אֲמִתַּי (a.mit.tay)
a.mit.tay
Amittai
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
Amittai is a personal name appearing only twice in the Hebrew Bible, identifying him as the father of the prophet Jonah (2 Kings 14:25; Jonah 1:1). The name derives from the root emet, meaning "truth" or "faithfulness," and translates to "my truth." In ancient Israelite naming conventions, such names often expressed a family’s devotion to God’s character, suggesting that Jonah was known as the son of this faithful lineage.
Though Amittai himself is not a narrative figure, his mention anchors Jonah in historical reality. 2 Kings records him as the son of Amitai from Gath-hepher, linking the prophet to King Jeroboam II’s reign. This brief reference confirms that Jonah was a real historical person during the Divided Monarchy, rather than a literary invention. The name’s emphasis on truth stands in quiet contrast to Jonah’s initial flight, highlighting the tension between his father’s legacy and his own actions.
Translators consistently render Amittai as "my truth," preserving the theological weight of the root. While the text offers no further details about his life, the name serves as a reminder that prophetic ministry emerged from specific families and communities. The brevity of the reference underscores how God uses ordinary names to anchor extraordinary stories in history.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Amittai means "my truth." It appears only twice in Scripture, identifying Jonah as the son of this man. In a culture where names often reflected character or hope, this title suggests a family rooted in faithfulness. Though we know little of Amittai’s daily life, his name anchors Jonah’s story in real history.
Jonah’s later reluctance to preach to Nineveh contrasts sharply with the meaning of his father’s name. Yet God’s call did not depend on perfect lineage. The word came to Jonah anyway. This reminds us that God uses imperfect people and ordinary backgrounds to carry His message. Truth is not just a label; it is the foundation of God’s promises.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Amittai2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אֲמִתַּי֙1×
- אֲמִתַּ֖י1×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 14:25
He restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath to the sea of the Arabah, according to Yahweh, the God of Israel’s word, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath Hepher.
This verse confirms Jonah’s historical identity as the son of Amittai, linking his prophetic ministry to a specific time and place during King Jeroboam II’s reign.
-
Jonah 1:1
Now Yahweh’s word came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
The opening of Jonah’s book identifies him by his father’s name, establishing the divine origin of the call before the narrative begins.