Roam
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The concept of "roam" in the Bible often conveys the idea of wandering, moving about without a fixed destination, or searching. This term can be associated with both physical and spiritual journeys, reflecting the human condition and the pursuit of purpose or fulfillment.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the idea of roaming is frequently linked to the nomadic lifestyle of the patriarchs and the Israelites. For instance, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were often on the move, following God's guidance to the land He promised them. This wandering is emblematic of faith and obedience, as seen in Genesis 12:1, where God commands Abram, "Go forth from your country, your people, and your father’s household to the land I will show you."

The Israelites' 40-year journey in the wilderness is another significant example of roaming. This period of wandering was a time of testing and reliance on God, as described in Deuteronomy 8:2: "Remember that the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments."

Spiritual Implications

Roaming can also symbolize spiritual searching or straying. In the book of Job, Satan is depicted as roaming the earth, seeking whom he might accuse or devour. Job 1:7 states, "The LORD said to Satan, 'From where have you come?' Satan answered the LORD, 'From roaming through the earth and walking back and forth on it.'" This passage highlights the adversary's restless pursuit of those he might lead astray.

The theme of spiritual wandering is further explored in the wisdom literature. Proverbs 21:16 warns, "The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead." Here, roaming away from wisdom and understanding is equated with spiritual death, emphasizing the importance of remaining steadfast in faith and obedience to God.

New Testament Insights

In the New Testament, the concept of roaming is less about physical movement and more about spiritual vigilance. Believers are encouraged to remain watchful and steadfast in their faith. 1 Peter 5:8 advises, "Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." This verse underscores the need for spiritual awareness and the dangers of straying from the path of righteousness.

The parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) illustrates the consequences of roaming away from the Father's house. The younger son squanders his inheritance in a distant land, only to find himself in want and despair. His return to the father symbolizes repentance and the restoration of relationship, highlighting God's grace and forgiveness for those who have wandered.

Conclusion

While the Bible does not explicitly use the term "roam" frequently, the concept is woven throughout its narrative, illustrating both the physical journeys of God's people and the spiritual journeys of individuals. Roaming can signify a search for truth and purpose or a warning against straying from God's path. Through these accounts and teachings, Scripture calls believers to remain faithful, vigilant, and rooted in the truth of God's Word.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (v. i.) To go from place to place without any certain purpose or direction; to rove; to wander.

2. (v. t.) To range or wander over.

3. (n.) The act of roaming; a wandering; a ramble; as, he began his roam o'er hill and dale.

Greek
4105. planao -- to cause to wander, to wander
... From plane; to (properly, cause to) roam (from safety, truth, or virtue) -- go astray,
deceive, err, seduce, wander, be out of the way. see GREEK plane. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4105.htm - 9k
Strong's Hebrew
7904. shakah -- perhaps to roam
... perhaps to roam. Transliteration: shakah Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-kaw') Short
Definition: lusty. ... root Definition perhaps to roam NASB Word Usage lusty (1). roam. ...
/hebrew/7904.htm - 6k

7300. rud -- to wander restlessly, roam
... 7299, 7300. rud. 7301 . to wander restlessly, roam. Transliteration: rud Phonetic
Spelling: (rood) Short Definition: restless. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/7300.htm - 6k

7751a. shut -- to go or rove about
... NASB Word Usage go to and fro (1), go about (2), go back (1), go back and forth
(1), gone about (1), move to and fro (1), range to and fro (1), roam to and fro ...
/hebrew/7751a.htm - 5k

Library

I was a Wand'ring Sheep.
... controlled. I was a wayward child, I did not love my home; I did not love
my Father's voice; I loved afar to roam. The Shepherd ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/moodys stories/i was a wandring sheep.htm

Sing Heigh-Ho!
... From sea to stream the salmon roam; Sing heigh-ho! From sea to stream the salmon
roam; Each finds a mate, and leads her home; Sing heigh-ho, and heigh-ho! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/andromeda and other poems/sing heigh-ho.htm

How Theodore visited all Places; How the Churches of the English ...
... to be instructed in the study of holy Scripture, and in the catholic truth, and
how Putta was made bishop of the Church of Rochester in the roam of Damianus. ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap ii how theodore visited.htm

The Christians' Call to the Gypies. --Isa. xviii. 7
... Strangers and pilgrims everywhere,. In exile through the world we roam,. ... Strangers,
we hail you to the west,. Nameless no more, nor hopeless roam,. ...
/.../montgomery/sacred poems and hymns/hymn ccxlii the christians call.htm

The Sovereignty of God in Creation
... See the birds as they fly through the air, the beasts as they roam the earth, the
fishes as they swim in the sea, and then ask, Who was it that made them to ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter two the sovereignty of.htm

The Antitype of the Christian Home.
... home to our Father's house: To our Father's house in the skies, Where the hope of
our souls shall have no blight, Our love no broken ties; We shall roam on the ...
/.../philips/the christian home/chapter xxviii the antitype of.htm

The Brethren at Home.
... He was to bring his children up in the Christian faith. He was not to allow them
to roam at pleasure, or play with the wicked children of the world. ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter vii the brethren at.htm

The Absolute Godhood of God is Seen in Creation
... His own will? Did He not decide that birds should fly in the air, beasts
roam the earth, and fishes live in the sea? Did He not ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the godhood of god/1 the absolute godhood of.htm

Other Things, Hindrances Equally of the Soul, May have Accompanied ...
... In spirit, then, roam abroad; in spirit walk about, not setting before you shady
paths or long colonnades, but the way which leads to God. ...
/.../tertullian/ad martyras/chapter ii other things hindrances.htm

Genesis.
... Of quadrupeds; and mandate gave that all. Should grow with multiplying seed,
and roam. 30 And feed in earth's immensity. All these. ...
/.../unknown/fathers of the third century tertullian appendix/3 genesis.htm

Thesaurus
Roam (7 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To range or wander over. 3. (n.) The act of roaming; a wandering; a ramble;
as, he began his roam o'er hill and dale. ...Roam (7 Occurrences). ...
/r/roam.htm - 8k

Range (9 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) To be native to, or to live in; to frequent. 8. (vi) To rove at
large; to wander without restraint or direction; to roam. ...
/r/range.htm - 13k

Roadway (2 Occurrences)

/r/roadway.htm - 7k

Roamed (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Roam. Multi-Version Concordance
Roamed (2 Occurrences). 1 Samuel 30:31 and to those who ...
/r/roamed.htm - 7k

Err (41 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To wander; to roam; to stray. 2. (vi) To
deviate from the true course; to miss the thing aimed at. ...
/e/err.htm - 22k

Desert (322 Occurrences)
... is used also to denote the wilderness of Arabia, which in winter and early spring
supplies good pasturage to the flocks of the nomad tribes than roam over it ...
/d/desert.htm - 46k

Midian (60 Occurrences)
... Such tribes often roam through wide circles. They appear not to have practiced
circumcision (Exodus 4:25), which is now practically universal among the Arabs. ...
/m/midian.htm - 32k

Midianites (30 Occurrences)
... Such tribes often roam through wide circles. They appear not to have practiced
circumcision (Exodus 4:25), which is now practically universal among the Arabs. ...
/m/midianites.htm - 21k

Beast (243 Occurrences)
... required that beasts of labour should have rest on the Sabbath (Exodus 20:10;
23:12), and in the Sabbatical year all cattle were allowed to roam about freely ...
/b/beast.htm - 50k

Space (98 Occurrences)
... books. 9. (n.) One of the intervals, or open places, between the lines of
the staff. 10. (n.) To walk; to rove; to roam. 11. (n.) To ...
/s/space.htm - 37k

Resources
Who is Satan in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is the importance of Patmos in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about demons? | GotQuestions.org

Roam: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Roam (7 Occurrences)

Judges 11:37
She said to her father, "Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may depart and go down on the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my companions."
(See NIV)

Psalms 59:15
They shall wander up and down for food, and wait all night if they aren't satisfied.
(See RSV)

Isaiah 8:21
And he will go through the land in bitter trouble and in need of food; and when he is unable to get food, he will become angry, cursing his king and his God, and his eyes will be turned to heaven on high;
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 2:31
O generation, see ye the word of Jehovah. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? or a land of thick darkness? wherefore say my people, We are broken loose; we will come no more unto thee?
(See JPS NAS NIV)

Jeremiah 5:1
Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that doeth justly, that seeketh truth; and I will pardon her.
(See NAS)

Jeremiah 5:8
They were as fed horses roaming at large; everyone neighed after his neighbor's wife.
(Root in WEB ASV DBY)

Jeremiah 50:6
My people have been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray; they have turned them away on the mountains; they have gone from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting place.
(See NIV)

Subtopics

Roam

Related Terms

Roam (7 Occurrences)

Roaming (5 Occurrences)

Roadway
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