from an unused root (meaning to be high); an elevation; height, high place, wave.
Transliteration:bâmâh
Pronunciation:bam-maw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term בָּמָה (bâmâh), transliterated as *bâmâh* (Strong's H1116), derives from an unused root implying "to be high." Its core meaning denotes an "elevation" or "height," referring literally to a raised geographical feature. However, its primary semantic range in the biblical text extends significantly beyond mere topography, almost exclusively acquiring a cultic connotation. It designates a "high place," a raised platform or site used for religious worship. While initially, such sites might have been neutral or even legitimate places of worship (e.g., before the centralization of worship in Jerusalem), the term overwhelmingly carries a negative theological weight in the Prophets and Deuteronomistic history, referring to illicit shrines where idolatry or syncretistic worship of Yahweh occurred. A less common, and sometimes debated, meaning is "wave," as in the "high places of the sea," though this is rare and often interpreted contextually as "heights."
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word *bâmâh* appears over 100 times in the Hebrew Bible, predominantly in the historical books (Kings, Chronicles) and prophetic literature (Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Hosea). Its usage reveals a complex history of worship in ancient Israel.
Initially, before the establishment of the Temple in Jerusalem, worship at various "high places" was not explicitly condemned. For instance, Samuel sacrifices at a high place in Ramah ([[1 Samuel 9:12-14]]), and Solomon offers sacrifices at the great high place in Gibeon before building the Temple ([[1 Kings 3:2-3]]). These instances reflect a period of decentralized worship.
However, following the construction of the Temple and the Deuteronomic command for centralized worship ([[Deuteronomy 12:2-5]]), the term *bâmâh* becomes almost exclusively pejorative. It refers to sites of idolatry and syncretism, where foreign gods (like Baal and Asherah) were worshipped, or where Yahweh was worshipped in a manner contrary to divine command. Kings are frequently judged by their actions concerning the high places:
* **Pagan Worship:** Many passages condemn the building and use of high places for non-Yahwistic deities ([[Numbers 22:41]], [[Jeremiah 7:31]], [[Ezekiel 6:3-6]]). These sites were often associated with abhorrent practices, including child sacrifice.
* **Israelite Transgression:** Even after the Temple's completion, many kings of Judah and Israel failed to remove the high places, leading to ongoing spiritual defilement. Solomon himself built high places for foreign gods ([[1 Kings 11:7]]). Subsequent kings, even those generally considered righteous like Asa ([[1 Kings 15:14]]) and Jehoshaphat ([[1 Kings 22:43]]), are noted for not removing them. Manasseh actively rebuilt those that Hezekiah had destroyed ([[2 Kings 21:3]]).
* **Reforming Kings:** The destruction of high places became a hallmark of genuine reform. King Hezekiah ([[2 Kings 18:4]]) and especially King Josiah ([[2 Kings 23:5]], [[2 Kings 23:8]], [[2 Kings 23:13-15]]) are praised for their zealous efforts to dismantle these illicit shrines throughout Judah and even into the former northern kingdom, thereby purifying worship and restoring covenant fidelity.
* **Figurative Use:** In a few instances, *bâmâh* can refer to elevated geographical features without cultic association, or metaphorically, as in God enabling Israel to ride on the "high places of the earth" ([[Deuteronomy 32:13]]), signifying a position of strength and blessing. The debated "waves" meaning appears in [[Job 9:8]].
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of *bâmâh* is intrinsically linked to several other biblical terms and theological concepts:
* **Cultic Sites:** It stands in contrast to the legitimate places of worship, such as the Tabernacle (`{{H4908}}`) and the Temple (`{{H1004}}`). It is often mentioned alongside altars (`{{H4196}}`), sacred pillars (`{{H4676}}`), and Asherah poles (`{{H842}}`), which were central to the illicit worship conducted at these sites.
* **Idolatry:** The term is deeply associated with idolatry (e.g., `{{H457}}`, `{{H5566}}` for idols) and the worship of foreign deities like Baal (`{{H1168}}`) and Asherah (`{{H842}}`). The high places were centers of syncretism, where Yahwistic worship was corrupted by Canaanite practices.
* **Covenant and Law:** The prohibition of high places directly relates to the Deuteronomic law of centralized worship ([[Deuteronomy 12]]), which was a foundational aspect of Israel's covenant with God. Maintaining high places was a direct violation of this covenant.
* **Prophetic Denunciation:** Prophets like Jeremiah ([[Jeremiah 7:31]]) and Ezekiel ([[Ezekiel 6:3]]) frequently denounce the high places as symbols of Israel's spiritual adultery and rebellion against God, foretelling divine judgment upon them.
* **Purity of Worship:** The concept of *bâmâh* highlights the constant struggle within Israel to maintain purity of worship, distinct from the surrounding pagan cultures.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of *bâmâh* is profound, serving as a critical indicator of Israel's spiritual health and fidelity to the covenant.
1. **Symbol of Disobedience:** The "high place" became the quintessential symbol of Israel's persistent disobedience to God's command for exclusive and centralized worship. It represented a compromise with paganism and a failure to fully trust in Yahweh alone.
2. **Syncretism and Apostasy:** The continued existence and use of *bâmôt* (plural of *bâmâh*) underscore the pervasive problem of syncretism, where Israel blended Yahwism with the fertility cults of Canaan. This spiritual adultery was a primary cause of God's judgment upon both the northern and southern kingdoms.
3. **Theological Test for Kings:** The biblical authors, particularly in Kings and Chronicles, consistently use a king's stance on the high places as a key metric for evaluating their reign. Kings who removed them were generally seen as righteous and pleasing to God, while those who allowed them to persist, or worse, built new ones, were condemned. This highlights the importance of leadership in maintaining national spiritual integrity.
4. **Divine Judgment:** The destruction of the high places, whether by reforming kings or by invading armies as instruments of divine judgment, signaled a purification or a consequence for Israel's apostasy. The prophetic pronouncements often target these sites as objects of God's wrath.
5. **Exclusivity of Yahweh Worship:** Ultimately, the narrative surrounding *bâmâh* reinforces the fundamental theological principle of Yahweh's exclusive claim to Israel's worship. The high places represented a challenge to this exclusivity, and their eradication was essential for true worship and covenant renewal.
### Summary
The Hebrew word בָּמָה (*bâmâh*, H1116), while literally meaning "elevation," primarily refers in the biblical text to a "high place" used for religious worship. Though some early instances show neutral or even legitimate use before the Temple, the term overwhelmingly carries a negative connotation, symbolizing illicit cultic sites where idolatry and syncretistic practices flourished. Its persistent presence throughout Israel's history, despite Deuteronomic prohibitions, underscores the nation's spiritual struggle and tendency towards apostasy. The actions of kings regarding the high places served as a critical barometer of their fidelity to God, with their destruction marking periods of spiritual revival and their maintenance signaling disobedience and a deviation from pure Yahwism. Thus, *bâmâh* stands as a powerful theological marker, representing the ongoing tension between covenant faithfulness and the allure of corrupted worship.
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