300. Amón
Lexical Summary
Amón: Amon

Original Word: Ἀμών
Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable
Transliteration: Amón
Pronunciation: ah-MONE
Phonetic Spelling: (am-one')
KJV: Amon
NASB: Amon
Word Origin: [of Hebrew origin (H526 (אָמוֹן - Amon))]

1. Amon, an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Amon.

Of Hebrew origin ('Amown); Amon, an Israelite -- Amon.

see HEBREW 'Amown

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of Hebrew origin Amon
Definition
Amon, a king of Judah
NASB Translation
Amon (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 300: Ἀμών

Ἀμών, , indeclinable, Amon (אָמון artificer (but cf. B. D.)), king of Judah, son of Manasseh, and father of Josiah: Matthew 1:10 (L T Tr WH Ἀμώς. Cf. B. D.).

Topical Lexicon
Name and Etymology

Amon (Greek Ἀμών; Hebrew אָמוֹן) means “faithful,” “trustworthy,” or “skilled craftsman.” In Scripture the name designates (1) a king of Judah, (2) a post-exilic family group, and (3) the chief deity of No-Amon (Thebes) in Egypt. Each usage reveals a different aspect of human and divine faithfulness—or its tragic absence.

Amon, King of Judah

2 Kings 21:19-26; 2 Chronicles 33:21-25
• Lineage and Reign: Son of Manasseh, grandson of Hezekiah, and father of Josiah. He ascended the throne at twenty-two and reigned only two years.
• Moral Character: “He did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh had done” (2 Kings 21:20). He revived the very idolatry his repentant father had forsaken.
• Rejection of Covenant Grace: “He did not humble himself before the LORD… but Amon multiplied his guilt” (2 Chronicles 33:23). Whereas Manasseh’s late repentance illustrates divine mercy, Amon’s obstinacy warns that grace spurned hardens the heart.
• Violent Death and Succession: Palace conspirators murdered him, but “the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Amon, and they made his son Josiah king in his place” (2 Kings 21:24). Thus God preserved the Davidic line despite Amon’s apostasy, highlighting providence over human intrigue.
• Legacy: His brief, unfaithful reign sets the stage for Josiah’s sweeping reforms. The stark contrast magnifies the transforming power of wholehearted devotion to the LORD and foreshadows the greater righteousness fulfilled in Christ, the perfect Son of David.

Returnees Called “Sons of Amon”

Ezra 2:57; Nehemiah 7:59

Among the families returning from Babylonian exile were “the descendants of Amon.” Their inclusion testifies to the LORD’s gathering of a remnant and His faithfulness to restore worship in Jerusalem. Although obscure, their presence affirms that every name matters in the redemptive narrative.

No Amon (Thebes) in Prophecy

Nahum 3:8; Jeremiah 46:25
• Geographic and Religious Center: No-Amon (Thebes) was Egypt’s royal city and the seat of the god Amon-Ra.
• Divine Judgment: “Are you better than Thebes (No Amon)…?” (Nahum 3:8). Assyria’s downfall would mirror Egypt’s earlier humiliation, proving that political might and false gods cannot thwart the LORD of Hosts.
• Polemic Against Idolatry: “I am about to punish Amon of Thebes, Pharaoh, Egypt with her gods and her kings” (Jeremiah 46:25). The prophet’s oracle underscores the LORD’s sovereignty over nations and idols alike.

Theological Threads

1. Covenant Fidelity vs. Apostasy: Amon’s reign illustrates how quickly idolatry can re-entrench when leaders disregard God’s word.
2. Generational Influence: The wickedness of a father (Amon) did not predetermine the piety of a son (Josiah). Grace can overrule heredity.
3. Preservation of the Messianic Line: Despite palace conspiracies and moral collapse, God kept David’s lineage intact, assuring the birth of the Messiah.
4. Universal Sovereignty: From Jerusalem’s throne room to Egypt’s temples, the LORD reigns; Amon the man and Amon the god both fall before Him.

Practical Lessons for Ministry

• Guard Against Relapse: Reforms without heart change are fragile. Ongoing discipleship and vigilance are required to prevent a return to sin.
• Cultivate Humility: Manasseh’s repentance was accepted; Amon’s pride was judged. Leadership must model contrition.
• Encourage Hope for the Next Generation: Even in spiritually dark households, God can raise Josiahs. Prayer and instruction remain vital.
• Proclaim the Supremacy of God: Like the prophets, believers today confront cultural idols by exalting the living God who topples every Amon of the age.

Summary

Amon’s name appears across royal chronicles, post-exilic rosters, and oracles against Egypt. Whether depicting Judah’s faithless monarch, humble returnees, or a vanquished pagan deity, Scripture consistently portrays the LORD as the One whose faithfulness eclipses human failure and whose kingdom endures when every rival has fallen.

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