Aramean Archive

Items

• Dictionarium Chaldaicum: Understanding Rabbinic Commentary
  In this dictionary, it is stated: ארם, meaning Aram in English, is equated as Syria, showing that Aram and Syria are synonymous and mean the same thing. ארמיא, meaning Aramean in English, is equated as Syriac, showing that Syriac and Aramean are synonymous and mean the same thing. ארמיא, meaning Aramean in English, is equated as the Syriac language, showing that Aramaic and the Syriac language are synonymous and mean the same thing. These definitions confirm the interchangeable use of Aram, Syria, Aramean, and Syriac, demonstrating their historical and linguistic continuity.
• Syriac Grammar with Bibliography, Chrestomathy, and Glossary
  "Syriac, i. e. the language of the Christian Arameans, who had their headquarters in Edessa in a northern Mesopotamia, is, in the first place, historically important, since it was through the medium of Syriac literature that Christian and philosophic learning passed to the Arabs and Persians, and even to India and China" Syriac is said to be the language of the Aramean Christians, i.e., Syriacs.
• Strong's Hebrew Lexicon
  In Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, it is stated: אֲרָם ('Arâm) comes from a root meaning 'highland' and refers to Aram or Syria, including its inhabitants. The term is used to describe Aram, Mesopotamia, Syria, and Syriacs, demonstrating that Aram and Syria are interchangeable in biblical and linguistic usage. אֲרַמִּי ('Arammîy) is defined as an Aramean or Aramitess, with the meaning Syriac, confirming that Arameans and Syriacs are synonymous in identity. אֲרָמִית ('Aramîyth) is defined as the Aramaic language, and it is specified that this is the Syriac language (tongue), in Syriack, showing that the language of the Arameans was also called Syriac. אֲרָם צוֹבָה ('Aram Tsôbâh) is defined as Aram of Tsoba (Coele-Syria), linking Aram directly to historical Syria, further reinforcing the synonymous nature of these terms. אֲרַם נַּהֲרַיִם ('Aram Nahărayim) means 'Aram of the Two Rivers' (Euphrates and Tigris) or Mesopotamia, indicating that Aram extended into what was also considered Mesopotamia, yet still retained 'Aram' in its name. In summary, Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary consistently equates Aram with Syria and Aramean with Syriac, both in ethnic identity, geography, and language.
• The Sabaeans and Sabaeanism
  "We have already expressed the assumption that originally, northern Mesopotamia in the narrower sense, as the relatively original land of the Arameans, was called 'Aram' and that this name was only later transferred to some other parts of Mesopotamia and Syria. Here, the Arameans are connected as a native people of northern Mesopotamia, and the name of their land, Aram, was also used to refer to Syria and parts of Mesopotamia, such as Aram-Naharaim." Aram is stated to be synonymous with Syria.
• The Sabaeans and Sabaeanism
  Eliya of Nisibis is referenced with the statement that ܐܳܪܳܡܳܐ (translated as Aram) is the name of a place, while ܐܳܪܳܡܳܝܳܐ (translated as Aramean) is a Syriac. Here, Aramean is synonymous with and equated to 'a Syriac.' The author, referencing Isho Bar Ali and Bar Bahlul, makes the statement that Armojó and Armoït mean pagan and heathen. He further notes that this distinction already appears in the Syriac translation of the New Testament, where Ἕλληνες (Hellenes, i.e., Greeks) is translated as Armojó, ἐθνικῶς (ethnikos, i.e., gentile/pagan) as Armoït, and ὁ Σύρος (ho Syros, i.e., the Syrian) as Oromojó. Thus, it is said that Aramean and pagan/heathen are differentiated.
• Lexicon Chaldaicum et Syriacum
  In Lexicon Chaldaicum et Syriacum, it is stated: אָרָם – Translated as Aram. The entry explains: "The name of the man Aram, from whom Syria is called Aramia." This demonstrates that Aram and Syria are synonymous. אָרָמָא – Translated as Aramean and Syriac. The term ܐܳܪܳܡܳܝܳܐ is also given as Aramean, demonstrating that Syriac and Aramean are synonymous. Syriac and Aramean are used interchangeably and are equated to each other, reinforcing their identical linguistic and ethnic significance.
• Lexicon Syriacum Concordantiale
  In Lexicon Syriacum Concordantiale, it is stated: ܐܳܪܳܡ – Translated as Aram and equated with Syria. The name ܐܳܪܳܡ (Aram) is synonymous with Syria, and from it, the region was called Aramia, from which the gentilic/racial designation also derives. Aram and Syria are used interchangeably, referring to the same geographical and historical entity. ܐܳܪܳܡܳܝܳܐ – Translated as Aramean and equated with Syriac, with both terms being synonymous. ܐܳܪܳܡܳܝܳܐ (Aramean) and Syriac are used interchangeably, signifying the same ethnic and linguistic identity.
• Lexicon Syriacum by Antonio Zanolini
  In Lexicon Syriacum by Antonio Zanolini, the entry for ܐܳܪܳܡܳܝܳܐ is translated as 'Aramean' and is also equated with 'Syriac,' using the terms interchangeably.
• Schindleri Lexicon Pentaglotton
  In Schindleri Lexicon Pentaglotton, it states the following: Aramean (ארמי) is equated with Syrus (Syriac) and Aramaeus (Aramean), using Syriac and Aramean interchangeably. The term ארם (Aram), ארמי (Aramean, singular), and ארמים (Arameans, plural) are given in Hebrew.
• Lexicon Syriacum Concordantiale
  The Lexicon Syriacum Concordantiale states that Aram is a proper name of a man (Luke 3:33), from which the region of Syria derives its name, equating Syria with Aram. Additionally, it is used as a gentilic/racial designation, with its emphatic form meaning Aramean, equated to Syrian (Luke 4:27). The Lexicon Syriacum Concordantiale states that Aram is the man after whom Syria was named, showing that Syria and Aram are synonymous. It also identifies Arameans as Syriacs, confirming that the terms are used interchangeably in history and the Bible.
• Dictionarium Syriaco-Latinum
  - The term ܐܳܪܳܡ and ܐܰܪܰܡ is translated as Aram and equated to Syria. - The term ܐܳܪܳܡ ܢܰܗܪ̈ܺܝܢ is translated as Aram-Naharaim and equated to Mesopotamia. - The term ܐܳܪܳܡܳܝܳܐ is translated as Aramean and equated to Syriac.
• The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
  The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia states the following: - Arameans (ארמים) are equated with Syriacs – The entry explicitly mentions that Arameans are often translated as Syriacs in both the Authorized Version (AV) and Revised Version (RV) of the Bible. The text directs the reader to Syria for further clarification. - Aramaic (ארמית) is equated with Syrian/Syriac – The encyclopedia lists Aramaic as equivalent to Syrian/Syriac in biblical translations. In the AV, it appears as Syrian, while in the RV, it is Syriac. - Biblical references confirm this equivalence – Passages like 2 Kings 18:26 and Isaiah 36:11 describe Aramaic as the "Syriac language," reinforcing that in biblical contexts, the terms Aramean and Syriac, as well as Aramaic and Syriac, are used interchangeably. - Aram-Dammesek (ארם דמשק) is Syria of Damascus, conquered by David (2 Samuel 8:5-6), reinforcing the identification of Aram with Syria. - Aram (ארם) and its people, the Arameans, are equated to Syriacs. The term Aramitess (ארמית) refers to an Aramean woman, equated to a Syriac woman (1 Chronicles 7:14), showing that some inhabitants of Gilead were Arameans, equated to Syriacs, by descent. - Aram-Naharaim (ארם נהרים) refers to Mesopotamia, also called Syria of the Two Rivers, identifying it with the region between the Tigris and Euphrates and reinforcing the connection between Aram and Syria. - Aramean regions such as Aram-Maacah (ארם מעכה), Aram-Rehob (ארם רחוב), and Aram-Zobah (ארם צובה) are equated to Syrian territories, as they are all listed under Syria in the encyclopedia. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia equates Arameans (ארמים) with Syriacs and Aramaic (ארמית) with Syrian/Syriac, as seen in Biblical translations where "Syrian" (AV) and "Syriac" (RV) are used interchangeably. It identifies Aram (ארם) with Syria, including regions like Aram-Dammesek, Aram-Naharaim, and Aram-Zobah, and states that an Aramean woman (ארמית) is equated to a Syriac woman (1 Chronicles 7:14).
• Gesenius' Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament
  - ארם (Aram) is translated as Aram, Mesopotamia, and Syria. It refers to both Western Syria and Mesopotamia. When used alone, it usually means Western Syria, especially Syria of Damascus. When referring to Mesopotamia, it appears as ארם נהרים (Aram-Naharaim), meaning Syria of the two rivers, or פדן ארם (Paddan-Aram), meaning the plain of Syria. - ארמי (Aramean) is equated with Syriac as a term for the people. - ארמית (Aramaic) is equated with Syriac as the language, as seen in Daniel 2:4, Ezra 4:7, and Isaiah 36:11. - ארם צובה (Aram-zobah) and ארם בית רחוב (Aram-beth-rehob) were Aramean kingdoms later subject to Damascus. - ארם (Aram) is also a personal name, referring to a grandson of Nahor in Genesis 22:21. Arameans (ארמי) are equated with Syriacs, and Aramaic (ארמית) is equated with the Syriac language. Aram (ארם) refers to both Syria and Mesopotamia, linking the Arameans, their land, and their language to Syriac identity.
• Carl Brockelmann Lexicon Syriacum
  In this dictionary, the term ܐܳܪܳܡܳܝܳܐ (Aramean) is equated with 'a Syriac.'
• Chaldäisches Wörterbuch über die Targumim und einen grossen Theil des Rabbinischen Schriftthums
  In this dictionary: - ארם (Aram) is translated as Aram and equated with Aramaea and Syria. - ארמא (Aramaah) and ארמיתא (Aramitah) are translated as Aramaic but equated with Aramean and Syriac. - ארמאי (Armaei) is equated with Arameans. - ארמית (Aramit) is translated as Aramaic but equated with Syriac.
• Lexicon to the Syriac New Testament (Peshitta)
  In this dictionary, ܐܳܪܳܡܳܝܳܐ is translated as 'an Aramean' and is equated with 'a Syriac.'
• A Dictionary of the Targumim, the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds, and Midrashic Literature
  In this dictionary, the term ארם (Aram) is equivalent to Aramaea and is equated with Syria. The term ארמא ,ארמאה (Aramean) is also equated with Syriac.
• The Syriac Lexicon, separately printed from his Heptaglot Lexicon.
  The term ܐܳܪܳܡܳܝܳܐ is equated with Aramean, which is equivalent to Syriac. The term ܐܳܪܡܳܐܻܝܬ is equated with Aramaic, which is also equivalent to Syriac. In this dictionary, Syriac refers both to the Aramean people and to their language, Aramaic.
• Against the Melchites
  "Because of their hatred, they (the Greeks) call us Jacobites instead of Syriacs. In response, we say that the name Syriac, which you have taken from us, is superior, for it comes from Syrus, who ruled over Antioch, and the land was named Syria after him—just as your name, Greek, comes from Javan the pagan. However, we are the descendants of Aram, and in ancient times, we were called Arameans after his name."
• Publications of the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East
  "The Syriacs are the grandchildren of the Aramaeans that trace their roots to Aram, the Son of Sam, the Son of Noah. Their civilization flourished in the land of Syria and the Levant since the 15th century B.C.³ After the Arameans converted to Christianity, and as they were very faithful and proud of their new religion, they denounced their old name (i.e. Aramaeans) and adopted the name Syriacs which gave them their religious identity instead of the name Aramaeans that denoted paganism, thus differentiating themselves from the Aramaeans that remained pagans.⁴"
• The Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch at a Glance
  "The Syriac language is the Aramaic language itself, and the Arameans are the Syrians themselves. Whoever has made a distinction between them has erred."
• About the Modern Syriacs
  “Today’s Syriacs are regarded largely as the descendants of the old Arameans.”
• La Littérature Syriaque
  "Much of this region was inhabited by Arameans who, following the evangelization of these areas, adopted the name Syriacs."
• The Expositor
  "In fact, no Church can claim to have studied the Scriptures more, carefully, and to have applied all the scientific resources of the early ages of Christianity to biblical criticism more steadily than the Syriac community. From the second century till the first quarter of the seventh, eight different versions of the New Testament were produced by genuine researches of the Aramaean population, spreading from the Mediterranean shores to the East of Persia, and from the massif of the Taurus to the Arabian peninsula. [...] On the other hand, the writers of the Gospels, being from an Aramaic-speaking population, while writing in Greek were generally thinking in Syriac, and the Aramaic stamp of their phrases is sometimes so strong that without a knowledge of this language and the reading of the versions which are written in it, the real thought of the sacred author will perhaps be misunderstood."
• Bible Translation
  In the Hebrew Bible, the Sassoon Codex, dated to the 10th century AD, states in 2 Kings 8:28-29: “28 Ahaziah went with Joram, son of Ahab, to war against Hazael, king of Aram, at Ramoth Gilead. The Arameans wounded Joram; 29 so King Joram returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds the Arameans had inflicted on him at Ramoth in his battle with Hazael, king of Aram.” Note that “Arameans” and “Aram” are labeled. Now, if we look at the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible (specifically, the Greek translation of this verse), the term “Aramean” is substituted with “Syrian/Syriac” (Suryoyo) and "Aram" with "Syria."
• A Modern Syriac-English Dictionary
  In the Syriac-English dictionary of Abraham Yohannan, a member of the Church of the East, he states that, according to generally accepted opinion, the Syrians were first known as Aramoye or Oromoye, which means Arameans. The designation Suryoyo (i.e., Syrian) came to be replaced by Aramean because the latter expression sounded pagan.
• Dictionary of Races or Peoples
  In the Dictionary of Races or Peoples by the United States Immigration Commission (1907–1910), a Suryoyo (Syriac) is defined as a member of the native Aramaic race, that is, an Aramean.
• A compendious Syriac dictionary, founded upon the Thesaurus Syriacus of R. Payne Smith, D.D.,
  In the dictionary of Payne Smith, R. (Robert) (1818–1895) and Payne Smith, J. (Jessie) (d. 1933), Aramean is defined as Suryoyo (Syriac).
• Louis Costaz Syriac-French-English-Arabic Dictionary
  In Louis Costaz’s dictionary (1767–1842 AD), Suryoyo (Syriac) is exclusively equated with Aramean.
• A Commentary on the Whole Bible
  "The Patriarch Joshua bin Nun said in the eighth century of Christ that the land was called Syria by king Suros who after killing his brother became king over Mesopotamia and all the countries subject to his rule were called Syria. The Syriacs were called Arameans in ancient times, but when the Arameans embraced Christianity they abandoned their ancient name and were called Syriacs. We know that the Aramean language in which Abraham spoke was the Syriac."
• Selected Pieces of Aramean Literature
  "What induced us to dedicate to the mentioned topic a special chapter is to end the controversy between many Chaldeans and Syriacs. Everyone of them claims the origin for himself and to be the older one, without having a reliable evidence or a funded scientific proof. In order to clarify the actualness of this problem and avoid the controversy, we say: All tribes, which lived in ancient times in the expanded countries, which were limited in the east by Persia, in the west by the Mediterranean, in the north by Asia Minor, by the countries of the Armenians and Greeks and in the south by the Arab peninsula, were known as children of Arams or as Arameans. The countries of Babylon and Assur were at all times, even after the Arab conquest, called Beth Aramaye, that is countries of the Arameans. It is not necessary to demonstrate the innumerable testimonies in order to prove this fact; it is a truth, which is known for everybody, who has the slightest idea of the informations about the Church of the East, because the books of our ancestors are full of them. Likewise the countries of Mesopotamia were well-known as the countries of Arams. You will realize from the mentioned testimonies here and also from others, that the inhabitants of Edessa and Jazira all of them were Arameans by nation and language. Regarding the dwellers of Syria, it is even more evident. You will receive testimonies of the church authors, who confirm this position. It became clear that all countries, which are known today under the designation syriac is, whether in the east or in the west, were since time immemorial known as Aramean, and this is the correct designation. The syriac authors whether in the East or in the West, state that the term [Syriac] comes from Suros. Suros was a man of Aramean origin, who founded according to their opinion the city of Antiochia and conquered the countries of Syria and Mesopotamia. Following him these countries were called Syria and their inhabitants Syriacs, as today the inhabitants of the Ottoman Empire are called Ottomans. The Syriacs generally, whether from the East or from the West were not called Syriacs in former times, but Arameans in dependance on their progenitor Aram, the son of Shem, the son of Noah. The name 'Syriac' dates from a time about 400 or 500 B.C. The term Syriac was adopted by the East-Arameans (Chaldeans and Assyrians) after Christ through the apostles, who had proselytized these countries."
• Treasure of the Syriac Language
  “Arameans, that is, Syriacs. Aramaic language, [that is] Syriac”
• Bar Bahlul’s Lexicon
  "Syria was derived from Suros, either during his lifetime or after his death. This Suros had killed his brother and ruled over Mesopotamia. His whole kingdom was called Syria. The Syriacs were formerly called Arameans, but when Suros ruled over them, from then on they were called Syriacs." Here, Bar Salibi makes the connection between modern Syriacs being descendants of the ancient Arameans, emphasizing the connection between 'Suryoye Oromoye.'
• Bar Hebraeus Grammar
  In the grammar of Bar Hebraeus, 'Aramean,' as written in the Aramaic part of the text, is translated as 'Syriac' in the Latin part. Thus, Aramean is equated with Syriac.
• Against the Armenians
  "The Armenians say: 'From whom do you descend—you who are Syriacs by race?' — Against them we will say: Neither you know from whom you descend. The name 'Armenian' is derived from "Armenian" which is the name of a country (and not of a person). It is we (Syriacs) who have enlightened your authors and revealed to them that you are descending from Togarma, who was from the children of Japhet. As to us Syriacs we descend racially from Shem, and our father is Kemuel son of Aram, and from this name of Aram we are also called sometimes in the Books by the name of 'Arameans.' We are called 'Syriacs' after the name of 'Syrus,' who built Antioch with its banlieue; and the country was called after him, 'Syria'."
• Regarding the Syriac community
  "The Syriac community was known from its beginning as the Aramean community"
• Antiquities of the Jews
  "Aram had the Arameans, which the Greeks called Syriacs."
• Sachau Verzeichniss der Syrischen Handschriften
  "The nation of the Arameans: This national name later gave way to the Greek designation 'Syriacs,' mainly due to influences from Jewish-Christian literature."
• Die Namen der aramäischen Nation und Sprache
  The Greeks were largely unfamiliar with the name 'Aramaeans.' Apart from Posidonius, whom Strabo follows, only another Oriental writer, Josephus, mentions it (Antiquities 1, 6, 4). It is highly improbable that Homer was referring to them with the terms Ἔρεμβοι (Eremboi - 'Erembians') or εἰν ᾿Αρίμοις (ein Arimois - 'in Arimi'). Instead, the Greeks referred to these people as 'Syriacs.' Seelen (de Dis Syris, prol. cap. 1) explained that Σύριοι (Syriacs) or Σύροι (Syriacs) was a shortened form of ᾿Ασσύριοι (Assyrians). Initially, the Greeks used 'Syriacs' to describe the subjects of the Assyrian Empire without distinction of nationality. However, over time, they applied this name specifically to the northwestern Semitic regions, eventually associating it with the predominant nationality in these areas. Thus, Σύροι (Syriacs) became synonymous with ᾿Αραμαῖοι (Aramaeans). I have explored this argument in greater detail in an article recently published in Hermes, to which I must refer the reader. Over time, the Aramaeans themselves gradually adopted the Greek name 'Syriacs.' While the dominance of Greek rule and education played a significant role in this shift, an even more powerful factor contributed to it: the change of religion. Quatremère (Jour. As., Feb. 1835, p. 122 f.) suggested that newly converted Aramaic Christians, feeling ashamed of their pagan compatriots, believed that adopting a new religion also required adopting a new name. As a result, they embraced the term Σύροι (Syriacs), which appears in the New Testament.
• Die Namen der aramäischen Nation und Sprache
  “Regarding the name of this nation and its language is the original ‘Aramean’ in essence also the only one [sic], that for the employment of the present-day scholarship as yet strongly fits.”
• Kurzgefasste Syrische Grammatik
  “From the time the Greeks came to have a more intimate acquaintance with Asia, they designated by the name of ‘Syriacs’ the people who called themselves ‘Arameans’.”
• Hermes: Zeitschrift für klassische Philologie
  "Since the times of Alexander [the Great], if not already somewhat earlier, people have started to transfer the name of the Syriacs exclusively over the prevailing in Syria nationality, and in this way this originally political-geographical term became an ethnological one that was identified with the local Arameans."
• Hermes: Zeitschrift für klassische Philologie
  "It is well understandable that people have started to transfer the name of the country to the most important nationality and so the name 'Syriac' was apprehended ethnological and was equated with 'Aramaic'."
• The History of Rome
  "the history of the Aramaean or Syriac nation which occupied the east coast and extended into the interior of Asia as far as the Euphrates and Tigris"
• Berlinische Monatschrift
  "The names Syria, Assyria, Mesopotamia, Babylon, and others stem from the Greeks, who were unfamiliar with the true geography of these lands when the names were first used. Later, partly due to ongoing ignorance and partly for convenience, these names persisted even after more accurate knowledge became available. It would have required considerable effort to abandon the old, familiar names and divisions in favor of new, more accurate ones. The true and original name of these lands is Aram. It is mentioned numerous times in the Old Testament, and Greek scholars were also familiar with it. They likely referred to the people of these regions as Arameans, though this was rare, as they generally continued to use the term Syriac, which had been familiar to them."
• Berlinische Monatschrift
  "Do not the Syriacs, as they are usually called, or the Arameans, as they in fact are termed, deserve more attention in world history than they are usually given?"
• The Geography of Strabo
  "Poseidonius conjectures that the names of these nations also are akin; for, says he, the people whom we call Syriacs are by the Syriacs themselves called Arameans."
• Self-identifying Aramean
  In one of his writings, he writes: "It is in this way we, the Arameans, that is to say Syriacs [...]"
• Regarding Mesopotamian history.
  ”The kingdoms which have been established in antiquity by our race, (that of) the Arameans, namely the descendants of Aram, who were called Syriacs."
• Children of Shem
  He lists in his world chronicle the children of Shem: "The children of Shem are the Assyrians, the Chaldeans, the Ludians, and the Arameans, who are the Syriacs, the Hebrews, and the Persians."