עַמּוֹנִי (am.mo.ni)
am.mo.ni
Meunite
N:N--PGQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 18 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--PG
Word Overview
The Hebrew word ‘ammōnî identifies a person from Ammon, an eastern neighbor of Israel located across the Jordan River. The term functions as a gentilic adjective, distinguishing inhabitants of that region by their geographic and ethnic origin. It appears most frequently in historical narratives within Chronicles, Kings, and Nehemiah, where it serves to classify individuals or groups according to their national identity.
Lexical sources note a textual complexity regarding its usage. In some passages, particularly in 1 Chronicles 4:41, the term may refer to the Meunites, a distinct group sometimes linked with the Ammonites in ancient records. This suggests that while the primary meaning is "Ammonite," the word can occasionally carry a broader or overlapping ethnic designation depending on the specific biblical context.
The presence of this word highlights the complex social fabric of the post-exilic and monarchic periods. When Ezra and Nehemiah address intermarriage, they list the Ammonites alongside other neighboring peoples, marking them as distinct communities outside the covenant community of Israel. The term thus operates not just as a label of birth, but as a marker of religious and social separation in the biblical narrative.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The term for an Ammonite points to a specific people group living east of the Jordan River. In the biblical narrative, this label marks a clear boundary between Israel and its neighbors. These interactions often highlight the challenges of maintaining distinct faith practices when surrounded by different cultures and religious traditions.
For readers today, this word illustrates the importance of spiritual identity. It reminds us that community boundaries are not just about geography but about shared values and devotion. The history of these groups shows how external pressures can test internal unity.
Understanding this context helps us see why separation was emphasized in ancient texts. It reflects a desire to preserve a unique covenant relationship rather than simply isolating from others. This perspective invites reflection on how we maintain our own convictions while engaging with the wider world.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 18 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ Ammonite6×
- the/ Ammonite [woman]4×
- the/ Ammonites1×
- the/ Ammonite[s]1×
- some of/ the/ Ammonites1×
- and/ the/ Ammonites1×
- an Ammonite1×
- [the] Ammonites1×
- Ammonite [women]1×
- Ammonite1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עַמֹּנִֽים\׃1×
- עַמֹּנִ֧י1×
- עַמֳּנִיּוֹת֙1×
- עַמֳּנִיּ֖וֹת1×
- מֵֽ/הָ/עַמּוֹנִ֛ים1×
- וְ/הָֽ/עַמֹּנִ֔ים1×
- הָֽ/עַמּוֹנִ֛ים1×
- הָֽ/עַמּוֹנִ֗י1×
- הָֽ/עַמּוֹנִ֔ית1×
- הָֽ/עַמּוֹנִ֔י1×
- הָֽ/עַמֹּנִי֙1×
- הָֽ/עַמֹּנִֽית\׃1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 11:5
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
This verse links the Ammonites directly to the worship of Milcom, showing how ethnic identity was tied to specific pagan deities that influenced King Solomon's heart.
-
Nehemiah 13:1
On that day they read in the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and it was found written in it that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God forever,
Here the word reinforces a lasting exclusionary principle, citing Moses to explain why intermarriage with Ammonites was prohibited for the restored community.
-
II Chronicles 20:1
After this, the children of Moab, the children of Ammon, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
The text groups the Ammonites with Moabites and Meunites against Jehoshaphat, illustrating how these neighboring nations often formed military coalitions against Judah.
-
Nehemiah 13:23
In those days I also saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab;
Nehemiah observes Jewish men marrying women from Ammon, using this occurrence to highlight the ongoing struggle against cultural assimilation in the post-exilic period.