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רָמַת לֶחִי

𐤓𐤌𐤕 𐤋𐤇𐤉

Ramat Lechi

H7437 noun

SILEX Entry

Root רמה־לכי height, elevation; jawbone

Definition

Ramath-Lechi: A proper place name meaning 'height of Lechi' or 'elevation of the jawbone.' The term designates a site in ancient Israelite territory notable as the location where Samson defeated the Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. In most contexts, the name refers specifically to the elevation or hill associated with this event, and does not serve as a general term, but as a toponym with specific historical narrative significance.

Semantic Range

Ramath-Lechi (proper place name), hill or height associated with an event involving a jawbone, specifically in the Samson narrative

Root / Etymology

From the root רָמָה (ramâh, 'height,' from רוּם, 'to be high, exalted') and לֶחִי (leḥî, 'jawbone'), the name is a compound formed by the construct state רָמַת (ramat, 'height of...') plus לֶחִי (Lechi, 'jawbone'). Thus, 'height/elevation of the jawbone.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Ramath-Lechi appears exclusively in narratives related to Samson (Judges 15), marking the place of his notable feat over the Philistines. The name functions both as a geographical marker and literary motif: the 'jawbone' reference ties to Samson's use of the donkey's jawbone as a weapon. Later translations refer to 'Ramath-lehi' or 'hill of the jawbone,' but there is no independent evidence that this place was widely known outside the Samson narrative. The term does not refer to a recurring or established Israelite site. English tradition sometimes renders the term as a generic 'hill of the jawbone,' although the etymology and usage show 'Lechi' is a proper name in context. The word 'Palestine' used in Strong's gloss reflects 19th-century nomenclature; in the context of the book of Judges, the territory would have been understood as part of greater ancient Israelite lands in the southern Levant.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from רָמָה and לְחִי; height of a jaw-bone; Ramath-Lechi, a place in Palestine; Ramath-lehi.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

רמה־לכי (r-m-h / l-ḥ-y) — height, elevation; jawbone

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7437-02 רָ֥מַת ramat HNp Ramath Height-of-the-Jawbone 1
H7437-01 לֶֽחִי lechi HNp Lehi Height of the Jawbone 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7437-02 Judges 15:17 רָ֥מַת ramat HNp Ramath Height-of-the-Jawbone
H7437-01 Judges 15:17 לֶֽחִי lechi HNp Lehi Height of the Jawbone
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