### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Rûwmâh**, represented by `{{H7316}}`, is defined as **height** and identifies **Rumah, a place in Palestine**. It appears **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the Bible. Its sole function is to provide a specific geographical location tied to the lineage of a king of Judah.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single appearance of `{{H7316}}` is in the historical record of King Jehoiakim's ascent to the throne. The text specifies the king's maternal ancestry, noting that his mother, Zebudah, was "the daughter of Pedaiah of **Rumah**" [[2 Kings 23:36]]. This use grounds the royal family in a tangible, named location, adding a layer of detail to the account of the king who began to **reign** `{{H4427}}` at twenty-five years of age.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide the context for Rumah's only mention:
* `{{H3079}}` **Yᵉhôwyâqîym** (Jehovah will raise; Jehojakim, a Jewish king): The mention of Rumah is entirely dependent on its connection to the lineage of this king of Judah, whose reign was a significant period before the Babylonian captivity [[Jeremiah 37:1]].
* `{{H2080}}` **Zᵉbîydâh** (giving; Zebidah, an Israelitess): As the mother of King Jehoiakim, her identity is directly linked to her father from Rumah, making her the bridge between the location and the royal throne [[2 Kings 23:36]].
* `{{H6305}}` **Pᵉdâyâh** (Jah has ransomed; Pedajah, the name of six Israelites): He is the individual identified as being "of Rumah," and as the maternal grandfather of a king, his origin is noted as part of the official record [[2 Kings 23:36]].
* `{{H517}}` **ʼêm** (a mother): The word is central to the verse, as it is through the king's **mother** that the town of Rumah is introduced into the biblical narrative [[2 Kings 23:36]].
### Theological Significance
While a minor detail, the inclusion of `{{H7316}}` carries significance by underscoring key principles in the biblical record.
* **Historical Precision:** Mentioning a specific town like Rumah demonstrates the text's concern for detailed and accurate record-keeping, grounding the larger narrative of Judah's monarchy in verifiable genealogical facts.
* **Maternal Ancestry:** In a record that often focuses on paternal lines, specifying the hometown of the king's maternal grandfather, Pedaiah, affirms the importance of the **mother's** `{{H517}}` heritage in the royal lineage of Judah.
* **Context for Judgment:** The verse identifies the family of **Yᵉhôwyâqîym** `{{H3079}}`, a king whose reign was marked by disobedience and judgment [[Jeremiah 36:29]]. The precise details of his origins, including the reference to Rumah, serve as a factual anchor to this pivotal and consequential era.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7316}}` is a geographical marker whose importance is derived entirely from its context. As "Rumah," it serves a single, specific purpose: to identify the hometown of King Jehoiakim's maternal family. Its inclusion illustrates the value placed on historical and genealogical detail within the biblical narrative, providing a small but concrete piece of information that roots the story of Judah's kings in a specific time and place.
TRV