Reumah

Reumah is a feminine name appearing in the Old Testament, meaning "elevated, exalted" in Hebrew. It is derived from the root raʾam (רָאַם), meaning "to rise." In the biblical narrative, Reumah is mentioned as a concubine of Nahor, who was the brother of Abraham. According to Genesis 22:24, Reumah bore Nahor four sons: Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.

Etymology

The name Reumah comes from the Hebrew verb raʾam, which means "to rise" or "to be high." The feminine form implies an abstract quality of being exalted or elevated. This aligns with the broader biblical tradition of names that reflect divine favor or character attributes.

Biblical Context

In the Book of Genesis, Nahor is the son of Terah and brother of Abram (later Abraham). After Abram's call to leave Haran, Nahor remained behind and married his niece Milcah. Reumah is listed alongside Milcah as a secondary wife, a practice not uncommon in the patriarchal narratives. Her sons are noted briefly, as the names are later reflected in tribal or geographical references.

Historical and Religious Significance

Reflecting the androcentric focus of biblical genealogies, many figures like Reumah appear only in parenthetical lists. Her name suggesting exalted status may obliquely highlight that even concubines in the ancestral narratives were of notable heritage. Within the family of Abraham, names both primary and secondary served to underscore theological or moral themes of blessing and propagation. Reumah's scant mention stands in comparison with later Jewish and Christian commentaries that seek to infer character from names, but any details remain speculative beyond the Scriptural testimony.

• Meaning: Elevated, exalted (Hebrew)
• Origin: Hebrew, Biblical
• Type: First name (Female)
• Usage Region: English Bible, Hebrew Bible
• Context: Concubine of Nahor, Abraham's brother, in Genesis.