Hebrew word · H7317
רוֹמָה
romah
haughtily
This form occurs nowhere else in the Bible. It comes from the root rûm, 'to be high or exalted', and is used here as an adverb: 'loftily, erect, with head high'. The same root is used for haughty eyes and a raised hand of defiance.
Appears once in the Hebrew Old Testament. ·
What it means
proudly, haughtily
Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).
In depth
- Range of meaning
This form occurs nowhere else in the Bible. It comes from the root rûm, 'to be high or exalted', and is used here as an adverb: 'loftily, erect, with head high'. The same root is used for haughty eyes and a raised hand of defiance.
- Against the English
KJV, ESV, NASB and WEB say 'haughtily', NIV and BSB 'proudly', YLT 'loftily'. 'Haughtily' gives the attitude. 'Erect' or 'upright' gives the physical posture. The Hebrew holds both.
- Used elsewhere in the period
The Septuagint reads 'upright' (orthoi), taking it as posture. The closest idea is Leviticus 26:13, where a different Hebrew word (qômĕmiyyût) means walking erect after the yoke is broken. Compare Isaiah 2:11–17, where everything 'lofty' (rām) is brought low.
Where it appears
Micah · 1
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Micah 2:3 רוֹמָ֔ה haughtily
Therefore this is what the LORD says: “I am planning against this nation a disaster from which you cannot free your necks. Then you will not walk so proudly, for it will be a time of calamity.
Here: 'High' or 'upright', with heads held up. This word occurs nowhere else in the Bible. It comes from the root for 'be high' and suggests both standing upright and arrogance. A neck bent under a yoke cannot walk tall.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.