אָמוֹן (a.mon)
a.mon
artisan
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun amon describes a highly skilled artisan or master craftsman, someone whose work is characterized by firmness and precision. In the Hebrew Bible, this term does not refer to a casual laborer but to an expert who builds with stability and surety. Its usage highlights the dignity of skilled trade, portraying the worker as a reliable creator whose output stands firm.
This word appears in two distinct contexts that illustrate its range. In Proverbs 8:30, Wisdom is personified as amon beside God during creation, suggesting a role akin to an architect or master builder who brings order and structure to the world. Later, Jeremiah 52:15 uses the term for Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, in the context of burning the temple’s pillars and framework, linking the word to the destruction of significant architectural works.
The theological weight of amon lies in its association with deliberate design and structural integrity. By applying this title to Wisdom, the text elevates divine insight to the level of skilled craftsmanship, implying that creation was not chaotic but carefully engineered. Translators often render it as "master workman" or "architect" to capture this sense of specialized expertise and foundational importance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word amon describes a master artisan whose work is defined by precision and structural integrity. In Proverbs 8:30, Wisdom is portrayed as this skilled craftsman beside God during creation. This image suggests that the universe was not built by chance but with deliberate design and careful engineering. It reminds us that our own lives can be shaped with similar intentionality.
When you consider how much care went into forming the world, it offers comfort in your daily tasks. Whether you are building something physical or nurturing relationships, your work has dignity when done with skill and faithfulness. God values the steady hands that bring order to chaos.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ craftsman1×
- an artisan1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הָֽ/אָמ֑וֹן1×
- אָ֫מ֥וֹן1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 8:30
then I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,
This verse personifies Wisdom as a master craftsman, linking divine insight with the precision of skilled architecture.