עָמַם
a.mam
to darken
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Hebrew word "a.mam" (Strong's number H6004) means "to darken". This verb is part of the semantic domain of Light & Darkness, indicating its connection to the concepts of illumination and obscurity. With only three occurrences in the Bible, it is a relatively rare word, suggesting its usage is specific and intentional. The meaning of "a.mam" is straightforward: it describes the act of making something or someone darker. This could be a physical action, such as casting a shadow, or a metaphorical one, like spreading gloom or despair. The word's significance lies in its ability to convey a sense of loss or absence of light, which was a powerful symbol in ancient Hebrew culture. Given its connection to the domain of Light & Darkness, "a.mam" likely played a role in biblical narratives that emphasized the contrast between light and darkness, good and evil. Its scarcity in the text, however, suggests that its usage was deliberate and perhaps nuanced, requiring careful consideration of its context to fully understand its meaning and significance.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences across the text
How the gold has become dim! The most pure gold has changed! The stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of every street.
Ezekiel 28:3behold, you are wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that is hidden from you;
Ezekiel 31:8The cedars in the garden of God could not hide it. The cypress trees were not like its boughs. The pine trees were not as its branches; nor was any tree in the garden of God like it in its beauty.