Ἀμώς (Amōs)
Amōs
Amos
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The name Amōs appears twice in the New Testament genealogies, referring to two distinct figures from Israel’s history. In Matthew 1:10, it identifies the king who was the father of Josiah and the son of Manasseh. This Amos is remembered for his wicked reign, which stands in stark contrast to the righteous lineage that follows.
Luke 3:25 uses the same spelling for a different ancestor, tracing Jesus’ line back through Nathan rather than Solomon. Although the Greek form is identical, these are separate individuals separated by centuries. The name itself derives from the Hebrew word for "burden," reflecting its original use as a common noun before becoming a personal name.
Translators consistently render this indeclinable Greek noun as "Amos" in English Bibles. Its presence in both genealogies highlights the historical continuity of Jesus’ ancestry, connecting Him to kings and ordinary men alike without distinguishing between the two bearers of the name beyond their respective family lines.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Amos appears in the New Testament genealogies of both Matthew and Luke. In Matthew’s record, it identifies King Amon, a ruler whose reign was marked by wickedness and who stood between the righteous Hezekiah and the godly Josiah. His inclusion reminds us that Jesus’ ancestry includes flawed individuals, showing that God’s plan unfolds through real human history with all its imperfections.
Luke’s genealogy also lists an Amos, but as a descendant of Nathan rather than Solomon. This separate individual highlights how Jesus traces His lineage through multiple branches of Israel’s family tree. The name itself means "burden," yet here it carries the weight of faithful continuity. God weaves these names into a tapestry of redemption, proving that no generation is beyond His reach.
Whether in times of spiritual decline or faithfulness, Jesus’ ancestry demonstrates God’s commitment to His people. You can find hope knowing that your own story is held within His larger narrative of grace and restoration.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of Amos1×
- Amos;1×
- Amos1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Ἀμὼς2×
- Ἀμώς·1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 1:10
Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh. Manasseh became the father of Amon. Amon became the father of Josiah.
This verse identifies King Amon as the father of Josiah, highlighting a period of spiritual decline in Judah’s history that precedes a righteous king.
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Luke 3:25
the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,
Here Amos is listed as an ancestor in Nathan’s line, showing how Jesus’ human ancestry connects to David through a different son than the royal line in Matthew.