(Aramaic) corresponding to עַם; {a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock}; people.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic word **ʻam**, represented by `{{H5972}}`, refers to a **people** as a congregated unit or tribe. It appears 15 times across 14 unique verses in the Bible, primarily in the books of Daniel and Ezra. Its meaning ranges from a specific ethnic group, like the people of Israel, to a broad designation for all of humanity.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical usage, `{{H5972}}` defines groups of people in both historical and prophetic contexts. It is frequently part of the comprehensive phrase "all **people**, nations, and languages," used in royal decrees to address the entire known world ([[Daniel 4:1]], [[Daniel 6:25]]). The term also identifies a specific community, such as the **people** of Israel who were carried into Babylon [[Ezra 5:12]] or those who gave freewill offerings for the house of God [[Ezra 7:16]]. In prophecy, it distinguishes the heirs of God's kingdom, which will be given to the "**people** of the saints of the most High" and not left to "other **people**" ([[Daniel 7:27]], [[Daniel 2:44]]).
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help define the scope and nature of a **people**:
* `{{H524}}` **'ummâh** (nation): This term for a "community of persons" is consistently used alongside **ʻam** to denote the comprehensive scope of a king's or God's domain, as seen in the phrase "**people**, **nations**, and languages" [[Daniel 7:14]].
* `{{H3961}}` **lishshân** (language): Signifying a nation through its speech, this word also appears in the recurring formula that addresses all of humanity under a single rule [[Daniel 3:4]].
* `{{H4437}}` **malkûw** (kingdom): This word is intrinsically linked to **ʻam**, as a people are often defined by the **kingdom** they belong to. Prophecy states that God's eternal **kingdom** will be established for a specific **people** [[Daniel 7:27]].
* `{{H6922}}` **qaddîysh** (saint): This term qualifies the specific **people** who will inherit the everlasting kingdom, identifying them as the "people of the **saints** of the most High" [[Daniel 7:27]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H5972}}` is significant, particularly in eschatological prophecies.
* **Universal Dominion:** The word is used repeatedly to establish the universal reach of both earthly and divine authority. Kings address "all **people**" [[Daniel 4:1]], and the Son of Man is given dominion so that "all **people**, nations, and languages, should serve him" [[Daniel 7:14]].
* **A People in Exile and Restoration:** In Ezra, **ʻam** refers specifically to the Israelites whose fathers provoked God, leading to their exile [[Ezra 5:12]]. The same term is used for the **people** who are later granted permission to return to Jerusalem [[Ezra 7:13]].
* **Inheritors of God's Kingdom:** A central theme in Daniel is the transfer of power from the kingdoms of the world to a divinely chosen group. This group is identified as "the **people** of the saints," who will receive the everlasting kingdom and dominion [[Daniel 7:27]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5972}}` **ʻam** is a crucial Aramaic term for understanding how scripture defines collective identity. It operates on multiple levels, from the specific **people** of Israel in their relationship with God to the entire population of the earth subject to royal decrees and divine judgment. Its use in the books of Daniel and Ezra frames major historical and prophetic events in terms of the groups of people they impact.
TRV