אׇמְנָה
𐤀𐤌𐤍𐤄
ʼomnâh
H545 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A state or condition of being brought up, rearing, or nurture, especially within a household. Denotes tutelage in the sense of being raised, fostered, or cared for, usually within a familial or domestic context, particularly by a caretaker or nurse. The term highlights the ongoing process and environment of upbringing, rather than the specific act of instruction or education.
Semantic Range
nurture, rearing, upbringing, fostering, tutelage, being brought up, state of being nursed or cared for
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root אָמַן (אמן), 'to support, confirm, be faithful, nourish.' The corresponding noun אׇמְנָה is a feminine form, which focuses on the state or process rather than the agent (as in אֹמֵן for 'foster-father, guardian'). The root meaning centers on firmness and reliability, and in this form it comes to designate the stable environment or care associated with upbringing.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, אׇמְנָה appears rarely and typically in narratives describing royal or noble households where children are brought up by a designated caregiver, often a woman serving as a nurse, wet-nurse, or foster-mother. The concept emphasizes the reliability, faithfulness, and nurturing aspects of upbringing. Notably, the word is distinct from more direct terms for education or instruction, focusing instead on the caregiving and supportive aspects of a child's early years or development. English translations rendering this as 'nurture' or 'upbringing' may capture the sense, but terms like 'tutelage' (suggested by Strong) can risk misleading modern readers by implying formal schooling or intellectual training, whereas the Hebrew term is broader and relational. Later translations and traditions (especially KJV) may stress 'brought up' or 'nursed,' but in the social and familial structures of ancient Israel, such roles could include both physical care and formative presence. The related masculine noun (אֹמֵן) is more often used for male caregivers or trustworthy servants entrusted with rearing a child.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of אֹמֶן (in the specific sense of training); tutelage; brought up.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
אמן (Heyman) — to support, confirm, be faithful, trust
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1968 | הֵימָן | Heman |
| H525 | אָמוֹן | Ammon (Kin-People) |
| H529 | אֵמוּן | steadfast trustworthiness |
| H530 | אֱמוּנָה | in steadfastness |
| H532 | אָמִי | my people |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H545-01 |
בְ/אָמְנָ֖ה | veamenah | HR/Ncfsa |
in trust | upbringing | upbringing | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H545-01 |
Esther 2:20 | בְ/אָמְנָ֖ה | veamenah | HR/Ncfsa |
in trust | upbringing | upbringing |