Abarim Publications' online Biblical Hebrew Dictionary
רעם
The root רעם (r'm) occurs across the Semitic language spectrum and has the basic meaning of to thunder. BDB Theological Dictionary submits that it is probably onomatopoeic (created after the sound of thunder; the Hebrew equivalent of our BOOM-BOOM). Derivatives of this root that appear in the Bible are:
- The masculine noun רעם (ra'am), meaning thunder, most commonly thunder ascribed to God (Isaiah 29:6, Psalm 81:8) and sometimes a thunderous sound made by humans (Job 39:25).
- The denominative verb רעם (ra'am), meaning to thunder or cause to thunder (Psalm 96:11, 1 Samuel 7:10).
- The feminine noun רעמה (ra'ma), illustrates the wonderful dexterity of the Hebrew language, as this particularly 'noisy' verb is applied to the decisively soundless waving of a horse's manes - "You have clothed his neck with רעמה (ra'ma)" (Job 39:19).