The name Aram appears in the Holy Scriptures in two primary forms: as the personal name of at least three individuals, and more importantly, as the name of an extensive geographical region that gave rise to a powerful people group. The name itself signifies a “high” or “exalted region,” fitting the highlands northeast of Canaan.
I. Aram, Son of Shem (The Patriarch)
The most significant personal reference to Aram is found in the Table of Nations, a foundational genealogy tracing the descendants of Noah after the Flood.
Aram is listed as one of the direct sons of Shem:
“The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.” — Genesis 10:22 (KJV)
As a son of Shem, Aram became the eponymous ancestor of the Arameans—the people who inhabited the region known as Aram (later called Syria). His sons are listed as the progenitors of various Aramean tribes: “And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash.” (Genesis 10:23, KJV).
This lineage establishes the Arameans as a Semitic people, closely related to the Hebrews through their common ancestor, Shem.
II. Aram, the Region (Syria)
The land of Aram, which corresponds generally to modern Syria, played a critical and often antagonistic role throughout Israel’s history. Key areas of this region are frequently mentioned:
- Padan-Aram (or Paddan-Aram): Meaning “plain of Aram,” this was the location where Abraham’s brother Nahor settled, and from where the patriarchs sought wives. Rebekah, the wife of Isaac, and Leah and Rachel, the wives of Jacob, all hailed from this region (Genesis 25:20). Jacob himself spent many years there, prompting Moses to declare concerning Israel: “A Syrian ready to perish was my father…” (Deuteronomy 26:5, KJV).
- Aram-Naharaim: Meaning “Aram of the two rivers” (the Tigris and Euphrates), which is often identified with Mesopotamia.
- Aram-Damascus: This Aramean kingdom, with its capital at Damascus, was a frequent and powerful adversary of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, especially during the time of the divided monarchy (1 Kings 20).
The legacy of this regional Aram is also seen in the Aramaic language, which was adopted as the lingua franca of the ancient Near East and was the common tongue spoken in Judea during the time of Christ.
III. Other Individuals Named Aram
The Bible records at least two other individuals named Aram, whose personal histories are less significant than the patriarchal and regional references:
- Aram, Grandson of Nahor: He is mentioned in the genealogy of Abraham’s brother, Nahor, through his son Kemuel. “Huz his firstborn, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram,” (Genesis 22:21, KJV). This further illustrates the intermingling of the patriarchal families with the larger Aramean family tree.
- Aram (Ram), Ancestor of Christ: In the genealogies of Christ in the New Testament, the name Aram is used as the Greek form of the Hebrew name Ram, who was a son of Hezron and an ancestor of King David and ultimately, of Jesus Christ: “And Hezron begat Aram; and Aram begat Aminadab…” (Matthew 1:3, KJV; also Luke 3:33). This Aram is a crucial link in the Messianic line of Judah.
In summary, the name Aram is a thread woven throughout Scripture, marking a founding father of a major Semitic people, defining the homeland of key patriarchal family members, and securing a place in the physical lineage of the Saviour.