English · KJV
H523

אֻמַּה

ʼummah /oom-maw'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom the same as אֵם
Meaninga collection, i.e. community of persons
KJV usagenation, people.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʼummah — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word ʼummah, represented by H523, is defined as a collection, i.e. community of persons; nation, people. It appears 3 times across 3 unique verses, and its base definition suggests a connection to the word for mother, implying a group with a common origin.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H523 consistently refers to distinct communities or peoples, often non-Israelite. It is used to describe the twelve tribes that descended from Ishmael, each led by a prince "according to their nations" Genesis 25:16. The term also specifies a smaller division within a larger group, as seen in the case of Cozbi, whose father was head over a people within the broader nation of Midian Numbers 25:15. Finally, it is used in a universal sense in the Psalms, calling for "all ye people" to join the nations in praising the LORD Psalms 117:1.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the concept of peoples and nations:

  • H1471 gôwy (nation, people): This word is used in parallel with ʼummah in Psalms 117:1, where "all ye nations" (gôwy) and "all ye people" (ʼummah) are called to praise God, showing a close relationship in meaning.
  • H5387 nâsîyʼ (prince, chief): This term describes the leaders of the communities. In Genesis 25:16, the twelve princes correspond to the twelve "nations" (ʼummah) of Ishmael, illustrating the leadership structure of these groups.
  • H1121 bên (son): The formation of an ʼummah is linked to lineage. The "nations" in Genesis 25:16 are identified as the sons of Ishmael, highlighting that these communities are defined by their shared ancestry.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H523 is revealed in its specific application.

  • Defining Gentile Peoples: The term is consistently applied to non-Israelite communities, such as the descendants of Ishmael Genesis 25:16 and a specific clan of the Midianites Numbers 25:15, establishing it as a word for distinct ethnic or tribal groups.
  • Universal Call to Worship: Despite its focus on Gentile groups, H523 is used in Psalms 117:1 to include "all ye people" in the command to praise the LORD H3068, demonstrating that God's renown is intended for every community on earth.
  • Clan and Community Identity: Derived from the same root as the word for mother, H523 emphasizes a group's identity as a collection or community of persons bound by common origin, as seen with the twelve princes representing their respective nations.

Summary

In summary, while appearing only three times, H523 ʼummah provides a specific term for a "community of persons" or "nation." It is primarily used to identify non-Israelite peoples by their lineage, such as the clans of Ishmael and Midian. However, its use in the Psalms broadens its scope, extending the call to worship to every people group and affirming that all communities are subjects of God's universal sovereignty.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 7 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • אֻמִּים
  • אֻמּוֹת
  • אֻמֹּתָ

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H1471 גּוֹי rarely (shortened) גֹּי; apparently from the same root as גֵּוָה (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation; hence, a G H5387 נָשִׂיא or נָשִׂא; from נָשָׂא; properly, an exalted one, i.e. a king or sheik; also a rising mist; captain, chief, cloud, gover H1121 בֵּן from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, inclu H3068 יְהֹוָה from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹו

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 3 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Genesis, Numbers, and Psalms (1 verse each); never once in the other 36.

1
Genesis
1
Numbers
1
Psalms

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.