אָמוֹן (a.mon)
a.mon
Amon
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 17 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Amon, derived from the Hebrew root meaning "skilled workman" or "master craftsman," appears in Scripture as a proper noun for several distinct individuals during the Divided Monarchy and post-exilic periods. Most notably, it identifies the king of Judah who succeeded his father Manasseh. This royal Amon is recorded in 2 Kings 21:18–26 and 2 Chronicles 33:21–25, where he is described as ruling for only two years before being assassinated by his officials.
While the biblical narrative focuses on this king’s brief and violent reign, the name itself carries a different connotation. The gloss suggests mastery or craftsmanship, yet the text highlights Amon’s continuation of his father’s idolatrous practices rather than any artistic or administrative skill. This contrast between the meaning of the name and the historical record creates a stark image of leadership that failed to align with its own title.
Beyond the king, the name appears in genealogical lists for other figures. Ezra 2:57 mentions an Amon among the descendants of Solomon’s servants who returned from exile, and Nehemiah 7:59 references a governor named Amon in Samaria. These occurrences show that while the royal line ended abruptly, the name persisted within the community, linking later generations to the complex history of Judah’s monarchy.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Amon appears in Scripture primarily as a historical marker for the son of Manasseh and father of Josiah. While the etymology suggests a skilled craftsman, the biblical record presents a king who continued his father's idolatry without seeking repentance. His brief two-year reign ended in violence, yet it set the stage for the reforms that would follow under his son.
For the modern reader, this name serves as a reminder of how leadership choices ripple through generations. Amon’s failure to humble himself contrasts sharply with Josiah’s zeal for God. The text does not glorify Amon but records him honestly, showing that even in times of spiritual decline, God preserves a lineage through which His promises will eventually be fulfilled.
When we encounter names like Amon in genealogies or historical accounts, we are reminded that God’s plan moves forward despite human failure. The persistence of the name from the royal court to post-exilic lists shows that no era is beyond God’s sovereign oversight. We can find comfort in knowing that our own lives, and even our failures, are held within a larger narrative of redemption.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 17 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Amon17×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אָמ֖וֹן6×
- אָמ֥וֹן3×
- אָמ֣וֹן3×
- אָמ֑וֹן2×
- אָמוֹן֩1×
- אָמֽוֹן\׃1×
- אָמֹ֣ן1×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 21:23
The servants of Amon conspired against him, and put the king to death in his own house.
This verse highlights the critical distinction between Amon and his father Manasseh, noting that Amon did not humble himself before Yahweh, thereby deepening the nation's spiritual crisis.
-
II Chronicles 33:22
He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, as did Manasseh his father; and Amon sacrificed to all the engraved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them.
Here the text explicitly states that Amon sacrificed to the engraved images his father had made, showing a direct continuation of idolatrous practice rather than reform.
-
Jeremiah 1:2
Yahweh’s word came to him in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.
This reference identifies Josiah as the son of Amon, linking the prophetic ministry directly to the royal lineage and setting the historical context for Jeremiah's calls to repentance.
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II Kings 21:24
But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place.
This occurrence describes the people of the land killing the conspirators who assassinated Amon, an act that paved the way for Josiah’s peaceful accession and subsequent reforms.