אָמוֹן

Amon (i.e. Ammon or Amn), a deity of Egypt

Definition

אָמוֹן (ʼÂmôwn) refers to the Egyptian deity Amun, often called 'Amon' or 'Ammon' in English translations. In the Hebrew Bible, it appears only in Jeremiah 46:25, where God declares judgment against the gods of Egypt, specifically naming 'Amon of Thebes.' This singular usage identifies Amon as a chief god of the Egyptian pantheon, associated with the city of Thebes (modern Luxor) and often depicted as a king of the gods. The word is used not as a common noun but exclusively as a proper name for this foreign deity.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Jeremiah 46:25. It is used in a prophetic oracle of judgment against Egypt, where Yahweh announces punishment on Egypt's gods, with Amon as a primary representative. The context is exclusively polemical, contrasting the power of the Lord with the impotence of Egypt's national deity.

Etymology

The word is a direct borrowing from Egyptian, representing the name of the god 'Imn' (often vocalized as Amun or Amen). It entered Biblical Hebrew solely as a proper noun. In the provided entry, the note that it is 'used only as an adjunct of H4996 (נֹא)' seems to be an error, as נֹא (Nōʼ) is a separate Egyptian city name (Thebes); in Jeremiah 46:25, 'Amon' is in apposition to 'of Thebes' (מִנֹּא, mi-Nōʼ), identifying which specific local manifestation of the god is meant.

Semantic Range

The mention of Amon serves a crucial theological purpose in the prophetic literature. Its solitary appearance in Jeremiah underscores the biblical theme of Yahweh's supremacy over all so-called gods of the nations (cf. Exodus 12:12). By naming a specific, powerful Egyptian deity, the text demonstrates that God's judgment is comprehensive and targets the spiritual foundations of pagan empires. It reinforces the identity of the Lord as the only true God, before whom all idols are powerless.

In its original Egyptian context, Amun (later Amun-Ra) was one of the most important deities, the king of the gods and a patron of pharaonic power, especially during the New Kingdom period when Thebes was the capital. He was associated with creation, air, and hidden power. For the Israelite audience of Jeremiah, 'Amon of Thebes' would have symbolized the peak of Egyptian imperial religion and pride. The prophecy deliberately targets this symbol of national strength to show its ultimate futility before Yahweh.

There are no direct Hebrew synonyms for this proper name of a foreign deity. Other words for 'god' (אֱלֹהִים, ʼĕlōhîm, H430) or 'idol' (אֱלִיל, ʼĕlîyl, H457) are generic categories, not specific names.

Word Details