Aramaic Word of the Day - ܩܘܡ — qum - to rise, stand, take one’s place

Its root Q–W–M means to rise, to stand, to take one’s place. In Aramaic thought, qum is not only a physical movement. It signals inner alignment, a person positioning themselves in response to God’s call. Western thinking asks, “Do I understand enough to act?” Semitic thinking asks, “Am I willing to stand where God has called me?” Standing is the first act of faith.

You hear this clearly in Yeshua’s words to the paralyzed man in Mark 2:11:

“I say to you, arise (qum), take up your mat, and go home.”

Yeshua’s words to the paralyzed man are layered with meaning that goes far beyond physical movement. When He says “qum”—rise, stand—He is not only instructing the physical muscles to respond; He is calling the man back into his rightful place in the world. In Semitic culture, to be lying down in public was not only a medical condition, it was a social statement.

The man’s posture declared exclusion, dependence, and loss of agency. By commanding him to stand, Yeshua is reversing years of silent shame. Standing upright meant visibility, dignity, and restored personhood. Before the man walks anywhere, he must first stand as someone whole.

In the Aramaic worldview, healing always begins with identity, not explanation. Yeshua does not debate causes, timelines, or methods. He does not offer theological commentary to the crowd. Instead, He speaks a single, embodied command that invites the man to participate in his own restoration. In Semitic thought, obedience is not a response to understanding; it is a pathway toward it.

When the man rises, he is not proving faith with certainty, he is stepping into trust without guarantees. His obedience creates space for God’s power to be revealed.

The instruction to “take up your mat” is equally significant in this cultural setting. The mat was the visible symbol of his former condition, the object that identified him as dependent and immobile. In Middle Eastern logic, you do not discard such symbols casually; you redeem them.

By carrying the mat, the man publicly declares that what once carried him no longer defines him. He does not leave his past behind in shame; he carries it transformed. The mat becomes evidence, not of weakness, but of God’s restoring authority.

Finally, when Yeshua says, “go home,” He completes the restoration cycle. Home in Semitic culture is not just a private space; it is the center of belonging, honor, and relational identity. To return home standing, carrying the mat, was to re-enter community not as a burden, but as a restored man. Yeshua’s command moves from posture (qum), to testimony (take up your mat), to reintegration (go home). In the Aramaic mindset, healing is never isolated, it is always relational, visible, and communal. Restoration begins when a person stands, but it is fulfilled when they are once again fully seen and received.

I remember standing with a group on the Mount of Olives just as the city of Jerusalem began to wake. I took them in purpose early morning to observe Jerusalem's sunrise. The light was still soft, the streets below not yet crowded, and for a moment everything felt unresolved, unfinished, waiting. Someone from the group asked, “What happens next in this place?” I smiled and said, “Before anything happens, you must learn how to stand.” In the Middle East, movement does not begin with explanation; it begins with posture. You rise first, and understanding follows later. This is why you are here to first stand and observe in obedience, in order for restoration to take place in our identity. Something happens to you when you stand still looking at Jerusalem in silence.

This is where Western and Eastern approaches to faith often separate. In the Western mindset, action is usually preceded by clarity. We want full information, certainty, and a plan before we move. Standing without answers feels irresponsible. But in the ancient Semitic world, obedience often came before understanding. To stand up was a declaration of readiness and trust. You did not wait to feel confident; you stood because God had spoken. Readiness mattered more than reassurance.

Let this speak into your life today. If you are waiting for perfect clarity before moving forward, waiting to feel ready, certain, or strong, you may be delaying the very formation God is inviting. In a Semitic worldview, faith begins when you stand up in response to God’s word, even if your understanding is incomplete. Standing creates space for transformation. Movement follows posture.

So rise. Take your place. Stand where God has called you, even if the path ahead is still unfolding. In God’s economy, qum always comes before the journey begins.

Andre Moubarak