### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **râmas**, represented by `{{H7430}}`, describes the action of creeping or moving. It appears 17 times in 17 unique verses. The term properly means to glide swiftly or move with short steps and is broadly applied to the movement of a wide variety of animals, particularly those that swarm or crawl.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H7430}}` is consistently used to describe the movement of a category of living creatures. During creation, God **created** `{{H1254}}` every living creature that **moveth** `{{H7430}}` in the waters [[Genesis 1:21]] and gave humanity dominion over every living thing that **moveth** upon the earth [[Genesis 1:28]]. The term is central to the account of the Flood, where all flesh that **moved** `{{H7430}}` upon the earth died [[Genesis 7:21]], while pairs of every thing that **creepeth** `{{H7430}}` were preserved in the **ark** `{{H8392}}` ([[Genesis 7:8]], [[Genesis 8:19]]). It also appears in legal contexts, defining animals that **creepeth** `{{H7430}}` as unclean [[Leviticus 20:25]] and forbidding the creation of their **likeness** `{{H8403}}` [[Deuteronomy 4:18]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words expand upon the concept of creeping creatures and animal life:
* `{{H7431}}` **remes** (that creepeth, creeping (moving) thing): This noun is derived directly from `{{H7430}}` and refers to the creature that performs the action of creeping. The two words are often used together, as in "every **creeping thing** `{{H7431}}` that **creepeth** `{{H7430}}`" [[Genesis 1:26]].
* `{{H8318}}` **sherets** (creep(-ing thing), move(-ing creature)): This word often describes a swarm or a mass of small, active animals. It is used alongside `{{H7430}}` in contexts like the Flood narrative [[Genesis 7:21]] and laws concerning creatures that are **unclean** `{{H2931}}` [[Leviticus 11:44]].
* `{{H2416}}` **chay** (life (or living thing)): This word defines the state of being alive and is frequently paired with `{{H7430}}` to specify "every **living thing** `{{H2416}}` that **moveth** `{{H7430}}` upon the earth" [[Genesis 1:28]], encompassing a vast array of animal life.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H7430}}` is demonstrated through its narrative contexts:
* **The Scope of Creation:** `{{H7430}}` is used to describe the animation of life across different domains—in the **waters** `{{H4325}}` [[Genesis 1:21]] and on the **earth** `{{H776}}` [[Genesis 1:26]]. This highlights God's role as the creator of all forms of life, which He declared to be **good** `{{H2896}}`.
* **The Mandate of Dominion:** Humanity's relationship with these creatures is established at creation, with God granting dominion over everything that **moveth** `{{H7430}}` [[Genesis 1:28]]. After the flood, this relationship is redefined with the **fear** `{{H4172}}` and **dread** `{{H2844}}` of man being placed upon them [[Genesis 9:2]].
* **Ceremonial Purity:** The act of creeping becomes a key marker in the Law for distinguishing clean and unclean animals. God commands Israel to be **holy** `{{H6918}}` and not **defile** `{{H2930}}` themselves with anything that **creepeth** `{{H7430}}` upon the earth [[Leviticus 11:44]], tying the physical world to spiritual separation.
* **Universal Response to God:** The term extends to prophetic and poetic literature, where all creation, including every thing that **moveth** `{{H7430}}`, is called to **praise** `{{H1984}}` God [[Psalms 69:34]] or to **shake** `{{H7493}}` in His presence [[Ezekiel 38:20]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7430}}` is a specific verb of motion that carries significant weight throughout the biblical narrative. From its role in the creation account establishing the breadth of animal life to its use in the Flood story defining what was saved and what perished, the word underscores God's sovereignty. It further functions as a critical descriptor in the Mosaic Law, drawing a line between the clean and the unclean, and ultimately appears in prophecy to illustrate how all of creation, even the smallest creeping thing, responds to the power and presence of **God** `{{H430}}`.
TRV