 4) being appointed or set in a role (Numbers 16:9; 2 Chronicles 29:11), and 5) performing a ritual or cultic service (Deuteronomy 10:8). The usage is multi-dimensional, going well beyond 'to remain' or 'to be present.' English translations such as 'stand,' 'endure,' or 'serve' each capture facets of the verb’s use, but rarely convey its full nuance, especially the sense of official appointment or ritual presence. In later Hebrew (post-biblical), the word retains similar core ideas but sometimes narrows to physical standing. Related terms such as יָשַׁב (to sit, dwell) or קָם (to arise, get up) sometimes overlap, but עָמַד emphasizes the completed or ongoing state of standing or establishment, rather than the process of getting up or the act of sitting. In legal or ceremonial texts, standing conveys a role of responsibility or testimony (e.g., standing before a ruler, or before YHWH). Some English versions translate the cultic usage as 'minister,' but this can obscure the basic underlying image of one 'standing' in service.
Translation Consistency
'Stand' is the most natural, common English verb that covers the primary literal and figurative senses of עָמַד — to be upright, to remain or endure, to take/place oneself, and to serve or be present. The majority of occurrences are rendered with forms of 'stand' (stood, stand, standing). Hiphil senses (‘cause to stand,’ ‘appoint/set up’) can be expressed consistently from this base (e.g. ‘set/appoint’ as periphrastic uses of ‘cause to stand’) while preserving a single, regular base verb across all forms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive); abide (behind), appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed, endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be) present (self), raise up, remain, repair, [phrase] serve, set (forth, over, -tle, up), (make to, make to be at a, with-) stand (by, fast, firm, still, up), (be at a) stay (up), tarry.
Bantu Hebrew
| Language | Bantu Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bemba | ima | to stand, to be standing | |
| Chichewa | ima | to stand, to be standing, to endure | |
| Kikuyu | kũimĩra | to stand (up), to stand still | |
| Kirundi | -ima | to stand up, be on one's feet | |
| Kongo | ima | to stand, to stand up |
Root Family
עמד (maʻămâd) — to stand, take a position, remain in place
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4612 | מַעֲמָד | their standing-place |
| H4613 | מׇעֳמָד | standing place |
| H5976 | עָמַד | and you caused to stand |
| H5977 | עֹמֶד | their standing-place |
| H5979 | עֶמְדָּה | his standing-place |
Word Forms
101 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5975-67 |
וַ/יַּֽעֲמֹ֥ד | vayaamod | HC/Vqw3ms |
and stood | and he stood | and he stood | 54 |
H5975-39 |
עֹמֵ֔ד | omed | HVqrmsa |
standing | the standing-one | standing | 50 |
H5975-97 |
יַעֲמֹ֞ד | yaamod | HVqi3ms |
can stand | he will stand | he will stand | 30 |
H5975-61 |
וַ/יַּעַמְד֥וּ | vayaamedu | HC/Vqw3mp |
and stood | and they stood | and they stood | 28 |
H5975-41 |
עֹמְדִ֖ים | omedim | HVqrmpa |
standing | standing ones | standing ones | 27 |
H5975-01 |
עָמַ֣ד | amad | HVqp3ms |
stood | he stood | he stood | 23 |
H5975-44 |
תַּעֲמֹ֑ד | taamod | HVqj2ms |
stand | may you stand | stand | 18 |
H5975-30 |
לַ/עֲמֹ֥ד | laamod | HR/Vqc |
to stand | to stand | to stand | 17 |
H5975-19 |
הָ/עֹמְדִ֖ים | haomedim | HTd/Vqrmpa |
who stand | the standing ones | the standing ones | 16 |
H5975-60 |
וַ/יַּעֲמֵ֣ד | vayaamed | HC/Vhw3ms |
and he appointed | and he caused to stand | and he caused to stand | 16 |
Occurrences in Scripture
526 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5975-39 |
Genesis 18:8 | עֹמֵ֧ד | omed | HVqrmsa |
was standing | the standing-one | was standing |
H5975-39 |
Genesis 18:22 | עֹמֵ֖ד | omed | HVqrmsa |
standing | the standing-one | standing |
H5975-44 |
Genesis 19:17 | תַּעֲמֹ֖ד | taamod | HVqj2ms |
stand | may you stand | stand |
H5975-01 |
Genesis 19:27 | עָ֥מַד | amad | HVqp3ms |
he had stood | he stood | he stood |
H5975-39 |
Genesis 24:30 | עֹמֵ֥ד | omed | HVqrmsa |
standing | the standing-one | the standing-one |
H5975-44 |
Genesis 24:31 | תַעֲמֹד֙ | taamod | HVqi2ms |
do you stand | may you stand | do you stand |
H5975-58 |
Genesis 29:35 | וַֽ/תַּעֲמֹ֖ד | vataamod | HC/Vqw3fs |
and she ceased | she stood | and she ceased |
H5975-07 |
Genesis 30:9 | עָמְדָ֖ה | amedah | HVqp3fs |
she had stopped | she stood | she had stopped |
H5975-39 |
Genesis 41:1 | עֹמֵ֥ד | omed | HVqrmsa |
he was standing | the standing-one | standing |
H5975-59 |
Genesis 41:3 | וַֽ/תַּעֲמֹ֛דְנָה | vataamodenah | HC/Vqw3fp |
and stood | and they stood | and they stood |
H5975-39 |
Genesis 41:17 | עֹמֵ֖ד | omed | HVqrmsa |
was standing | the standing-one | standing |
H5975-15 |
Genesis 41:46 | בְּ/עָמְד֕/וֹ | beamedo | HR/Vqc/Sp3ms |
when he stood | in his standing | in his standing |
H5975-61 |
Genesis 43:15 | וַ/יַּֽעַמְד֖וּ | vayaamedu | HC/Vqw3mp |
and stood | and they stood | and they stood |
H5975-01 |
Genesis 45:1 | עָ֤מַד | amad | HVqp3ms |
stood | he stood | stood |
H5975-44 |
Genesis 45:9 | תַּעֲמֹֽד | taamod | HVqj2ms |
tarry | may you stand | tarry |
H5975-63 |
Genesis 47:7 | וַ/יַּֽעֲמִדֵ֖/הוּ | vayaamidehu | HC/Vhw3ms/Sp3ms |
and presented him | and he caused him to stand | and he caused him to stand |
H5975-39 |
Exodus 3:5 | עוֹמֵ֣ד | omed | HVqrmsa |
are standing | the standing-one | are standing |
H5975-39 |
Exodus 8:18 | עֹמֵ֣ד | omed | HVqrmsa |
dwell | the standing-one | dwells |
H5975-61 |
Exodus 9:10 | וַ/יַּֽעַמְדוּ֙ | vayaamedu | HC/Vqw3mp |
and stood | and they stood | and they stood |
H5975-30 |
Exodus 9:11 | לַ/עֲמֹ֛ד | laamod | HR/Vqc |
stand | to stand | to stand |
H5975-26 |
Exodus 9:16 | הֶעֱמַדְתִּ֔י/ךָ | heemadetikha | HVhp1cs/Sp2ms |
I have raised you up | I made you stand | I have raised you up |
H5975-30 |
Exodus 9:28 | לַ/עֲמֹֽד | laamod | HR/Vqc |
to stay | to stand | to stand |
H5975-67 |
Exodus 14:19 | וַ/יַּֽעֲמֹ֖ד | vayaamod | HC/Vqw3ms |
and stood | and he stood | and he stood |
H5975-39 |
Exodus 17:6 | עֹמֵד֩ | omed | HVqrmsa |
will stand | the standing-one | standing |
H5975-67 |
Exodus 18:13 | וַ/יַּעֲמֹ֤ד | vayaamod | HC/Vqw3ms |
and stood | and he stood | and the gathered people stood |
H5975-12 |
Exodus 18:23 | עֲמֹ֑ד | amod | HVqc |
to stand | to stand | to stand |
H5975-61 |
Exodus 20:18 | וַ/יַּֽעַמְד֖וּ | vayaamedu | HC/Vqw3mp |
and stood | and they stood | and they stood |
H5975-67 |
Exodus 20:21 | וַ/יַּעֲמֹ֥ד | vayaamod | HC/Vqw3ms |
and stood | and he stood | and he stood |
H5975-97 |
Exodus 21:21 | יַעֲמֹ֑ד | yaamod | HVqi3ms |
he stands | he will stand | he will stand |
H5975-41 |
Exodus 26:15 | עֹמְדִֽים | omedim | HVqrmpa |
standing | standing ones | standing ones |
H5975-67 |
Exodus 32:26 | וַ/יַּעֲמֹ֤ד | vayaamod | HC/Vqw3ms |
stood | and he stood | and he stood |
H5975-70 |
Exodus 33:9 | וְ/עָמַ֖ד | veamad | HC/Vqq3ms |
and stood | and he stood | and he stood |
H5975-39 |
Exodus 33:10 | עֹמֵ֖ד | omed | HVqrmsa |
standing | the standing-one | standing |
H5975-41 |
Exodus 36:20 | עֹמְדִֽים | omedim | HVqrmpa |
standing upright | standing ones | standing ones |
H5975-61 |
Leviticus 9:5 | וַ/יַּֽעַמְד֖וּ | vayaamedu | HC/Vqw3mp |
and stood | and they stood | and they stood |
H5975-01 |
Leviticus 13:5 | עָמַ֣ד | amad | HVqp3ms |
has stood | he stood | stands |
H5975-44 |
Leviticus 13:23 | תַּעֲמֹ֤ד | taamod | HVqi3fs |
it stands | may you stand | it stands |
H5975-44 |
Leviticus 13:28 | תַעֲמֹ֨ד | taamod | HVqi3fs |
it stands | may you stand | it stands |
H5975-01 |
Leviticus 13:37 | עָמַ֨ד | amad | HVqp3ms |
has stood | he stood | he stood |
H5975-82 |
Leviticus 14:11 | וְ/הֶעֱמִ֞יד | veheemid | HC/Vhq3ms |
and shall cause to stand | and he caused to stand | and he caused to stand |
H5975-82 |
Leviticus 16:7 | וְ/הֶעֱמִ֤יד | veheemid | HC/Vhq3ms |
and he shall present | and he caused to stand | and he caused to stand |
H5975-100 |
Leviticus 16:10 | יָֽעֳמַד | yaomad | HVHi3ms |
shall be presented | he will be made to stand | he will be made to stand |
H5975-44 |
Leviticus 18:23 | תַעֲמֹ֞ד | taamod | HVqi3fs |
shall stand | may you stand | shall stand |
H5975-44 |
Leviticus 19:16 | תַעֲמֹ֖ד | taamod | HVqi2ms |
you-shall-stand | may you stand | may you stand |
H5975-84 |
Leviticus 27:8 | וְ/הֶֽעֱמִיד/וֹ֙ | veheemido | HC/Vhq3ms/Sp3ms |
then he shall present him | and he caused him to stand | and he caused him to stand |
H5975-82 |
Leviticus 27:11 | וְ/הֶֽעֱמִ֥יד | veheemid | HC/Vhq3ms |
then he shall present | and he caused to stand | and it caused to stand |
H5975-94 |
Numbers 1:5 | יַֽעַמְד֖וּ | yaamedu | HVqi3mp |
shall stand | they will stand | they will stand |
H5975-77 |
Numbers 3:6 | וְֽ/הַעֲמַדְתָּ֣ | vehaamadeta | HC/Vhq2ms |
and-you-shall-present | and you caused to stand | and you caused to stand |
H5975-83 |
Numbers 5:16 | וְ/הֶֽעֱמִדָ֖/הּ | veheemidah | HC/Vhq3ms/Sp3fs |
and-causes-her-to-stand | he caused her to stand | and he caused her to stand |
H5975-82 |
Numbers 5:18 | וְ/הֶעֱמִ֨יד | veheemid | HC/Vhq3ms |
and shall make stand | and he caused to stand | and he caused to stand |