Original Word: עֻמָּה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: `ummah
Pronunciation: oom-maw'
Phonetic Spelling: (oom-maw')
KJV: (over) against, at, beside, hard by, in points
NASB: alongside, close, beside, corresponding, close beside, well, all alike
Word Origin: [from H6004 (עָמַם - match)]

1. conjunction, i.e. society
2. mostly adverb or preposition (with prepositional prefix), near, beside, along with

over against, at, beside, hard by, in points

From amam; conjunction, i.e. Society; mostly adverb or preposition (with prepositional prefix), near, beside, along with -- (over) against, at, beside, hard by, in points.

see HEBREW amam

Word Origin
from im
Definition
close by, side by side with
NASB Translation
all alike (1), alongside (5), beside (3), close (5), close beside (2), close* (1), comparable (1), corresponded (1), corresponding (3), exactly (1), just (1), like (1), parallel (1), side (1), well (2).

I. [עֻמָּה] noun feminine juxtaposition, but only in stative construct with force a

preposition close by, side by side with, parallel to, agreeing with, corresponding to; — stative with עֻמַּת, except Ecclesiastes 5:15 always with לְ, suffix לְעֻמָּתוֺ, once plural construct לְעֻמּוֺת Ezekiel 45:7; —

a. close by, side by side with: Exodus 25:27 (Exodus 37:14), Exodus 28:27 (Exodus 39:20), Leviticus 3:9 לְעֻמַּת הֻעָצֶה יְסִירֶנָּה shall take it away close by the backbone; especially of what is parallel, Ezekiel 42:7 the wall alongside of the chambers; of the contiguous portions in Ezekiel's division of the land, alongside of each other, Ezekiel 45:6,7; Ezekiel 48:13,18 (twice in verse); Ezekiel 48:21; of movement in parallel lines, 2 Samuel 16:13 Shimei was going along לְעֻמָּתוֺ parallel with him, 2 Samuel 16:13; Ezekiel 1:20 וְהָאוֺפַנִּים יִנָָּֽשְׂאוּ לְעֻמָּתָם, Ezekiel 1:21; Ezekiel 3:13; Ezekiel 10:19; Ezekiel 11:22; Ezekiel 3:8 נָתַתִּי פָנֶיךָ חֲזָקִים לְעֻמַּת מְּנֵיהֶם by the side of their face (which, as antagonism is implied, = against, RV), Ezekiel 3:8.

b. agreeing with, corresponding to (a common result of juxtaposition), Exodus 38:18 a screen five cubits high לעמת קלעי החצר agreeing with (RV answerable unto) the hangings of the court (in height), Ezekiel 40:18; probably also 1 Chronicles 26:16; Nehemiah 12:24 מִשְׁמָר ׳מִשְׁמָר ל ward corresponding to ward.

c. correspondingly to, 1 Chronicles 24:31 they also cast lots לְעֻמַּת אֲחֵיהֶם correspondingly to their brethren, v^b the head, correspondinly to his younger brother, 1 Chronicles 26:12 to these . . . belonged charges correspondingly to (in common with) their brethren. **Eccl 7:14 side by side with, as well as.

d. before a sentence (Ges^{§ 155n}), 1 Chronicles 25:8 (strangely) לְעֻמַּת כַּקָּטֹן כַּגָּדוֺל (see Ke) correspondingly to (the principle) of as the small so the great; Ecclesiastes 5:15 כָּלעֻֿמַּת שֶׁכָּא quite exactly as he came, so shall he go (but Lambert^{RŠJ xxxi. 47}, Rahlfs^{Th. Lt. -z. 1896, 587} כִּלְעֻמַּת).

e. מִלְּעֻמַּת (see מִן

1c, 9 a) 1 Kings 7:20 close beside.

Hebrew Term

עֻמָּה (ummah) appears roughly thirty-two times, marking adjacency—“beside,” “alongside,” “opposite.” Its usage consistently highlights relationship, order and fellowship in Israel’s life and worship.

Function and Range of Meaning

A prepositional noun indicating spatial nearness that often carries relational or theological implications: harmony in worship, unity among tribes, God’s presence with His people, or a prophetic face-off with rebellion.

Tabernacle and Temple Furnishings

Exodus 25:27; 30:4; 37:14; 37:27; 1 Kings 7:39; 1 Chronicles 28:17

Rings, poles, basins and other items are set “beside” specific parts of the sanctuary. The precision underscores divine order: each implement functions only when rightly positioned in relation to the others, reflecting the God who “is not a God of disorder but of peace” (compare 1 Corinthians 14:33).

Land Allotments and Tribal Boundaries

Joshua 13:23, 25, 28; 19:1, 13, 21, 26, 27, 34; Ezekiel 48:13

Ummah locates borders “next to” neighboring tribes, balancing distinct inheritances with corporate unity. Israel’s map becomes a visual lesson in cooperative covenant life—each portion counts yet none exists in isolation.

Prophetic Visionary Proximity

Ezekiel 1:15; 3:8-9; 41:26

A wheel appears “beside” each creature, symbolizing God’s ever-present mobility with His glory. Ezekiel’s forehead is made “as hard as” Israel’s, illustrating that divine empowerment stands face-to-face with stubborn rebellion. Doors adorned with palm trees “on either side” anticipate restored beauty in a future temple.

Personal and Corporate Closeness

Every occurrence points to fellowship or confrontation. Poles beside the Ark (Exodus 37:14) guarantee the Ark travels with Israel; boundary lines beside one another remind the tribes of mutual dependence; a prophet’s fortified brow stands opposite sin, proving God does not abandon His messengers in conflict.

Selected References

Exodus 30:4 — “You are to make two gold rings for it… on its two opposite sides.”

Joshua 19:34 — “…it reached to Zebulun on the south, to Asher on the west, and to Judah at the Jordan on the east.”

Ezekiel 1:15 — “I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces.”

Ezekiel 3:8 — “Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces.”

Theological and Practical Insights

• Divine Order: Worship is governed by God’s pattern, not personal preference.
• Community: God’s people are distinct yet inseparably linked; ministry thrives when believers labor side-by-side.
• Presence: Where God sends, He accompanies (wheels beside living creatures; poles beside Ark).
• Confrontation: The nearness of a prophet’s strength to Israel’s hardness shows God equips His servants for every opposition.

Christological and Missional Application

Jesus took His place “with” sinners and died “between” transgressors (Luke 23:33). His Spirit now dwells within the church so that disciples can stand alongside a lost world, calling it to reconciliation. Living ummah—close to God and to one another—remains the pattern for faithful worship, holy community and effective witness today.

לְעֻמַּ֖ת לְעֻמַּ֣ת לְעֻמַּ֣ת ׀ לְעֻמַּ֥ת לְעֻמַּת֙ לְעֻמַּת־ לְעֻמָּת֔וֹ לְעֻמָּת֗וֹ לְעֻמָּתָ֑ם לְעֻמָּתָ֔ם לְעֻמּוֹת֙ לעמות לעמת לעמת־ לעמתו לעמתם מִלְּעֻמַּ֣ת מלעמת עֻמַּ֥ת עמת ‘um·maṯ ‘ummaṯ lə‘ummaṯ lə‘ummaṯ- lə‘ummāṯām lə‘ummāṯōw lə‘ummōwṯ lə·‘um·mā·ṯām lə·‘um·mā·ṯōw lə·‘um·maṯ lə·‘um·maṯ- lə·‘um·mō·wṯ leumMat leummaTam leummaTo leummOt mil·lə·‘um·maṯ millə‘ummaṯ milleumMat umMatInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts