### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew name **Zamzôm**, represented by `{{H2157}}`, identifies an ancient tribe in Palestine known as the **Zamzummim**. It is derived from a root word meaning "intriguing." This specific term appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible, marking it as a highly specific historical reference.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H2157}}` is in [[Deuteronomy 2:20]], which describes the history of the land later possessed by the Ammonites. The text states that this region was previously "accounted a land of giants" and that giants "dwelt therein in old time." The verse clarifies that while the Israelites knew these people as giants, the Ammonites had a specific name for them: **Zamzummims** [[Deuteronomy 2:20]]. This places the Zamzummim as a formidable, giant-like people who inhabited the land before being displaced.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its only context help clarify the identity of the Zamzummim:
* `{{H7497}}` **râphâʼ** (a giant): This is the most critical related term, as the Zamzummim are explicitly identified as a tribe of **giants**. This same word is used to describe other giant clans like the Rephaim [[Genesis 14:5]] and Og, king of Bashan [[Deuteronomy 3:11]].
* `{{H3427}}` **yâshab** (to sit down, dwell, remain, inhabit): This word confirms that the giants associated with the Zamzummim were not mere wanderers but **dwelt** in the land as established inhabitants before the Ammonites [[Deuteronomy 2:20]]. This same verb is used to describe how the righteous **dwell** in the house of the Lord [[Psalms 27:4]].
* `{{H2803}}` **châshab** (to think, regard, value, compute): This term shows how the land was perceived or **accounted** to be a land of giants [[Deuteronomy 2:20]]. It signifies a reputation or a widely held understanding, similar to how Abraham's faith was **counted** to him as righteousness [[Genesis 15:6]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H2157}}` is primarily historical and contextual rather than theological.
* **A Preserved Name:** The term preserves the specific name used by the Ammonites for a pre-existing people, offering a glimpse into the diverse naming conventions of ancient Near Eastern cultures.
* **Identity of the Giants:** It provides another label for the groups referred to as Rephaim or giants, reinforcing their status as a powerful and widely recognized people who occupied the land before Israel's arrival. This connects them to the formidable figures encountered by the Israelites, such as Og of Bashan [[Deuteronomy 3:11]].
* **Narrative of Displacement:** The mention of the Zamzummim in [[Deuteronomy 2:20]] is part of a larger narrative demonstrating God's sovereignty in giving and taking land, showing that even powerful giants were subject to His will.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2157}}` **Zamzôm** is not a common biblical word but a precise historical identifier for a tribe of people known as giants. Its single use in scripture provides a crucial detail about the former inhabitants of the land of Ammon, connecting them to the broader biblical account of the giants, or Rephaim. The term illustrates the Bible's historical specificity and reinforces the theme of God's sovereignty over all nations and territories.
TRV