aram Summary and Overview

the son of Shem (Gen. 10:22); according to Gen. 22:21, a grandson of Nahor. In Matt. 1:3, 4, and Luke 3:33, this word is the Greek form of Ram, the father of Amminadab (1 Chr. 2:10). The word means high, or highlands, and as the name of a country denotes that elevated region extending from the northeast of Israel to the Euphrates. It corresponded generally with the Syria and Mesopotamia of the Greeks and Romans. In Gen. 25:20; 31:20, 24; Deut. 26:5, the word "Syrian" is properly "Aramean" (R.V., marg.). Damascus became at length the capital of the several smaller kingdoms comprehended under the designation "Aram" or "Syria."

(high). 1. The name by which the Hebrews designated, generally, the country lying to the northeast of Israel; the great mass of that high tableland which, rising with sudden abruptness from the Jordan and the very margin of the Lake of Gennesaret, stretched at an elevation of no less than 2000 feet above the level of the sea, to the banks of the Euphrates itself. Throughout the Authorized Version the word is, with only a very few exceptions, rendered, as in the Vulgate and LXX., SYRIA. Its earliest occurrence in the book of Genesis is in the form of Aram-naharaim, i.e. the "highland of or between the two rivers." #Ge 24:10| Authorized Version "Mesopotamia." In the later history we meet with a number of small nations or kingdoms forming parts of the general land of Aram; but as Damascus increased in importance it gradually absorbed the smaller powers, #1Ki 20:1| and the name of Aram was at last applied to it alone. #Isa 7:8| also 1Kin 11:24,25; 15:18 etc. 2. Another Aram is named in #Ge 22:21| as a son of Kemuel and descendant of Nahor. 3. An Asherite, one of the sons of Shamer. #1Ch 7:34| 4. Son of Esrom or Hezron, and the Greek form of the Hebrew RAM. #Mt 1:3,4; Lu 3:33|

A'RAM (high region). 1. A son of Shem. Gen 10:22, Heb 12:23; 1 Chr 1:17. 1. A descendant of Nahor, Abraham's brother. Gen 22:21. 2. An Asherite. 1 Chr 7:34. 3. The son of Esrom, elsewhere called Ram. Matt 1:3, Ex 6:4; Luke 3:33.

("high table land".) 1. The elevated region from the N. E. of Israel to the Euphrates and Tigris. Balaam's home (Numbers 23:7; Deuteronomy 23:4). Syria, stretching from the Jordan and lake Gennesareth to the Euphrates, rising 2000 feet above the level of the sea. In contrast to Canaan, the lowland bordering on the Mediterranean. In Genesis 24:10 (Heb.) Aram Naharaim means "the highland between the two rivers," i.e. Mesopotamia. Padan Aram (from paddah, a plow), "the cultivated highland," is the same as Aram (Genesis 31:18). In Shalmaneser's inscriptions, 900-860 B.C. the Hittites (Khatte), under the name Palena, occur as occupying the valley of the Orontes and eastward. Some identify this name with Padan Aram and Batanaea or Bashan. Many petty kingdoms in David's time formed parts of the whole Aram, Aram Rehob, Aram Zobah, etc. frontARAM REHOB, ARAM ZOBAH.) Damascus subsequently absorbed these. In Genesis 10 Aram is described as son of Shem; Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, and Aram (arranged in the geographical order from E. to W.) being the four brethren. Aram (Syrian) stands for Assyrian in 2 Kings 18:26; Jeremiah 35:11. 2. Another Aram (Genesis 22:21), son of Kemuel, descended from Nahor; probably head of the tribe Ram, to which belonged Elihu, Job's friend (Job 32:2).