Lexical Definition

‎עַם‎ ʻam (am) people ^H:N-M
from ‎עָמַם‎

folk, men, nation, people.

• a people (as a congregated unit)
• specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel)
• hence (collectively) troops or attendants
• figuratively, a flock

1) nation, people
1a) people, nation
1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men
2) kinsman, kindred

See Greek: ἀνήρ · ἄνθρωπος · γενεά · γένος · γῆ · δῆμος · δούλη · δοῦλον · δοῦλος · δύναμις · ἔθνος · ἡγέομαι · λαός · ὄχλος · παῖς · πλῆθος · συναγωγή · συναγωγή

Brown-Driver-Briggs

Aramaic form: עַם
I. ‎עַם‎, ‎עָם‎₁₈₄₀ noun masculine^{Gen 11:6} (see below) people (Late Hebrew id., plebeian, common man; ᵑ7 ‎עַמָּא‎ people, plural peoples, tribes, etc.; Syriac ; Arabic see above; original meaning probably those united, connected, related, compare We^{GGN 1893, 480}); — absolute ‎עַם‎ Gen 11:6 +, ‎עָם‎ Judg 9:36 +, ‎הָעָם‎ Josh 8:11 +; construct ‎עַם‎ Num 21:29 +; suffix ‎עַמִּי‎ Exod 3:7 +, ‎עַמְּךָ‎ Exod 22:27* +, etc.; plural ‎עַמִּים‎ Isa 2:3 +, ‎עֲמָמִים‎ (compare Biblical Aramaic) Neh 9:22 construct ‎עַמֵּי‎ 1Kgs 8:43 +, ‎עַמְמֵי‎ Neh 9:24 plural with suffix see II. ‎עַם‎; — (Thes cites following as feminine ‎וְחָטָאת עַמֶּ֑ךָ‎ Exod 5:16 [but corrupt and unintellig.; read perhaps ‎׳‎‎וְחַטָאתָ לְע‎, so ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Di]; Judg 18:7 [but ‎ישֶׁבֶת‎ must agree with lost word city, or the like, see GFM]; Jer 8:5 [but read ‎שׁוֺבַב‎ for ‎שׁוֺבְבָה‎ Gie]); —

1. a people, nation (sometimes || ‎גּוֺי‎), collective noun (singular Exod 21:8; Josh 17:14; Josh 17:15; Josh 17:17; 2Sam 17:29 + often, or plural Exod 20:15; Exod 24:2; Jer 5:31 + often, or both in same clause Exod 1:20; 2Sam 13:24): ‎עַם אֶחָד‎ = all mankind Gen 11:6 (J); peoples in general Gen 27:29 (J; || ‎לְאֻמִּים‎), Exod 19:5 (E), Deut 2:25; Deut 4:6 + often Deuteronomy; Neh 13:24 + often; ‎קְהַל עַמִּים‎ Gen 28:3 (P) an assembly (multitude) of peoples, Gen 48:4 (P), Ezek 23:24; Ezek 32:3 (+ ‎רַבִּים‎); one's own people Jer 46:16; Ps 45:11*; Ruth 1:10; Ruth 1:15; Ruth 1:16 (twice in verse) + (on ‎עַמִּי נָדִיב‎ Song 6:12 see especially Bu); particular peoples, Egypt Gen 41:40 (E), Exod 1:22 (E), Neh 9:10 +; ‎עַםאֲֿרָם‎ Amos 1:5 ‎עַםכְּֿמוֺשׁ‎ (i.e. Moab) Num 21:29 (JE), Jer 48:46 but especially Israel Exod 1:20 (E) + often; ‎׳‎‎עַםבְּֿנֵי יִשׂ‎ vExod 1:9 (J); called ‎יהוה‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Num 11:29 (E), 1Sam 2:24 +, and (by ‎׳‎‎י‎) ‎עַמִּי‎ Exod 3:7; Exod 5:1 (J) + often (all periods); ‎קְהַל עַםהָֿאֱלֹהִים‎ Judg 20:2, ‎עַםהַֿקָּהָל‎ Lev 16:33 (P), ‎קְהַל עָם‎ Ps 107:32 especially ‎הָעָם הַזֶּה‎ (often in contempt or disgust) Num 11:1; Num 11:12; Num 11:13 +; figurative of ants Prov 30:25, the shaphan vProv 30:26, locusts Joel 2:2, compare ‎לְעַם לְצִיִּים‎ Ps 74:14 (where read ‎לְעַם צִיִּים‎ Hup-Now). — On Judg 1:16 see ‎עֲמָלֵקִי‎.

2. = smaller units, e.g.
a. inhabitants of a city Gen 19:4 (J), 1Sam 9:12; 1Sam 9:13; Jer 29:16; Jer 29:25; 2Chr 31:4 + (Jer 8:5 strike out ‎׳‎‎יְרוּוּשׁ‎ ᵐ5 Gie Co Rothst).
b. inhabitants of a locality Jer 37:12 [apparently not = tribe, Deut 33:3 read ‎עַמּוֺ‎ ᵐ5 Di Dr, Hos 10:14; Judg 5:8; Judg 5:14 read ‎בְּעָרֶיךָ‎ We Now; see below ‎ד‎].
c. retainers, followers Gen 14:16; Gen 32:8*; Gen 33:15; Gen 35:6; Judg 3:18; Judg 8:5; 2Sam 15:17; Jer 41:13; Jer 41:14 +.
d. people bearing arms 1Sam 11:11; 1Kgs 20:10 +; ‎כָּבֵד‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Num 20:20 (JE), i.e. a powerful force; ‎עַם הַצָּבָא‎ Num 31:32 (P), ‎הַמִּלְחָמָה‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Josh 8:1; Josh 8:3; Josh 8:11; Josh 10:7; Josh 11:7 (all J E); so probably Judg 5:8 a (fighting) band; perhaps also vJudg 5:14 (read singular ? see GFM Bu).

3. = common people Jer 21:7; Jer 22:4; Lev 4:27 (opposed to ruler vLev 4:22), Neh 5:1 (opposed to ‎יְהוּדִים‎), Neh 7:5 (opposed to rulers).

4. people in general, persons Gen 50:20 (E), so apparently ‎׳‎‎כָּלהָֿעָם אֲשֶׁר וגו‎ Exod 33:16 (J), Num 11:34 (J), Josh 5:5 (twice in verse) (D), Judg 9:36 (as singular), vJudg 9:37 (as plural), Jer 36:9 persons labouring 1Kgs 9:23 superior persons Job 12:2 (iron.); ‎עַם עוֺלָם‎ Ezek 26:30 people of long ago (now in Sh®°ôl).

5. phrases are:
a. (‎עַמָּהּ‎, ‎עַמִּי‎, ‎עַמְּךָ‎) ‎בְּנֵי עַמּוֺ‎ members of one's people, compatriots, fellow-countrymen, etc. Num 22:5 (E), Gen 23:11 (P) Lev 19:18 (H), Judg 14:16; Judg 14:17; Ezek 33:2; Ezek 33:12 +.
b. ‎בְּנֵי הָעָם‎ = common people (see 3) 2Kgs 23:6; Jer 26:23 +; people in general ‎שַׁעַר בְּנֵי הָעָם‎ Jer 17:19 i.e. public gate 2Chr 35:5; 2Chr 35:12.
c. ‎עַם הָאָרֶץ‎ the people at large, as a body 2Kgs 11:14; 2Kgs 11:18; 2Kgs 11:19; 2Kgs 11:20; 2Kgs 15:5; 2Kgs 16:15; 2Kgs 21:24 (twice in verse) +, Jer 37:2; Jer 44:21; Lev 20:2 (H), Gen 23:7; Gen 23:12; Gen 23:13 (P); common people Jer 34:19, compare ‎׳‎‎הא‎ ‎׳‎‎דַּלַּת ע‎ 2Kgs 24:14 distinguished from prince Ezek 45:22; Ezek 46:3; Ezek 46:9, from priests Hag 2:4; Zech 7:5 = Canaanites Num 14:9 (JE), compare ‎עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ‎ 1Chr 5:25 mixed post-exile population Ezra 4:4.
d. ‎עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ‎ usually peoples of the earth Josh 4:24 (D), 2Chr 32:19 +; of heathen peoples about and in Palestine after exile Ezra 10:2; Ezra 10:11 traders Neh 10:31* ‎עַמֵּי הָאֲרָצוֺת‎ Neh 9:30; Neh 10:29*; 2Chr 32:13.
e. ‎מִשְׁפְּחוֺת עַמִּים‎ Ps 96:7 = 1Chr 16:28 (compare Ps 22:28*). feminine ‎בַּתעַֿמִּי‎ = people personified Isa 22:4; Jer 4:11 + 7 t. Jeremiah + Jer 6:14 (van d. H.; omit ‎בַּת‎ Baer Gi), Lam 2:11; Lam 3:48; Lam 4:3; Lam 4:6; Lam 4:10 ‎בְּתוּלַת בַּתעַֿמִּי‎ Jer 14:17.
g. designations of Israel are: ‎עַםקָֿרוֺשׁ‎ Deut 7:6 + 3 t., ‎קְדוֺשִׁים‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Dan 8:24, ‎(ה)קֹדֶשׁ‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Isa 62:12; Isa 63:18; Dan 12:7 ‎סְגֻלָּה‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Deut 7:6; Deut 14:2; Deut 26:18.
h. of foreign (non-Israel) peoples: ‎׳‎‎ע‎ ‎נָכְרִי‎ Exod 21:8 (E), ‎אַחֵר‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Deut 28:32, and especially from language, ‎עִמְקֵי שָׂפָה‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Ezek 3:5 compare vEzek 3:6, ‎כִּלְשׁוֺן עַם וָעָם‎ Neh 13:24 compare Esth 1:22 (twice in verse); Esth 3:12, ‎לֹעֵג‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Ps 114:1.
i. ‎עַם‎ ‎עֶבְרָתִי‎ Isa 10:6, ‎חֶרְמִי‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Isa 34:11, ‎מִֿבְחָרָיו‎‎׳‎‎ע‎ Dan 11:15, ‎עַמֵּי‎ ‎תּוֺעֵבוֺת הָאֵלֶּה‎ Ezra 9:14 ‎לֹא עַם בִּינוֺת‎ Isa 27:11. — For ‎עַםעֿוֺלָם‎ Isa 44:7 read (‎אֹתִיּוֺת‎) ‎(מִי הִשְׁמִי)עַ מֵעוֺלָם‎ Oort Du Kit Che^Hpt compare Perles^{Anal. 40, 64}.

II. [‎עַם‎] noun [masculine] kinsman **later development of I. ‎עַם‎ RS^{K 58; 2nd ed. 72}. (on father's side) (Arabic paternal uncle, etc., see I. ‎עמם‎; compare perhaps Tel Amarna ammu, kinsmen (?); on Nabataean ‎עם‎ ancestor compare Lzb^{151, 499}; see also especially Nes^{Eg 187, ZAW xvi (1896), 322f.} Krenkel^{ib. viii (1888), 280-84}); — suffix ‎עַמִּי‎ in ‎בֶּןעַֿמִּי‎ (q. v.), and proper name following; elsewhere plural suffix ‎עַמֶּיךָ‎ Num 27:13; Num 31:2 (Lev 19:16 read ‎עַמְּךָ‎ ᵐ5 ⅏), + (possibly) ‎עֲמָָמֶיךָ‎ Judg 5:14 ‎עַמָּיו‎ Gen 25:8 + 15 t., ‎עַמֶּיהָ‎ Gen 17:14 + 3 t.; read ‎עַמֶּי‎ (for ᵑ0 ‎עַמִּי‎, I. ‎עַם‎; compare Krenkel^{l.c. 281}) Gen 49:29 and perhaps Judg 14:3 (compare Lev 21:14); according to Buhl Kit also 2Kgs 4:13 — father's kinsmen: ‎וַיֵּאָסֵף אֶלעַֿמָּיו‎ Gen 25:8 (of joining kinsmen in Sh®°ôl), so vGen 25:17; Gen 35:29; Gen 49:33; Num 20:24; Deut 32:50, compare Gen 49:29 (see above), Num 27:13; Num 31:2; Deut 32:50 (all P); ‎וְנִכְרְתָה הַנֶּפֶשׁ מֵעַמֶּיהָ‎ Gen 17:4 (severed from living kinsmen), so Lev 7:20; Lev 7:21; Lev 7:23; Lev 7:27; Lev 19:8; Lev 23:29; Num 9:13, ‎מִקֶּרֶב עַמֶּיהָ‎ Exod 31:14, compare Exod 30:33; Exod 30:38; Lev 17:9 (all PH); ‎מֵעַמָּיו יִקַּח אִשָּׁה‎ Lev 21:14 (H), and perhaps Judg 14:3 (simile I. ‎עַם‎: [‎םָ֯‎, ‎הָּ֯‎] ‎מִקֶּרֶב עַמּוֺ‎ Lev 17:4; Lev 17:10; Lev 18:29+); other combinations Judg 5:14 (si vera lectio read perhaps ‎בְּעַמֶּ֑ךָ‎, see I. ‎עַם‎ 2 d ), Lev 21:1; Lev 21:4; Lev 21:15 (H), Ezek 18:18 and (perhaps) 2Kgs 4:13. — ‎בֶּןעַֿמִּי‎ perhaps = son of my kinsman; on proper name with ‎עַם‎ see Gray^{Prop. N. 41 ff}.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

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People's Gate • A gate in Jerusalem mentioned by Jeremiah

The People's Gate was one of the gates of Jerusalem, where the prophet Jeremiah was instructed to proclaim God's message.

• A location in Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם only mentioned at Jer.17.19;
• only referred to as People's_Gate עַם.
  

The People's Gate, mentioned in Jeremiah 17:19, was one of the gates of Jerusalem during the time of the prophet Jeremiah. The Lord instructed Jeremiah to stand in the People's Gate and proclaim a message to the kings of Judah and all the people who entered through that gate. The message emphasized the importance of keeping the Sabbath day holy and refraining from work on that day. The exact location of the People's Gate is not specified in the biblical text, but it was likely one of the main entrances to the city, where people from various walks of life would pass through. The gate's name suggests that it was a popular and well-frequented access point to Jerusalem. Jeremiah's proclamation at the People's Gate underscores the prophetic call to obedience and the centrality of the Sabbath in the religious life of Judah.

All entries for People's Gate: עַם