Lexical Summary
ummah: Beside, alongside, with
Original Word:עֻמָּה
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:`ummah
Pronunciation:oom-maw'
Phonetic Spelling:(oom-maw')
KJV: (over) against, at, beside, hard by, in points
NASB:alongside, close, beside, corresponding, close beside, well, all alike
Word Origin:[fromH6004 (עָמַם - match)]
1. conjunction, i.e. society
2. mostly adverb or preposition (with prepositional prefix), near, beside, along with
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
over against, at, beside, hard by, in points
Fromamam; conjunction, i.e. Society; mostly adverb or preposition (with prepositional prefix), near, beside, along with -- (over) against, at, beside, hard by, in points.
see HEBREWamam
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
imDefinitionclose by, side by side with
NASB Translationall alike (1), alongside (5), beside (3), close (5), close beside (2), close* (1), comparable (1), corresponded (1), corresponding (3), exactly (1), just (1), like (1), parallel (1), side (1), well (2).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. [] juxtaposition, but only in stative construct with force a
; — stative with , exceptEcclesiastes 5:15 always with , suffix , once plural constructEzekiel 45:7; —
close by, side by side with:Exodus 25:27 (Exodus 37:14),Exodus 28:27 (Exodus 39:20),Leviticus 3:9 shall take it awayclose by the backbone; especially of what isparallel,Ezekiel 42:7 the wallalongside of the chambers; of the contiguous portions in Ezekiel's division of the land,alongside of each other,Ezekiel 45:6,7;Ezekiel 48:13,18 (twice in verse);Ezekiel 48:21; of movement in parallel lines,2 Samuel 16:13 Shimei was going alongparallel with him,2 Samuel 16:13;Ezekiel 1:20 ,Ezekiel 1:21;Ezekiel 3:13;Ezekiel 10:19;Ezekiel 11:22;Ezekiel 3:8by the side of their face (which, as antagonism is implied, =against, RV),Ezekiel 3:8.
agreeing with, corresponding to (a common result of juxtaposition),Exodus 38:18 a screen five cubits highagreeing with (RVanswerable unto) the hangings of the court (in height),Ezekiel 40:18; probably also1 Chronicles 26:16;Nehemiah 12:24 wardcorresponding to ward.
correspondingly to,1 Chronicles 24:31 they also cast lotscorrespondingly to their brethren, vb the head,correspondinly to his younger brother,1 Chronicles 26:12 to these . . . belonged chargescorrespondingly to (in common with) their brethren. Eccl 7:14side by side with, as well as.
(Ges§ 155n),1 Chronicles 25:8 (strangely) (see Ke)correspondingly to (the principle)of as the small so the great;Ecclesiastes 5:15quite exactly as he came, so shall he go (but LambertRŠJ xxxi. 47, RahlfsTh. Lt. -z. 1896, 587 ).
(see
)1 Kings 7:20close beside.
Topical Lexicon
Hebrew Termעֻמָּה (ummah) appears roughly thirty-two times, marking adjacency—“beside,” “alongside,” “opposite.” Its usage consistently highlights relationship, order and fellowship in Israel’s life and worship.
Function and Range of Meaning
A prepositional noun indicating spatial nearness that often carries relational or theological implications: harmony in worship, unity among tribes, God’s presence with His people, or a prophetic face-off with rebellion.
Tabernacle and Temple Furnishings
Exodus 25:27; 30:4; 37:14; 37:27;1 Kings 7:39;1 Chronicles 28:17
Rings, poles, basins and other items are set “beside” specific parts of the sanctuary. The precision underscores divine order: each implement functions only when rightly positioned in relation to the others, reflecting the God who “is not a God of disorder but of peace” (compare1 Corinthians 14:33).
Land Allotments and Tribal Boundaries
Joshua 13:23, 25, 28; 19:1, 13, 21, 26, 27, 34;Ezekiel 48:13
Ummah locates borders “next to” neighboring tribes, balancing distinct inheritances with corporate unity. Israel’s map becomes a visual lesson in cooperative covenant life—each portion counts yet none exists in isolation.
Prophetic Visionary Proximity
Ezekiel 1:15; 3:8-9; 41:26
A wheel appears “beside” each creature, symbolizing God’s ever-present mobility with His glory. Ezekiel’s forehead is made “as hard as” Israel’s, illustrating that divine empowerment stands face-to-face with stubborn rebellion. Doors adorned with palm trees “on either side” anticipate restored beauty in a future temple.
Personal and Corporate Closeness
Every occurrence points to fellowship or confrontation. Poles beside the Ark (Exodus 37:14) guarantee the Ark travels with Israel; boundary lines beside one another remind the tribes of mutual dependence; a prophet’s fortified brow stands opposite sin, proving God does not abandon His messengers in conflict.
Selected References
Exodus 30:4 — “You are to make two gold rings for it… on its two opposite sides.”
Joshua 19:34 — “…it reached to Zebulun on the south, to Asher on the west, and to Judah at the Jordan on the east.”
Ezekiel 1:15 — “I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces.”
Ezekiel 3:8 — “Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces.”
Theological and Practical Insights
• Divine Order: Worship is governed by God’s pattern, not personal preference.
• Community: God’s people are distinct yet inseparably linked; ministry thrives when believers labor side-by-side.
• Presence: Where God sends, He accompanies (wheels beside living creatures; poles beside Ark).
• Confrontation: The nearness of a prophet’s strength to Israel’s hardness shows God equips His servants for every opposition.
Christological and Missional Application
Jesus took His place “with” sinners and died “between” transgressors (Luke 23:33). His Spirit now dwells within the church so that disciples can stand alongside a lost world, calling it to reconciliation. Living ummah—close to God and to one another—remains the pattern for faithful worship, holy community and effective witness today.
Forms and Transliterations
לְעֻמַּ֖ת לְעֻמַּ֣ת לְעֻמַּ֣ת ׀ לְעֻמַּ֥ת לְעֻמַּת֙ לְעֻמַּת־ לְעֻמָּת֔וֹ לְעֻמָּת֗וֹ לְעֻמָּתָ֑ם לְעֻמָּתָ֔ם לְעֻמּוֹת֙ לעמות לעמת לעמת־ לעמתו לעמתם מִלְּעֻמַּ֣ת מלעמת עֻמַּ֥ת עמת ‘um·maṯ ‘ummaṯ lə‘ummaṯ lə‘ummaṯ- lə‘ummāṯām lə‘ummāṯōw lə‘ummōwṯ lə·‘um·mā·ṯām lə·‘um·mā·ṯōw lə·‘um·maṯ lə·‘um·maṯ- lə·‘um·mō·wṯ leumMat leummaTam leummaTo leummOt mil·lə·‘um·maṯ millə‘ummaṯ milleumMat umMat
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