אֲמָנָה
𐤀𐤌𐤍𐤄
ʼămânâh
H548 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A fixed portion, allowance, or designated share; also a binding agreement or covenant. The term denotes something established by firm agreement or apportionment, especially a portion allotted by decree or contract (such as a fixed wage, support, or maintenance).
Semantic Range
fixed portion, set allowance, appointed share, sure agreement, established allotment, firm covenant
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root אָמֵן (אָמַן), meaning 'to be firm, reliable, established, trustworthy.' The noun is a feminine form (אֲמָנָה) denoting something established, with an emphasis on reliability or fixedness derived from the base concept of firmness or trustworthiness.
Historical & Contextual Notes
אֲמָנָה is attested in post-exilic usage (notably Nehemiah 11:23) in the sense of a fixed allowance or prescribed portion, such as provisions appointed for the singers in the Second Temple period. While related etymologically to אָמֵן ('to confirm, support'), its noun form here developed a concrete sense of a fixed, reliable apportionment, whereas the masculine אָמֵן more typically means 'faithful' or 'true.' English translations such as 'allowance,' 'appointment,' or 'portion' generally capture the primary sense in post-exilic contexts, but the word can bear the extended sense of a firm agreement or covenant in some usage. The term does not carry the broad sense of 'covenant' like בְּרִית, which refers more specifically to solemn, binding pacts often with a religious dimension. אֲמָנָה denotes a more administrative or practical fixedness—provisions set by reliable decree rather than a theological or legal treaty. Occurrences are limited and predominantly later, and the sense of 'covenant' is secondary and context-dependent. The phrasing 'Jew' or 'Jewish portion' sometimes found in older translations is anachronistic for the period in Nehemiah; more accurate is 'Israelite' or 'inhabitant of Yehud.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of אָמֵן; something fixed, i.e. a covenant. an allowance; certain portion, sure.
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
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H548-01 |
אֲמָנָ֖ה | amanah | HNcfsa |
covenant | fixed allotment | covenant | 1 |
H548-02 |
וַ/אֲמָנָ֥ה | vaamanah | HC/Ncfsa |
and a fixed provision | established allotment | and a fixed portion | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H548-01 |
Nehemiah 10:1 | אֲמָנָ֖ה | amanah | HNcfsa |
covenant | fixed allotment | covenant |
H548-02 |
Nehemiah 11:23 | וַ/אֲמָנָ֥ה | vaamanah | HC/Ncfsa |
and a fixed provision | established allotment | and a fixed portion |