ESTUDIO DE LA PALABRA HEBREA
ʿAm — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
ʿam (H5971) is a common Hebrew noun meaning 'people' or 'nation,' used for a gathered group, a tribe, or figuratively a flock of people.
Significado de la palabra
ʿam refers to a people understood as a congregated unit, often depicting a tribe or nation living under a shared identity. In KJV usage it is rendered as 'folk,' 'men,' 'nation,' or 'people,' showing the breadth of its range from a small local group to an entire nation.
The term can also be used more concretely for troops or attendants, most often those traveling with a leader. In a figurative sense it is compared to a flock, evoking the image of a community shepherded together.
Uso en las Escrituras
In Genesis 11:6, after the tower of Babel, God observes that humanity is 'one people' (עַם אֶחָד), showing how ʿam describes a unified group bound by language and purpose. In Genesis 17:16, the promise to Abraham speaks of 'mother of nations' and 'kings of peoples,' extending the term to multiple distinct groups.
In Genesis 23, ʿam is used for the inhabitants of a land in the phrases 'people of the land' (עַם הָאָרֶץ), describing the local population among whom Abraham negotiates. The phrase 'gathered to his people' (אֶל עַמָּיו) in Genesis 25:8,17 uses ʿam to refer to the deceased's ancestors, showing a figurative sense of belonging to a community beyond death.
La palabra en detalle
- H5971 ʿam is one of the most frequent nouns in the Hebrew Bible, appearing about 899 times. It denotes a community-grouped people, from a small local band to a full nation, and can also mean troops or attendants, or figuratively a flock under care.
Versículos de ejemplo
- Genesis 11:6 Here ʿam emphasizes unity of humanity before God scatters them at Babel.
- Genesis 17:14 ʿam marks covenant membership: being 'cut off from his people' means exclusion from the covenant community.
- Genesis 17:16 ʿam is pluralized as 'peoples' (עַמִּים), linking the singular man Abraham to many nations.
- Genesis 25:8 The phrase 'gathered to his people' uses ʿam figuratively for the company of the dead, rooted in community kinship.
Preguntas frecuentes
Is ʿam only used for Israel?
No. ʿam is a general term for any group of people. It is used for the people of Israel, the people of Sodom, the people of the land, and even all humanity at Babel.
What is the difference between ʿam and goy?
Both can mean 'nation,' but ʿam emphasizes the people united by shared life and kinship, while goy focuses more on the political or ethnic body. In practice they often overlap in reference.