אֲמָנָה (a.ma.nah)
a.ma.nah
Amana
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The proper noun Amanah refers to a river and its surrounding mountainous region in ancient Syria. It appears alongside the Abana River as one of the two waterways flowing from the Anti-Lebanon range into the plain of Damascus. In 2 Kings 5:12, Naaman the Syrian compares these local streams to the rivers of Israel, highlighting their significance to his identity and healing expectations.
The name likely derives from a root meaning "support" or "firmness," perhaps describing the sturdy mountains that serve as the river’s source. This geographical feature is also invoked poetically in Song of Solomon 4:8, where the beloved is described as coming from Lebanon, from the peaks of Amanah. The word anchors these biblical scenes in a specific, tangible landscape known for its clear, flowing waters.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word Amanah points to a specific place in the ancient world, a river and mountain region known for its clear waters and sturdy peaks. When Naaman stood by these streams, he was looking at the source of his identity and his hopes for healing. It reminds us that our surroundings often shape how we see our own worth and possibilities.
Yet the Bible uses this real landscape to point toward something greater. In Song of Solomon, the mountains of Amanah become part of a poetic invitation to intimacy and beauty. This shows that God cares about the physical world He made, using its tangible features to speak of spiritual truths and deep relationships.
We can find comfort in knowing that our faith is grounded in reality, not just abstract ideas. The same Creator who formed these mountains also knows our hearts. We are invited to look beyond our immediate circumstances and trust in the One who holds all places and people together with care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [are] Amana1×
- Amana1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אֲמָנָ֨ה1×
- אֲמָנָ֗ה1×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 5:12
Aren’t Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.
Naaman cites Amanah alongside Abanah to argue that his local waters are superior to Israel's, revealing how geography influenced his pride and expectations for healing.
-
Song of Solomon 4:8
Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, with me from Lebanon. Look from the top of Amana, from the top of Senir and Hermon, from the lions’ dens, from the mountains of the leopards.
The beloved is invited to come from the top of Amanah, using this majestic peak as a symbol of beauty and safety in a romantic context.