the same as בָּמָה; Bamah, a place in Palestine; Bamah. See also בָּמוֹת.
Transliteration:Bâmâh
Pronunciation:baw-maw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term `{{H1117}}` (Bâmâh) is categorized as a proper noun, specifically a geographical place name. Its primary definition, as given, is "Bamah, a place in Palestine." However, its significance extends beyond a mere geographical marker due to its direct and intentional derivation from `{{H1116}}` (bâmâh), the common noun meaning "high place," "sacred height," or a "cultic site," often associated with illicit worship. Thus, while `{{H1117}}` denotes a specific location, its name inherently carries the semantic weight of the "high place" concept. The sole biblical occurrence of `{{H1117}}` in [[Ezekiel 20:29]] explicitly leverages this semantic connection through a profound prophetic wordplay, making the place name itself a commentary on Israel's spiritual infidelity.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The proper noun `{{H1117}}` occurs only once in the Hebrew Bible, found in [[Ezekiel 20:29]]: "Then I said to them, 'What is the high place (מַה הַבָּמָה - `{{H1116}}`) to which you go?' So its name is called Bamah (בָּמָה - `{{H1117}}`) to this day."
This verse is embedded within Ezekiel's recounting of Israel's history of rebellion and idolatry, particularly focusing on their persistent worship at "high places." The divine query, "What is the high place (`{{H1116}}`) to which you go?", is rhetorical, designed to expose the nature of their sin. The immediate answer, "So its name is called Bamah (`{{H1117}}`) to this day," is a powerful prophetic indictment. The place itself is named "Bamah" precisely because it *is* a high place of illicit worship. This is not merely a descriptive name but a condemnatory label, signifying that the very identity of the location is bound up with Israel's spiritual apostasy. The phrase "to this day" emphasizes the enduring nature of this spiritual problem and the lasting shame associated with such sites. The context of Ezekiel 20 is a severe critique of Israel's unfaithfulness from the Exodus to the prophet's own time, demonstrating how their idolatry at "high places" was a continuous affront to Yahweh.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most significant related word to `{{H1117}}` is `{{H1116}}` (bâmâh), the common noun for "high place." This term appears over 100 times in the Old Testament, predominantly referring to elevated sites used for religious worship. While some early "high places" might have been legitimate altars (e.g., [[1 Samuel 9:12-14]]), the vast majority of biblical references, especially in the Deuteronomistic history and prophetic literature, condemn them as centers of idolatry, syncretism, and practices abhorrent to Yahweh (e.g., [[1 Kings 11:7]], [[2 Kings 23:5]], [[Jeremiah 7:31]]).
Another closely related term is `{{H1120}}` (bâmôth), the plural form of `{{H1116}}`, meaning "high places." This plural form is frequently used to describe the widespread proliferation of these illicit cultic sites throughout Israel and Judah (e.g., [[2 Kings 17:9]], [[Psalm 78:58]]).
Concepts intimately linked to `{{H1117}}` through its semantic connection to "high place" include:
* **Idolatry:** The worship of false gods or images.
* **Apostasy:** The abandonment of one's religious faith or principles.
* **Syncretism:** The blending of religious beliefs and practices, particularly the worship of Yahweh alongside pagan deities.
* **Illicit Worship:** Religious practices contrary to God's revealed law.
* **Prophetic Critique:** The denunciation of Israel's unfaithfulness by God's prophets.
* **Divine Judgment:** The consequences of Israel's persistent rebellion.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H1117}}` is profound, despite its single occurrence. It serves as a potent microcosm of Israel's spiritual failure. The naming of a specific place as "Bamah" in [[Ezekiel 20:29]] is not merely descriptive; it is a divine act of naming that reveals and condemns Israel's persistent idolatry. God, through His prophet Ezekiel, effectively declares that the very landscape bears witness to their sin. The wordplay highlights the pervasive nature of the "high place" problem: it was not just a practice but had become so ingrained that it defined geographical locations.
This passage underscores several key theological truths:
1. **God's Omniscience and Awareness:** God knows the specific locations and practices of His people's unfaithfulness. The naming of "Bamah" demonstrates His intimate awareness of their rebellious acts.
2. **The Severity of Idolatry:** The fact that a place's name becomes synonymous with illicit worship emphasizes the gravity of turning away from Yahweh. It is a deep affront to His covenant faithfulness and exclusivity.
3. **Prophetic Authority and Wordplay:** Ezekiel's use of wordplay demonstrates the dynamic and insightful nature of divine revelation. The name itself becomes a sermon, a tangible reminder of Israel's sin and God's righteous judgment.
4. **The Call to Exclusive Worship:** The passage implicitly reinforces the call for Israel to worship Yahweh alone, in the manner He prescribed, and to dismantle all "high places" that diverted their allegiance.
### Summary
`{{H1117}}` (Bâmâh) is a unique Hebrew proper noun designating a specific place in Palestine. Its singular occurrence in [[Ezekiel 20:29]] is exceptionally significant because its name is a direct and intentional wordplay on `{{H1116}}` (bâmâh), the common noun for "high place," often associated with illicit worship. In Ezekiel's prophetic indictment of Israel's persistent idolatry, the question "What is the high place (`{{H1116}}`) to which you go?" is answered by the very name of the location, "Bamah (`{{H1117}}`)." This makes the place name itself a powerful symbol and condemnation of Israel's spiritual rebellion and their pervasive worship at unauthorized, often idolatrous, sites. Thus, `{{H1117}}` stands as a potent biblical example of how language, even a simple place name, can carry profound theological weight, revealing divine judgment on spiritual infidelity.
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