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אָמוֹן

𐤀𐤌𐤅𐤍

Amon

H526 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אָמַן to be firm, to be trustworthy, to be faithful

Definition

Amon (ʼÂmôn), a proper name referring to (1) a king of Judah (second son of Manasseh, reigned ca. late 7th century BCE), (2) a royal official during the reign of King Josiah, and (3) an Israelite mentioned among the descendants of Shimon. As a name, its lexical meaning is uncertain, though possibly related to concepts of trustworthiness or faithfulness if connected to the root אָמַן. The word does not denote a title, attribute, or common noun, but functions strictly as a personal name in all biblical occurrences.

Semantic Range

proper name (of individuals: king of Judah, royal official, member of Israelite clan); not used with a general lexical meaning; possible theophoric association (if Egyptian origin considered)

Root / Etymology

Root: אָמַן (ʼmn), meaning 'to be firm, reliable, faithful.' However, the precise connection of the name אָמוֹן to this root is uncertain, and some propose an Egyptian derivation related to the theonym 'Amun.' Thus, the etymology is uncertain: may derive from the Hebrew root אָמַן, or possibly from the Egyptian deity Amun.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Across the Hebrew Bible, אָמוֹן is used as a personal name for three individuals: (1) most notably, the Judahite king (2 Kings 21:18-26; 2 Chronicles 33:20-25), son of Manasseh and father of Josiah, whose reign was marked by continuity with his father's policies and a brief, ill-fated rule ended by assassination; (2) a royal official in the time of Josiah (1 Kings 22:26; 2 Chronicles 18:25); (3) a lesser-known figure among the descendants of Shimon (Nehemiah 7:59). The name appears only as a proper noun, not as a common word. Its occurrence in monarchic and post-exilic texts indicates its persistence as a personal name across major historical periods. In later traditions and translations, the king of Judah named אָמוֹן is sometimes rendered 'Amon' or, erroneously in some English texts, conflated with the Egyptian god Amun. The etymological connection to Egyptian or Hebrew roots is debated in modern scholarship; the presence of related theophoric names in contemporary cultures makes an Egyptian association plausible for the royal name, while the connection to the Hebrew root is plausible for the Israelite individuals. English translations generally leave the name transliterated ('Amon'), but context makes clear when an Israelite/Judahite is intended, as opposed to later uses of similar-sounding words for foreign deities.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

the same as אָמוֹן; Amon, the name of three Israelites; Amon.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עם (ʿ-m) — people, kin, clan, nation

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H517 אֵם with her
H525 אָמוֹן Ammon (Kin-People)
H528 אָמוֹן Ammon (Kin-People)
H5972 עַם the gathered people
H5973 עִם from with you

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H526-01 אָמֹ֣ן amon HNp Amon Ammon 17

Occurrences in Scripture

17 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H526-01 1 Kings 22:26 אָמֹ֣ן amon HNp Amon Ammon
H526-01 2 Kings 21:18 אָמ֥וֹן amon HNp Amon Ammon
H526-01 2 Kings 21:19 אָמ֣וֹן amon HNp Amon Ammon
H526-01 2 Kings 21:23 אָמ֖וֹן amon HNp Amon Ammon
H526-01 2 Kings 21:24 אָמ֑וֹן amon HNp Amon Ammon
H526-01 2 Kings 21:25 אָמ֖וֹן amon HNp of Amon Ammon
H526-01 Jeremiah 1:2 אָמ֖וֹן amon HNp Amon Ammon
H526-01 Jeremiah 25:3 אָמוֹן֩ amon HNp of Amon Ammon
H526-01 Zephaniah 1:1 אָמ֖וֹן amon HNp Amon Ammon
H526-01 Nehemiah 7:59 אָמֽוֹן amon HNp Amon Ammon
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