ESTUDIO DE LA PALABRA HEBREA
Qûwm (קוּם) — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
Qûwm (קוּם, H6965) is a versatile Hebrew verb meaning to rise, stand, or establish, used 315 times across the Old Testament.
Significado de la palabra
Qûwm covers a wide semantic range: physically rising from a seated or recumbent position, standing upright, getting up to act or travel, and figuratively standing firm or enduring. The KJV usage list (arise, raise, rear, remain, stir up) reflects this breadth.
In its causative stem (hif'il, hiphil), qûwm means to raise up, set up, establish, or confirm. This is the form most often used in covenant texts where God 'establishes' his covenant (see Genesis 6:18; 9:9, 11, 17; 17:7, 19, 21).
The root also carries the sense of validation or accomplishment — to confirm, perform, or bring something to fulfillment, so that a word or plan 'stands' as sure.
Uso en las Escrituras
In early Genesis, qûwm frequently describes human action: Cain rising against Abel (Gen 4:8), Lot rising to meet the angels (Gen 19:1), the men at Mamre setting out toward Sodom (Gen 18:16), and Lot urging his sons-in-law to get up and flee (Gen 19:14). It is the everyday word for getting up from a seat or a place.
Far more theologically significant is the formula 'I will establish my covenant' (וַהֲקִמֹתִי אֶת־בְּרִיתִי), which anchors the Noahic and Abrahamic covenants (Gen 6:18; 9:9, 11; 17:7, 19, 21). God's act of 'raising up' or 'setting up' the covenant frames the patriarchal narrative as built on a divinely guaranteed foundation.
La palabra en detalle
- H6965 A frequent and foundational Hebrew verb covering the range from physical 'rising' to causative 'establishing.' In covenant contexts the hif'il form (הֲקִים, hēqîm) becomes a technical term for God's act of ratifying and sustaining his promises.
Versículos de ejemplo
- Genesis 4:8 Qûwm in its basic qal sense: Cain 'rose up' against Abel. Shows the verb's physical, hostile sense — standing to act against someone.
- Genesis 9:9 First occurrence of God's 'establishing' the Noahic covenant (hif'il). The verb frames the divine promise as something God raises up and confirms.
- Genesis 13:17 'Arise, walk through the land' (קוּם הִתְהַלֵּךְ). Here qûwm is the simple command to get up and begin moving — the covenant promise precedes the command to survey the land.
Preguntas frecuentes
Is qûwm the same as 'stand' in Hebrew?
Qûwm overlaps with עמד ('amad, stand), but the two differ in nuance. Qûwm tends to emphasize the act of rising or being raised into a standing position, while 'amad emphasizes remaining or being fixed in place. Qûwm is also the standard verb used for 'establishing' covenants in the hif'il stem.
Why is qûwm so important in covenant passages?
Because covenants in the Old Testament are treated as ratified by God's act of 'setting them up.' The phrase 'I will establish my covenant' (הֲקִמֹתִי אֶת־בְּרִיתִי) signals that the promise is divinely guaranteed and unbreakable from the human side.
How many times does qûwm appear in the Hebrew Bible?
According to the data linked to this page, qûwm occurs about 315 times across roughly 305 distinct verses in the Old Testament, making it one of the most common Hebrew verbs overall.