Lexical Summary Ben-ammi: Ben-ammi Original Word: בֶּן־עַמִּי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Ben-ammi From ben and am with pronomial suffix; son of my people; Ben-Ammi, a son of Lot -- Ben-ammi. see HEBREW ben see HEBREW am NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ben and am Definition "son of my people," a son of Lot NASB Translation Ben-ammi (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs בֶּןעַֿמִּי proper name, masculine (son of my people) son of Lot by his younger daughter, and ancestor of the Ammonites (בְּנֵיעַֿמּוֺן see עַמּוֺן) Genesis 19:38. Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence Genesis 19:38 records the only appearance of the name: “The younger daughter also gave birth to a son, and she named him Ben-ammi. He is the father of the Ammonites of today.” (Berean Standard Bible) Historical Background Ben-ammi was born in the hill country east of the Jordan River after Lot and his two daughters escaped the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Fearing the extinction of their family line, the daughters resorted to an illicit union with their father. From that act came two peoples: the Moabites through Moab, and the Ammonites through Ben-ammi. The Ammonites established themselves in the region north-east of the Dead Sea, with Rabbah (later Rabbah-Ammon, modern Amman) as their chief city (Deuteronomy 3:11; 2 Samuel 11:1). Covenant Context and Israelite Relations Although related by blood, the Ammonites often stood in tension or outright hostility toward Israel. When Israel requested safe passage through Ammonite territory during the wilderness journey, the request was denied (Deuteronomy 2:29). Centuries later, Nahash the Ammonite humiliated the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead, provoking Saul’s first military campaign (1 Samuel 11:1-11). During David’s reign, the Ammonites allied with the Arameans against Israel and later instigated the fatal siege in which Uriah the Hittite was killed (2 Samuel 10–12). These conflicts fulfilled earlier warnings: “Because they did not meet you with bread and water on your way out of Egypt…no Ammonite…may ever enter the assembly of the LORD” (Deuteronomy 23:3-4). Prophetic Oracles Prophets denounced Ammon’s violence and gloating over Judah’s distress (Jeremiah 49:1-6; Ezekiel 25:1-7; Amos 1:13-15). Judgment came through successive empires—Assyria, Babylon, Persia—yet the oracles often conclude with a note of future hope: “‘But afterward I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites,’ declares the LORD.” (Jeremiah 49:6). This pattern of judgment tempered by mercy illustrates the sovereign consistency of God’s character. Theological Significance 1. Human sin cannot thwart divine purposes. From the shame of Genesis 19 arises a nation that God weaves into His redemptive storyline, proving that His providence extends even over flawed beginnings. Practical and Ministry Lessons • Guard against compromise. Lot’s gradual accommodation to Sodom culminated in a legacy of pain. Believers are called to flee spiritual contamination (2 Corinthians 6:17). Later Historical Echoes By the intertestamental era, the Ammonites had blended with surrounding peoples, yet their territory remained strategic. Roman Philadelphia (modern Amman) preserved the ancient name Rabbah-Ammon. The persistence of the place name reminds students of Scripture that biblical events occurred in real geography, anchoring faith in verifiable history. Eschatological Glimpses Ezekiel 25 intertwines Ammon’s fate with the climax of God’s judgment on the nations, foreshadowing the ultimate subjugation of every hostile power under Christ’s reign (1 Corinthians 15:25). The prophetic arc from Genesis 19 to the consummation demonstrates the coherence of Scripture’s narrative: nations rise and fall, but God’s kingdom endures forever. Summary Ben-ammi stands at the intersection of human frailty and divine faithfulness. His lone biblical mention inaugurates a nation whose checkered account testifies both to the justice and the mercy of the covenant-keeping God. Students and ministers who trace his legacy gain insight into the gravity of sin, the marvel of providence, and the breadth of God’s redemptive plan that culminates in Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations עַמִּ֑י עמי ‘am·mî ‘ammî amMiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 19:38 HEB: שְׁמ֖וֹ בֶּן־ עַמִּ֑י ה֛וּא אֲבִ֥י NAS: his name Ben-ammi; he is the father KJV: his name Benammi: the same [is] the father INT: and called his name Ben-ammi he is the father |
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