7414. Ramah
Lexical Summary
Ramah: Ramah

Original Word: רָמָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Ramah
Pronunciation: rah-MAH
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-maw')
KJV: Ramah
NASB: Ramah
Word Origin: [the same as H7413 (רָמָה - high place)]

1. Ramah, the name of four places in Israel

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Ramah

The same as ramah; Ramah, the name of four places in Palestine -- Ramah.

see HEBREW ramah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from rum
Definition
"height," the name of several places in Isr.
NASB Translation
Ramah (35).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
II. רָמָה proper name, of a location usually with article ׳הָר the Height, Rama, הָרָמָה (except Jeremiah 31:15; Nehemiah 11:33):

1 in Benjamin, on border of Ephraim, Hosea 5:8; 1 Kings 15:17,21,22 2Chronicles 16:1,5,6; Judges 4:5; Judges 19:3; Isaiah 10:29; Jeremiah 31:15; Jeremiah 40:1; Joshua 18:25 (P), Ezra 2:26 = Nehemiah 7:30, probably also Nehemiah 11:33; ᵐ5 usually Ραμα; modern er-Râm, 5 miles north of Jerusalem, BuhlGeogr. 172.

2 in hill-country of Ephraim (=

1?), home of Samuel 1 Samuel 1:19; 1 Samuel 2:11; 1 Samuel 7:17; 1 Samuel 8:4; 1 Samuel 15:34; 1 Samuel 16:13; 1 Samuel 19:18,22a (all with ה locative, הָרָמָָ֫חָה), 1 Samuel 19:19; 1 Samuel 19:22 b; 1 Samuel 19:23; 1 Samuel 19:23; 1 Samuel 20:1; 1 Samuel 25:1; 1 Samuel 28:3, = הָרָמָתַיִם 1 Samuel 1:1 (see צוּפִי); ᵐ5 Αρμαθαιμ, Ραμα; perhaps (if distinct from

1) = Besit-Rima, 13 miles east-northeast of Lydda (GASmGeogr. 254 BuhlGeogr. 170); or Râm-allah, 3 miles southwest of Bethel (EwHist. ii. 421 and others) [compare also Ἀριμαθαμα; Matthew 27:57 +].

3 in Asher Joshua 19:29 (P), Ραμα; perhaps Râmiye, approximately 12 miles east of Ladder of Tyre RobBR iii. 79 BuhlGeogr. 231.

4 in Naphtali, Joshua 19:36 (P), Αραηλ, A ᵐ5L Ραμα; modern Râmeh, approximately 8 miles west-southwest of Safed BuhlGeogr. 222.

5 (בּ)רָמָה 2 Kings 8:29 2Chronicles 22:6 Ρεμμωθ, Ραμωθ; ᵐ5L Ραμαθ Γαλ.), see רָמוֺת

1 — See DrHast. DB. RAMAH p. 847.

רָמָתַיִם proper name, of a location ׳הָר 1 Samuel 1:1, see II.רָמָה 2 above

Topical Lexicon
Overview

Ramah (“height”) designates several elevated towns in Scripture, appearing thirty-six times. Each occurrence highlights the strategic or spiritual prominence of these sites in Israel’s history.

Geographical Locations

1. Ramah of Benjamin – Five miles north of Jerusalem on the main ridge road. Referenced from Joshua 18:25 through the post-exilic era; repeatedly a military and prophetic stage (1 Kings 15:17; Jeremiah 40:1).
2. Ramah of Naphtali – A fortified northern town in the hills overlooking the Huleh basin (Joshua 19:36).
3. Ramah on the Border of Asher – A high point near Tyre, marking the tribal boundary (Joshua 19:29).
4. Ramathaim-Zophim / Samuel’s Ramah – In the hill country of Ephraim; abbreviated “Ramah” in 1 Samuel. The prophet’s home, judicial seat, and a center of prophetic training (1 Samuel 1:19; 7:17; 19:18-23).

Ramah in the Period of the Judges

Deborah judged Israel “between Ramah and Bethel” (Judges 4:5), and the Levite of Judges 19 turned aside there—evidence of Ramah’s accessibility and civic role in an otherwise fragmented era.

Ramah in the Ministry of Samuel

Elkanah and Hannah lived at Ramah (1 Samuel 2:11). Samuel built an altar there and made it the base for his national circuit (7:17). Israel’s elders came to Ramah to demand a king (8:4); David fled there for prophetic shelter (19:18-23). The Spirit’s overpowering of Saul at Naioth in Ramah underscores God’s sovereignty over political power.

Ramah in the Divided Kingdom

Because Ramah straddled Judah’s northern approach, Baasha of Israel fortified it to throttle Judah (1 Kings 15:17). Asa dismantled the blockade, turning its materials into defenses for Geba and Mizpah (15:22; 2 Chronicles 16:1-6). Ramah’s control thus influenced worship traffic to Jerusalem.

Prophetic Voices from Ramah

Hosea 5:8 pictures judgment sweeping through Ramah; Isaiah 10:29 narrates Assyrian terror reaching its gates. Jeremiah 31:15 speaks of Rachel weeping in Ramah for exiled children—grief later echoed in Matthew 2:18 after Herod’s massacre.

Ramah and the Babylonian Exile

Nebuzaradan assembled captives there; Jeremiah himself was released from chains at Ramah (Jeremiah 40:1). The town became the last homeland view for many deportees, making Jeremiah’s lament profoundly literal.

Post-Exilic Resettlement

Returnees from “Ramah and Geba” (Ezra 2:26; Nehemiah 7:30) and later Benjaminites in “Hazor, Ramah, and Gittaim” (Nehemiah 11:33) fulfill the promise that children would come back from “the land of the enemy” (Jeremiah 31:16).

New Testament Echo

Matthew applies Rachel’s weeping to the Bethlehem tragedy (Matthew 2:18), showing how Ramah’s sorrow culminates in messianic hope as Jesus emerges to redeem.

Theological and Ministry Reflections

• Heights remind believers that God often works from places of vantage—militarily, judicially, prophetically.
• Ramah illustrates spiritual authority above political force; Saul’s armies could not silence the Spirit at Naioth.
• Lament leads to hope: the same Ramah that heard Rachel’s cries also witnesses the return of exiles and, in Christ, the ultimate reversal of loss.

Key References

Joshua 18:25; 19:29, 36

Judges 4:5; 19:13

1 Samuel 1:19; 7:17; 8:4; 15:34; 19:18-23

1 Kings 15:17-22

2 Chronicles 16:1-6

Isaiah 10:29

Hosea 5:8

Jeremiah 31:15; 40:1

Ezra 2:26

Nehemiah 7:30; 11:33

Matthew 2:18

Forms and Transliterations
בְּרָמָ֤ה בָּֽרָמָ֔ה בָּרָמָ֑ה בָּרָמָֽה׃ בָֽרָמָ֔ה בָרָמָ֖ה בָרָמָֽה׃ ברמה ברמה׃ הָֽרָמָ֑ה הָֽרָמָ֔ה הָֽרָמָה֙ הָרָמָ֑ה הָרָמָ֑תָה הָרָמָ֔תָה הָרָמָ֖תָה הָרָמָ֗תָה הָרָמָ֙תָה֙ הָרָמָ֛ה הָרָמָֽתָה׃ הָרָמָה֙ הרמה הרמתה הרמתה׃ וְהָֽרָמָ֖ה וְהָרָמָ֖ה והרמה רָ֣אמַת רָמָ֖ה ראמת רמה bā·rā·māh ḇā·rā·māh baraMah bārāmāh ḇārāmāh bə·rā·māh beraMah bərāmāh hā·rā·mā·ṯāh hā·rā·māh haraMah hārāmāh haraMatah hārāmāṯāh rā·māh rā·maṯ raMah rāmāh Ramat rāmaṯ varaMah veharaMah wə·hā·rā·māh wəhārāmāh
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Joshua 18:25
HEB: גִּבְע֥וֹן וְהָֽרָמָ֖ה וּבְאֵרֽוֹת׃
NAS: Gibeon and Ramah and Beeroth,
KJV: Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
INT: Gibeon and Ramah and Beeroth

Joshua 19:8
HEB: בַּֽעֲלַ֥ת בְּאֵ֖ר רָ֣אמַת נֶ֑גֶב זֹ֗את
KJV: to Baalathbeer, Ramath of the south.
INT: far Baalath-beer Ramath of the south likewise

Joshua 19:29
HEB: וְשָׁ֤ב הַגְּבוּל֙ הָֽרָמָ֔ה וְעַד־ עִ֖יר
NAS: turned to Ramah and to the fortified
KJV: turneth to Ramah, and to the strong
INT: turned the border to Ramah against city

Joshua 19:36
HEB: וַאֲדָמָ֥ה וְהָרָמָ֖ה וְחָצֽוֹר׃
NAS: and Adamah and Ramah and Hazor,
KJV: And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor,
INT: and Adamah and Ramah and Hazor

Judges 4:5
HEB: דְּבוֹרָ֗ה בֵּ֧ין הָרָמָ֛ה וּבֵ֥ין בֵּֽית־
NAS: between Ramah and Bethel
KJV: of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel
INT: of Deborah between Ramah between and Bethel

Judges 19:13
HEB: בַגִּבְעָ֖ה א֥וֹ בָרָמָֽה׃
NAS: in Gibeah or Ramah.
KJV: in Gibeah, or in Ramah.
INT: Gibeah or Ramah

1 Samuel 1:19
HEB: אֶל־ בֵּיתָ֖ם הָרָמָ֑תָה וַיֵּ֤דַע אֶלְקָנָה֙
NAS: to their house in Ramah. And Elkanah
KJV: to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah
INT: to their house Ramah had and Elkanah

1 Samuel 2:11
HEB: וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ אֶלְקָנָ֛ה הָרָמָ֖תָה עַל־ בֵּית֑וֹ
NAS: to his home at Ramah. But the boy
KJV: went to Ramah to his house.
INT: went Elkanah Ramah unto his home

1 Samuel 7:17
HEB: וּתְשֻׁבָת֤וֹ הָרָמָ֙תָה֙ כִּֽי־ שָׁ֣ם
NAS: Then his return [was] to Ramah, for his house
KJV: And his return [was] to Ramah; for there [was] his house;
INT: his return Ramah for there

1 Samuel 8:4
HEB: אֶל־ שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל הָרָמָֽתָה׃
NAS: together and came to Samuel at Ramah;
KJV: and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
INT: to Samuel Ramah

1 Samuel 15:34
HEB: וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל הָרָמָ֑תָה וְשָׁא֛וּל עָלָ֥ה
NAS: went to Ramah, but Saul
KJV: went to Ramah; and Saul
INT: went Samuel to Ramah Saul went

1 Samuel 16:13
HEB: שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ הָרָמָֽתָה׃ ס
NAS: arose and went to Ramah.
KJV: rose up, and went to Ramah.
INT: and Samuel and went to Ramah

1 Samuel 19:18
HEB: אֶל־ שְׁמוּאֵל֙ הָרָמָ֔תָה וַיַּ֨גֶּד־ ל֔וֹ
NAS: to Samuel at Ramah, and told
KJV: to Samuel to Ramah, and told
INT: to Samuel Ramah and told all

1 Samuel 19:19
HEB: (בְּנָיֹ֖ות ק) בָּרָמָֽה׃
NAS: David is at Naioth in Ramah.
KJV: Behold, David [is] at Naioth in Ramah.
INT: David Naioth Ramah

1 Samuel 19:22
HEB: גַּם־ ה֜וּא הָרָמָ֗תָה וַיָּבֹא֙ עַד־
NAS: went to Ramah and came
KJV: Then went he also to Ramah, and came
INT: again himself to Ramah and came far

1 Samuel 19:22
HEB: (בְּנָיֹ֥ות ק) בָּרָמָֽה׃
NAS: Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah.
KJV: Behold, [they be] at Naioth in Ramah.
INT: Behold Naioth Ramah

1 Samuel 19:23
HEB: (נָיֹ֖ות ק) בָּרָמָ֑ה וַתְּהִי֩ עָלָ֨יו
NAS: to Naioth in Ramah; and the Spirit
KJV: thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit
INT: about Naioth Ramah came upon

1 Samuel 19:23
HEB: (בְּנָיֹ֥ות ק) בָּרָמָֽה׃
NAS: he came to Naioth in Ramah.
KJV: until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
INT: came Naioth Ramah

1 Samuel 20:1
HEB: (מִנָּיֹ֖ות ק) בָּרָמָ֑ה וַיָּבֹ֞א וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ׀
NAS: from Naioth in Ramah, and came
KJV: from Naioth in Ramah, and came
INT: David Naioth Ramah and came and said

1 Samuel 25:1
HEB: וַיִּקְבְּרֻ֥הוּ בְּבֵית֖וֹ בָּרָמָ֑ה וַיָּ֣קָם דָּוִ֔ד
NAS: him at his house in Ramah. And David
KJV: him in his house at Ramah. And David
INT: and buried his house Ramah arose and David

1 Samuel 28:3
HEB: יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּקְבְּרֻ֥הוּ בָרָמָ֖ה וּבְעִיר֑וֹ וְשָׁא֗וּל
NAS: him and buried him in Ramah, his own city.
KJV: him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city.
INT: Israel and buried Ramah city and Saul

1 Kings 15:17
HEB: וַיִּ֖בֶן אֶת־ הָרָמָ֑ה לְבִלְתִּ֗י תֵּ֚ת
NAS: and fortified Ramah in order to prevent
KJV: and built Ramah, that he might not suffer
INT: Judah and fortified Ramah not suffer

1 Kings 15:21
HEB: מִבְּנ֖וֹת אֶת־ הָֽרָמָ֑ה וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב בְּתִרְצָֽה׃
NAS: fortifying Ramah and remained
KJV: building of Ramah, and dwelt
INT: ceased fortifying Ramah and remained Tirzah

1 Kings 15:22
HEB: אֶת־ אַבְנֵ֤י הָֽרָמָה֙ וְאֶת־ עֵצֶ֔יהָ
NAS: away the stones of Ramah and its timber
KJV: away the stones of Ramah, and the timber
INT: took the stones of Ramah timber which

2 Kings 8:29
HEB: יַכֻּ֤הוּ אֲרַמִּים֙ בָּֽרָמָ֔ה בְּהִלָּ֣חֲמ֔וֹ אֶת־
NAS: had inflicted on him at Ramah when he fought
KJV: had given him at Ramah, when he fought
INT: had inflicted the Arameans Ramah fought against

36 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7414
36 Occurrences


bā·rā·māh — 8 Occ.
bə·rā·māh — 1 Occ.
hā·rā·māh — 12 Occ.
hā·rā·mā·ṯāh — 8 Occ.
rā·māh — 1 Occ.
rā·maṯ — 1 Occ.
ḇā·rā·māh — 3 Occ.
wə·hā·rā·māh — 2 Occ.

7413
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