Word Study for H761 (אֲרַמִּי)

ʼĂrammîy /ar-am-mee'/ Ask about this word

Rootpatrial from אֲרָם

Meaningan Aramite or Aramaean

KJV usageSyrian, Aramitess.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʼĂrammîy — 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 ʼĂrammîy, represented by H761, is a patrial term identifying a person as an Aramite or Aramaean. Derived from the word for Aram or Syria, it is often translated as Syrian or Aramitess. It appears 11 times across 10 unique verses in the Bible, primarily used to describe the ethnic and geographic identity of key individuals in Israel's history.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H761 is used to establish lineage and national identity. The patriarchs' family line is explicitly linked to the Arameans through Rebekah's relatives; her father Bethuel and brother Laban are both called "the Syrian" Genesis 25:20. This connection is reinforced through Jacob's flight to Laban "the Syrian" Genesis 31:20. The term also appears in a pivotal confession of Israelite identity, "A Syrian ready to perish was my father" Deuteronomy 26:5. In later contexts, it denotes a national adversary, as seen when "the Syrians" under King Hazael wound King Joram in battle 2 Kings 8:28.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words and names provide context for the identity of an ʼĂrammîy:

H758 ʼĂrâm (Aram, Syria): This is the root term for the region and its people. It is the land from which Balak brought Balaam Numbers 23:7 and the kingdom ruled by figures like Hazael 2 Kings 13:3.
H3837 Lâbân (Laban): A key figure identified as "the Syrian" Genesis 31:24. He is Jacob's uncle and father-in-law from Padanaram, representing the ancestral Aramean branch of Israel's family.
H1328 Bᵉthûwʼêl (Bethuel): Rebekah's father, also called "the Syrian of Padanaram" Genesis 25:20. His identity solidifies the Aramean origins of the matriarch Rebekah.
H2371 Chăzâʼêl (Hazael): A king of Syria whose forces are called "the Syrians" H761 in their military conflicts with Israel (2 Kings 8:28, 2 Kings 8:29). He represents the later, often adversarial, relationship between Israel and the Arameans.

Theological Significance

The term H761 carries significant thematic weight, illustrating key aspects of Israel's identity and its relationship with God and its neighbors.

Foundation of Identity: The description of Israel's patriarch as "a Syrian ready to perish" Deuteronomy 26:5 serves as a creedal statement. It grounds Israel's identity in a history of wandering and reliance on God, reminding them of their non-native, humble beginnings before becoming a great nation in Egypt H4714.
God's Sovereignty: Scripture shows God's authority extends to the Arameans. He speaks directly to "Laban the Syrian" in a dream to protect His covenant people Genesis 31:24. He also uses the nation of Syria and its king, Hazael H2371, in his sovereign plans, including military engagements against Israel 2 Kings 8:28.
Kinship to Adversary: The usage of ʼĂrammîy evolves from describing close relatives like Laban and Bethuel Genesis 25:20 to identifying a hostile military force, "the Syrians" 2 Kings 9:15. This shift reflects the changing political relationship between Israel and the people of Aram.

Summary

In summary, H761 is more than a simple ethnic label. It is a critical designator that traces Israel's lineage back to Aramean ancestors like Laban and Bethuel. The term is foundational to Israel's self-understanding, as captured in the historic confession of a "Syrian father" Deuteronomy 26:5. Over time, its usage evolves to also describe a national enemy, yet through it all, it underscores God's sovereignty over all peoples, whether in protecting Jacob from an Aramean relative or engaging in the affairs of the Syrian kingdom.

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 noun across 12 occurrences, inflected in 3 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.

אֲרַמִּי
אֲרַמִּים
אֲרַמִּיָּה

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 10 verses across 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Genesis and 2 Kings (4 verses each); never once in the other 35.

Genesis

Deuteronomy

2 Kings

1 Chronicles

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.