ARAM âr’ əm (אֲרָם, H806; LXX Συρία, G5353, high, exalted; most often in Eng. VSS tr. Syria). The word has a very broad usage.

1. Most frequently, the word refers to the Arameans (q.v.), important Sem. peoples living in the regions of Mesopotamia and Syria in various tribes and settlements (2 Sam 8:5, 6, 1 Kings 20:20, 21; 1 Chron 2:23; 19:10, 12 etc.; Amos 1:5; 9:7; Isa 7:2, 4, 5, 8; 9:12; 17:3; Jer 35:11; Ezek 16:57; 27:16).

2. The word is used also to refer to the land of the Arameans (Num 23:7; 2 Sam 15:8; Hos 12:12). The land area thus designated is quite indefinite geographically, referring generally to whatever area was most heavily populated by the Arameans at any time. In the OT, the area covered generally begins NE of Israel, includes Damascus and a large portion of what is now Syria, and extends into the upper Tigris-Euphrates Valley. In patriarchal times, Aram referred more particularly to the Mesopotamian region while during the monarchy it referred more specifically to Damascus and surrounding areas. In the OT the word is used frequently in compounds which indicate more precise localities. Thus Aram-Behtrehob, Aram-Damascus, Aram-Maacah, Aram-Naharaim, Aram-Zobah and Paddan-Aram. See also Arameans and K. A. Kitchen, “Aram, Arameans,” NBD (1962), 55-59.

3. The word is used also for the people and their land together, esp. in reference to kings or gods of Aram (Judg 10:6; Isa 7:1; etc.).

4. One of the five sons of Shem and the father of Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash in the “Table of the Nations” (Gen 10:22, 23, cf. 1 Chron 1:17). Thus, the father of one of the branches of the S(h)emitic peoples.

5. A son of Kemuel, the son of Nahor, the brother of Abraham (Gen 22:21).

6. One of the three sons of Shemer in the genealogy of Asher (1 Chron 7:34).

Aram appears in the KJV and RSVmg. of Matthew 1:3, 4. Here it represents the Gr. ̓Αράμ, G730, which, however, represents the Heb. רָ֔ם (Ram, q.v.) judging by Ruth 4:19 and 1 Chronicles 2:9, 10. In Luke 3:33 of the KJV, Aram represents the Gr. ̓Αρνί, G767, which, similarly, appears to be for the Heb. רָ֔ם (Ram, q.v.). RSV has “Arni,” however.

Bibliography For bibliography, see under Aram, Aramaeans.