ZORAM: Difference between revisions
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The name ZORAM, from the hypocoristic ''ṣūr 'am,'' "[God is] the rock of the people," is plausible. | The name ZORAM, from the hypocoristic ''ṣūr 'am,'' "[God is] the rock of the people," is plausible. Since Hebrew does not express a double r, and if two r's can be assumed for the name, then perhaps, ZORAM is composed of two elements, ''ṣūr,'' "rock" (as in "rock of our salvation" in Psalms 95:1) (DBM 274), which occurs in the biblical PN's Zur, Zuriel, and Zurishaddai, and of ''rām'', "height; high, exalted," which occurs in biblical names such as Abram. Zoram would perhaps then mean "the rock is exalted." | ||
Also possible is "their rock, ''ṣūram'', as in Deuteronomy 32:31 (JAT and RFS), even though the reference there is to a foreign god and would be an unusual PN. Perhaps the biblical name for Tyre, ''ṣor'', is from the same root and could have something to do with this name if Zoram was a Phoenician in the service of Laban (R&S 1:42) | |||
biblical | |||
Less likely is "prince of people," from ''sar'', "prince, counselor'' in West Semitic (as in Book of Mormon Sariah), and 'm, "people" (RFS), because of the incongruence of the vowels. | |||
Notes: | |||
Derivations paralleling GNs such as Eblaite ''zuramu'', the name of a village near Ebla (Pettinato, ''Archives,'' p. 164) (RFS), or Qatabanian ESA ''ẓrm'', the name of a mountain pass | |||
Derivations paralleling GNs such as Eblaite ''zuramu'', the name of a village near Ebla (Pettinato, Archives, p. 164) (RFS), or Qatabanian ESA ''ẓrm'', name of a mountain pass | (ANET 668:2) (JAT), are less likely. In light of the ESA feminine PN ''drm.t'' (ABM 234–5 and fn. 10 to Chap. 22), a derivation based on Hebrew ''zerem'', “rain” (JAT) should not | ||
(ANET 668:2) (JAT), are | |||
be dismissed outright. | be dismissed outright. | ||
Revision as of 09:38, 4 March 2011
| Lehite PN | 1. | Servant of Laban at Jerusalem, ca. 600 BC (1 Nephi 4:35; Alma 54:23) |
| 2. | General, ca. 81 BC (Alma 16:5, 7) | |
| 3. | Apostate, ca. 74 BC (Alma 30:59; 31:1) |
The name ZORAM, from the hypocoristic ṣūr 'am, "[God is] the rock of the people," is plausible. Since Hebrew does not express a double r, and if two r's can be assumed for the name, then perhaps, ZORAM is composed of two elements, ṣūr, "rock" (as in "rock of our salvation" in Psalms 95:1) (DBM 274), which occurs in the biblical PN's Zur, Zuriel, and Zurishaddai, and of rām, "height; high, exalted," which occurs in biblical names such as Abram. Zoram would perhaps then mean "the rock is exalted."
Also possible is "their rock, ṣūram, as in Deuteronomy 32:31 (JAT and RFS), even though the reference there is to a foreign god and would be an unusual PN. Perhaps the biblical name for Tyre, ṣor, is from the same root and could have something to do with this name if Zoram was a Phoenician in the service of Laban (R&S 1:42)
Less likely is "prince of people," from sar, "prince, counselor in West Semitic (as in Book of Mormon Sariah), and 'm, "people" (RFS), because of the incongruence of the vowels.
Notes:
Derivations paralleling GNs such as Eblaite zuramu, the name of a village near Ebla (Pettinato, Archives, p. 164) (RFS), or Qatabanian ESA ẓrm, the name of a mountain pass (ANET 668:2) (JAT), are less likely. In light of the ESA feminine PN drm.t (ABM 234–5 and fn. 10 to Chap. 22), a derivation based on Hebrew zerem, “rain” (JAT) should not be dismissed outright.
See Book of Mormon ZORAMITE(S).
Cf. Book of Mormon ZERAM, CEZORAM, SEEZORAM, ZEEZROM, ESROM, EZROM/EZRUM.
See also Zoram / Zorum Variants
