Who was Amoz in the Bible?

Amoz was the father of the prophet Isaiah, one of the major prophets in the Old Testament. He is mentioned only in relation to his famous son, as in Isaiah 1:1 and 2 Kings 19:2, 20, which introduce Isaiah as 'the son of Amoz.'

Why is Amoz significant in the Bible?

Amoz's significance comes entirely from his role as the father of the prophet Isaiah, whose writings are foundational to both Jewish and Christian theology. While nothing is recorded of his own life, his lineage provided the context for Isaiah's prophetic ministry and authority.

Was Amoz a prophet like his son Isaiah?

The Bible does not state that Amoz was a prophet; he is only identified as Isaiah's father. Some Jewish tradition suggests he might have been a prophet, but the biblical text itself gives no details about his occupation or any prophetic calling.

Amoz

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleProphetFather

Amoz, the father of the prophet Isaiah.

Amoz

Biography

Amoz was the father of the prophet Isaiah, identified by that relationship alone in every reference to his son throughout the book of Isaiah and in the historical accounts of 2 Kings 19-20 and 2 Chronicles 26. He lived during the Divided Monarchy period, in the mid-eighth century BC. Ancient rabbinic tradition, recorded in the Talmud, speculated that Amoz was himself a prophet, and some traditions even suggested he was a brother of King Amaziah of Judah, which would make Isaiah of royal blood, though Scripture does not confirm this. His name in Hebrew means "strong" or "courageous." Whatever his background, Amoz raised a son who became one of Scripture's most eloquent and theologically profound voices.

Significance

Amoz occupies an indirect but important place in biblical history as the father who shaped Isaiah's early formation. The consistent identification of Isaiah as "the son of Amoz" was a standard way of establishing prophetic credentials and distinguishing this Isaiah from others bearing the same name. This naming convention suggests Amoz was a man of recognized standing in Judean society. Theologically, Amoz reminds readers that God often prepares his most significant messengers through the hidden influence of parents and households. The faithfulness of an unknown father can be the soil in which transformative prophetic ministry takes root, shaping voices that echo across millennia.

Verse Appearances (13)

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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