(Aramaic) from רוּם; (literally) altitude; height.
Transliteration:rûwm
Pronunciation:room
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic noun `{{H7314}}` (רוּם, *rûwm*) directly signifies "height" or "altitude." It is etymologically derived from the Hebrew root `{{H7311}}` (רום), which conveys the broader concept of being high, exalted, or lifted up. While the Hebrew root often carries a dynamic sense of rising or being elevated, `{{H7314}}` functions as a static noun, denoting the *measure* or *state* of vertical extension. Its semantic range is primarily concrete, referring to physical dimension, but in certain contexts, it can extend metaphorically to denote stature, greatness, or loftiness.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
As an Aramaic term, `{{H7314}}` is found exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament, specifically within the book of Daniel. Its occurrences are notably concentrated in narratives that explore themes of human power, divine sovereignty, and pride.
1. **Physical Dimension:**
* In [[Daniel 3:1]], `{{H7314}}` describes the literal "height" of the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar set up: "Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits." Here, the term functions as a straightforward measurement, emphasizing the imposing scale of the idol.
* Similarly, in the dream of the great tree in Daniel 4, `{{H7314}}` is used repeatedly to describe the tree's immense physical stature: "I was looking, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great" ([[Daniel 4:10]]). "The tree grew and became strong, and its height reached to heaven, and its visibility to the end of all the earth" ([[Daniel 4:11]]). This description is reiterated in [[Daniel 4:20]]. In these instances, "height" is a key attribute, signifying the tree's dominance and reach.
2. **Metaphorical Stature/Greatness:**
* The most profound use of `{{H7314}}` occurs in [[Daniel 4:22]], where Daniel interprets the dream of the tree as a representation of King Nebuchadnezzar himself: "It is you, O king, for you have grown and become strong; for your greatness (רוּמֵהּ - lit. "your height") has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the end of the earth." Here, "height" transcends mere physical measurement to symbolize the king's vast power, extensive dominion, and elevated status among the nations. It denotes his perceived loftiness and supremacy.
The consistent use of `{{H7314}}` in Daniel, particularly in relation to the king's pride and eventual humbling, sets the stage for its significant theological implications. The "height" of human constructs or human rulers is juxtaposed with the ultimate "height" of God's sovereignty.
### Related Words & Concepts
`{{H7314}}` is intimately connected to the broader lexical field of elevation and exaltation in biblical Hebrew and Aramaic:
* `{{H7311}}` (רום, *rûm*): The primary Hebrew verbal root from which `{{H7314}}` is derived. It means "to be high, exalted, lifted up." This verb is frequently used to describe God's exaltation (e.g., [[Psalm 99:5]]) or the act of lifting up something or someone.
* `{{H7312}}` (רוּם, *rûm*): A Hebrew noun, also from `{{H7311}}`, denoting "height," "high place," or "a heave offering" (something lifted up). This noun shares the exact same spelling as the Aramaic `{{H7314}}` but is distinct in its grammatical origin and usage.
* `{{H7313}}` (רוֹמֵם, *rômēm*): A Hebrew noun, "exaltation" or "praise," again stemming from the root `{{H7311}}`.
* Concepts: The semantic cluster around `{{H7314}}` and its related terms includes ideas of loftiness, elevation, dominion, glory, and pride. In the biblical narrative, these concepts are often presented in tension between human aspiration and divine prerogative.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H7314}}` in Daniel is profound, serving as a critical motif in the book's overarching message about divine sovereignty and human hubris.
1. **Symbol of Human Pride and Ambition:** The "height" of Nebuchadnezzar's gold image ([[Daniel 3:1]]) and his own "height" or greatness ([[Daniel 4:22]]) symbolize human attempts to establish ultimate authority and demand worship, usurping God's place. This "height" represents a form of self-exaltation, a dangerous pride that challenges the Most High God. The narrative of the fiery furnace and Nebuchadnezzar's madness directly confronts this human aspiration to supreme "height."
2. **Contrast with Divine Sovereignty:** The repeated emphasis on the "height" of human power (the image, the tree, the king's dominion) serves to highlight the temporary and ultimately subordinate nature of all earthly authority. Daniel's message consistently reminds that true "height" and ultimate dominion belong to God alone. The humbling of Nebuchadnezzar, despite his immense "height," demonstrates that "the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men" ([[Daniel 4:17]]). God's power is not merely higher, but absolute and transcendent.
3. **The Humbling of the Exalted:** The trajectory of Nebuchadnezzar, from a king of immense "height" to one humbled by God, underscores the theological principle that pride precedes a fall. `{{H7314}}` thus becomes a marker of the very quality that God opposes and will bring low. This reinforces the biblical theme that true wisdom and enduring "height" are found not in self-exaltation but in acknowledging God's supremacy and walking in humility.
### Summary
`{{H7314}}` (רוּם, *rûwm*) is an Aramaic noun meaning "height" or "altitude," derived from the Hebrew root `{{H7311}}` "to be high." Primarily occurring in the book of Daniel, it describes both literal physical dimensions, such as the "height" of Nebuchadnezzar's gold image ([[Daniel 3:1]]) and the great tree in his dream ([[Daniel 4:10]], [[Daniel 4:11]]), as well as the metaphorical "height" or greatness of the king's dominion and stature ([[Daniel 4:22]]). Theologically, `{{H7314}}` serves as a potent symbol of human pride and ambition, particularly in Nebuchadnezzar's attempts at self-exaltation. Its usage in Daniel powerfully contrasts the fleeting "height" of human power with the enduring, absolute sovereignty of the Most High God, illustrating the divine principle that God humbles those who walk in pride, regardless of their earthly "height."
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