### 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.
TRV