עָמוֹק
𐤏𐤌𐤅𐤒
Amoq
H5987 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name designating an Israelite individual listed among those who returned from the Babylonian exile; the primary use is as a personal name, with the root connoting 'depth' but not carrying explicit semantic content beyond identification as a name in this context.
Semantic Range
personal name (Amok); related to 'deep' in root meaning but not in contextual use as a name
Root / Etymology
The term derives from the root עָמַק (ʿ-m-q), which primarily means 'to be deep' or 'to be profound.' עָמוֹק (ʿâmôq) is the adjective form meaning 'deep.' However, as a personal name, its usage is nominal rather than descriptive. The root is clearly attested within Biblical Hebrew, and the derivation here is direct from the root to the name form.
Historical & Contextual Notes
עָמוֹק occurs as the proper name Amok, notably appearing in Nehemiah 12:7, among priests listed as returnees from Babylonian exile. The meaning of the name is likely derived from the adjective 'deep,' potentially implying a metaphorical sense such as 'profound' or 'mysterious,' but in its textual context it functions solely as a personal name. There is no evidence in the text that the name acted as an epithet or descriptive term. The presence of the name only in post-exilic lists highlights its association with the second temple period priesthood. English Bible translations typically transliterate it as 'Amok,' and it should not be confused with the adjective עָמוֹק ('deep'), which has a broader semantic range in non-nominal contexts. The rendering 'Amok, an Israelite' in some translations arises from his inclusion in priestly genealogies, not from inherent meaning in the term itself.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עָמַק; deep; Amok, an Israelite; Amok.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עמק (ʿ-m-q) — to be deep, become deep, go deep
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4615 | מַעֲמָק | in depths of |
| H5994 | עֲמִיק | the deep things |
| H6009 | עָמַק | they became deep |
| H6010 | עֵמֶק | your deep valleys |
| H6011 | עֹמֶק | to depth |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5987-01 |
עָמ֔וֹק | amoq | HNp |
Amok | deep | 1 |
H5987-02 |
לְ/עָמ֥וֹק | leamoq | HR/Np |
of Amok | to Amok | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5987-01 |
Nehemiah 12:7 | עָמ֔וֹק | amoq | HNp |
Amok | deep |
H5987-02 |
Nehemiah 12:20 | לְ/עָמ֥וֹק | leamoq | HR/Np |
of Amok | to Amok |