אַרְמוֹן (ar.mon)
ar.mon
citadel: palace
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 27 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun armon refers to a high, fortified structure, typically translated as palace or citadel. Its meaning derives from an unused root suggesting elevation, pointing to a building that is both physically lofty and strategically strong. In the Hebrew Bible, it denotes the innermost, most secure part of a royal complex, serving as a residence for kings and a defensive stronghold.
This word appears frequently in prophetic literature, particularly in Amos and Jeremiah, where it often stands as a symbol of earthly power. The sources note its use in descriptions of royal cities, such as the "citadel of the palace" mentioned in 2 Kings 15:25. Prophets like Amos use armon to illustrate the vulnerability of human pride, describing how these towering structures will fall into ruin when divine judgment arrives (Amos 1:4; 3:10).
While some modern interpretations have speculated that armon might refer specifically to women’s quarters, the lexicons reject this as unsupported. The consistent biblical usage emphasizes height and strength rather than gendered spaces. Translators usually render it as palace or castle, capturing its dual nature as a seat of authority and a fortress designed to withstand attack.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word armon describes a high, fortified structure, often translated as palace or citadel. In ancient Israel, these were not just royal residences but strategic strongholds designed to withstand attack. They represented the height of human power, security, and authority, standing as symbols of earthly dominance.
Yet the biblical narrative consistently reminds us that such structures are vulnerable. Prophets like Amos and Jeremiah use armon to illustrate how divine judgment can reduce even the most secure fortresses to ruins. When we place our trust in physical safety or political power, we risk building on shifting ground.
This word invites us to examine where we seek our security. While palaces offer protection from enemies, they cannot protect against the sovereignty of God. True peace is found not in fortified walls, but in a relationship with the Creator who holds all power in His hands.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 27 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] fortresses of6×
- fortresses/ its5×
- palaces/ its4×
- [the] fortresses2×
- in/ fortresses/ your1×
- in/ fortresses/ their1×
- in/ [the] fortress of1×
- fortresses/ your1×
- fortresses/ his1×
- and/ fortresses/ his1×
- and/ a fortress1×
- a fortress of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אַרְמְנ֥וֹת5×
- אַרְמְנוֹתֶ֔י/הָ2×
- אַרְמְנוֹתֶ֑י/הָ2×
- אַרְמְנ֣וֹת2×
- אַרְמ֣וֹן2×
- וְ/אַרְמְנֹתָ֖י/ו1×
- וְ/אַרְמ֖וֹן1×
- בְּ/אַרְמְנוֹתָֽיִ/ךְ\׃1×
- בְּ/אַרְמְנֽוֹתֵי/הֶֽם\׃\ \פ1×
- בְּ/אַרְמ֤וֹן1×
- אַרְמֽוֹן\׃1×
- אַרְמְנוֹתָֽיִ/ךְ\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Amos 1:4
but I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, and it will devour the palaces of Ben Hadad.
This verse uses armon to show that even the seat of foreign kings is subject to God's judgment, highlighting the vulnerability of earthly power.
-
Psalms 122:7
Peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.
Here the psalmist prays for peace within these strongholds, acknowledging their role as centers of stability and prosperity in Jerusalem.
-
Isaiah 34:13
Thorns will come up in its palaces, nettles and thistles in its fortresses; and it will be a habitation of jackals, a court for ostriches.
The imagery of thorns growing in the armon depicts total abandonment, showing how quickly human achievement can become a wasteland when God withdraws His presence.
-
Amos 3:10
“Indeed they don’t know to do right,” says Yahweh, “Who hoard plunder and loot in their palaces.”
This occurrence links the palace directly to injustice, revealing that hoarding wealth in secure places does not shield one from moral accountability.