רוּם

From the study of Isaiah 30:18

Range of meaning

To be high, rise, be lifted up. It is used of God being exalted or high above, of someone getting up to act, and of pride (a heart 'lifted up'). In Isaiah it often describes God's majesty (6:1, 'high and lifted up'; 33:10, 'now I will arise… now I will lift myself up').

Against the English

KJV and WEB: 'be exalted'. ESV: 'exalts himself'. BSB and NIV: 'rises'. NASB: 'waits on high'. The 'exalted' renderings tend to make modern readers think of praise and worship, which is not the most likely sense.

How it drifted

In church English, 'exalt' has narrowed to 'praise, lift up in worship'. The Hebrew can mean physically rising, being high above, or one's greatness being shown.

Used elsewhere in the period

Isaiah 33:10 is the closest parallel. It is also set in the Assyrian crisis, and there God says he will rise to act. Psalm 46:10 [Heb 46:11]: 'I will be exalted among the nations.' The Septuagint has ὑψωθήσεται ('he will be exalted') and the Vulgate exaltabitur, both following the standard Hebrew text.

From the study of Isaiah 57:15

Range of meaning

rûm: to be high, exalted, raised; in rank, to be supreme. nāśāʾ (passive): to be lifted up, borne aloft, exalted. As a pair they form a fixed Isaianic phrase for ultimate exaltation.

Against the English

"High and lofty" (KJV, WEB), "high and exalted" (NIV, NASB, YLT), "high and lifted up" (BSB, ESV). All are accurate. Only "high and lifted up" keeps the verbal echo of Isaiah 6:1 that a reader of the whole book would hear.

Used elsewhere in the period

Isaiah 6:1: the Lord seen "on a throne, high and lifted up" (rām wə-nissāʾ). Isaiah 52:13: the servant "will be high and lifted up" (yārûm wə-nissāʾ) after being disfigured and crushed (53:5, 10). Isaiah 2:12–14: the Day of YHWH comes against everything "high and lifted up." Isaiah 57:7, in this very chapter: the unfaithful city sets her bed "on a high and lifted-up mountain" for idolatrous worship.

From the study of Proverbs 14:29

Range of meaning

The causative form of rum, "to be high": raise, lift up, exalt, hold up high. It is also used for "setting aside, lifting off" a portion as a contribution (Lev 2:9; 4:8; Num 18:26), which is where terumah, "contribution", comes from.

Against the English

"Exalteth/exalts" (KJV, YLT, ESV) is literal, but modern "exalt" usually means to praise or honour. "Displays" (WEB, NIV) and "promotes" (BSB) each take one part of the meaning.

How it drifted

"Exalt" in modern English belongs mostly to worship language ("exalt God"), so "exalts folly" can sound like admiring folly. The Hebrew picture is physical: lifting folly up high.

Used elsewhere in the period

Prov 3:35 has the same construction: "the wise inherit honour, but fools merim qalon", meaning they "lift up" or "carry off" disgrace as their share.