English · KJV
H6470

פָּעַם

pâʻam /paw-am'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto tap, i.e. beat regularly; hence (generally) to impel or agitate
KJV usagemove, trouble.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of pâʻam — 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 pâʻam, represented by H6470, is a primitive root meaning to tap or beat regularly. By extension, it is used more generally to signify being impelled, agitated, moved, or troubled. This evocative term appears 5 times in 5 unique verses of the Bible, often describing a significant internal stirring within a person's spirit.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H6470 consistently depicts a state of profound agitation. It is used to describe the reaction of powerful rulers to troubling dreams, as when Pharaoh's spirit was troubled Genesis 41:8 and when Nebuchadnezzar's spirit was troubled by a dream that caused his sleep to break from him (Daniel 2:1, Daniel 2:3). In a different context, the psalmist expresses such deep personal distress that he is so troubled he cannot speak Psalms 77:4. The word is also used to describe the Spirit of the LORD beginning to move Samson, marking the start of his divine empowerment Judges 13:25.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the nature and context of the agitation described by H6470:

  • H7307 rûwach (wind... spirit): This word is central, as it is the "spirit" which is most often acted upon. The spirits of both Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar were troubled (Genesis 41:8, Daniel 2:1), and it is the "Spirit of the LORD" that moves Samson Judges 13:25.
  • H2492 châlam (to dream): The "troubling" is frequently instigated by a divine dream. This is seen in the accounts of Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar, whose agitation stems from dreams they cannot understand (Genesis 41:8, Daniel 2:3).
  • H1696 dâbar (to speak): The internal state of being troubled can have external effects, such as the inability to speak, as lamented by the psalmist in his distress Psalms 77:4.
  • H2490 châlal (to begin... wound... profane): This word marks the inception of the action in Judges 13:25, where the Spirit of the LORD began to move Samson, indicating a starting point for divine activity.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H6470 lies in its function as a catalyst for divine purpose.

  • A Catalyst for Revelation: The troubling of Pharaoh's and Nebuchadnezzar's spirits was not a meaningless anxiety. It was a state that drove them to seek answers, ultimately leading them to God's messengers and the interpretation of His will (Genesis 41:8, Daniel 2:3).
  • Divine Impetus: For Samson, the word denotes a positive stirring. The Spirit of the LORD did not merely exist near him but began to move him, actively impelling him toward the destiny God had planned Judges 13:25.
  • Expression of Human Need: The psalmist's experience shows H6470 as a state of profound human anguish. This condition of being so troubled that one cannot speak highlights a point of deep need where divine intervention is the only solace Psalms 77:4.

Summary

In summary, H6470 is a specific and powerful term that conveys more than simple agitation. It describes a profound stirring of the spirit, whether as a response to troubling divine messages or as a direct impelling by the Spirit of God. In every case, this "troubling" or "moving" is not an end in itself but serves as a crucial starting point that moves individuals and events toward a divinely-ordained outcome.

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 verb across 5 occurrences, inflected in 4 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.

  • תִּפָּעֶם
  • תִּתְפָּעֶם
  • נִפְעַמְתִּי
  • פַעֲמ

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.

H7307 רוּחַ from רוּחַ; wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubs H2492 חָלַם a primitive root; properly, to bind firmly, i.e. (by implication) to be (causatively to make) plump; also (through the f H1696 דָבַר a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sen H2490 חָלַל a primitive root (compare חָלָה); also denominative (from חָלִיל); properly, to bore, i.e. (by implication) to wound, t

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 5 verses across 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Daniel (2 verses); never once in the other 35.

1
Genesis
1
Judges
1
Psalms
2
Daniel

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.