Lexical Summary Harmon: Harmon Original Word: הַרְמוֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance palace From the same as Horam; a castle (from its height) -- palace. see HEBREW Horam NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition a place name NASB Translation Harmon (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [הַרְמוֺן] noun masculine meaning dubious; text perhaps corrupt; only Amos 4:3 וְהִשְׁלַכְתֶּנָֿה הַהַרְמ֫וֺנָה and ye shall cast them (your אחרית, posterity, AE; Hi RV cast [yourselves], but read rather with Vrss as passive ׳וְהָשְׁל shall be cast) into Harmon; if text be sound, some locality must be meant, though the nature of the allusion is lost (AV, into the palace, treats הרמון improbable as = ארמון). ᵑ7 ᵑ6 have mountain (s) of Armenia (הַר מוֺנָה), Symm Armenia, compare LagGes. Abh. 172, HoffmZAW iii. 1882, 102, of exile; Hi-St for ׳ה read הֲדַדְרִמּוֺנָה to Hadadrimmon, proper name, of a location in plain of Jezreel, so Gunning; ᵐ5 εἰς τὸ ὄρος τὸ Ῥομμαν, whence Ew ingeniously ההר רמונה and ye shall cast Rimmonah (name of idol, supposed feminine of Rimmon 2 Kings 5:18) to the mountains. הָרַמִּים see אֲרַמִּי above Topical Lexicon Biblical Setting In the climactic oracle of judgment against the “cows of Bashan” (the pampered women of Samaria), the prophet Amos warns that the Assyrians will breach the city walls and drive the inhabitants away: “You will go out through the breaches in the wall, each one straight ahead; and you will be cast out toward Harmon,” declares the LORD (Amos 4:3). The word הַרְמוֹן (harmôn) marks the final destination of the exiles in this single Old-Testament occurrence. Possible Location and Meaning 1. Fortress/Citadel: Many scholars treat harmôn as a common noun meaning “citadel” or “stronghold.” If so, the verse pictures the defeated population expelled from the city only to be herded into some remote stronghold for deportation. While the textual evidence cannot decisively fix the geography, every option underscores the same theological point: the mighty will be humbled and the complacent scattered. Historical Background Amos ministered c. 760–750 BC during Jeroboam II’s reign, a time of economic prosperity masking deep social corruption. Within four decades the Assyrians dismantled Israel’s northern kingdom (2 Kings 17). Amos’ vivid imagery of fishhooks (Amos 4:2) matches Assyrian reliefs depicting prisoners dragged away by cords through the lips. Harmôn therefore fits the historical pattern of forced marches to staging centers before deportation to Mesopotamia. Theological Themes • Divine Justice: Harmôn symbolizes the certainty of covenant judgment. Whereas the women exploited the poor “and oppressed the needy” (Amos 4:1), God answers with precise and unavoidable penalty. Relevance for Ministry 1. Social Ethics: Harmôn urges modern believers to examine economic practices and attitudes toward the marginalized. Gospel witness loses credibility when professing Christians mirror the indulgence condemned in Amos. Related References • Amos 5:27 – “Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Damascus.” Forms and Transliterations הַהַרְמ֖וֹנָה ההרמונה ha·har·mō·w·nāh haharMonah haharmōwnāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Amos 4:3 HEB: נֶגְדָּ֑הּ וְהִשְׁלַכְתֶּ֥נָה הַהַרְמ֖וֹנָה נְאֻם־ יְהוָֽה׃ NAS: her, And you will be cast to Harmon, declares KJV: [cow at that which is] before her; and ye shall cast [them] into the palace, saith INT: straight will be cast to Harmon declares the LORD 1 Occurrence |
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