Lexical Summary Amon: Amon Original Word: אָמוֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance multitude, populous Of Egyptian derivation; Amon (i.e. Ammon or Amn), a deity of Egypt (used only as an adjunct of No') -- multitude, populous. see HEBREW No' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof foreign origin Definition an Eg. god NASB Translation Amon (1), No-amon* (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. אָמוֺן proper name Amon, an Egyptian god Nahum 3:8; Jeremiah 46:25, compare by Greeks with Zeus (Herod.ii. 42; Diodi.13), Ἀμμῶν. He was originally the local deity of Thebes (= נאֹ, called נאֹ אָמוֺן Nahum 3:8, compare מִנּאֹ ׳א Jeremiah 46:25 **SpiegelbRandglossen, 43 ff. reads נֹא אָמוֺן (as Nahum 3:8) for אָמוֺן נֹא, and finds in both a Thebes in the Delta.), but subsequently became the supreme god of the Egyptian Pantheon, the successor of the sun-god Ra and so-called Amon Ra. He was the secret god, who hid himself and was difficult to find (Amon = concealment, hidden); see Rawl.Hist, Anc. Egypt, i. 322 Ebers RiHWB. (II. III. אָמוֺן.) Topical Lexicon Name and Identification Amon in Nahum 3:8 is part of the compound “No-Amon,” the Hebrew designation for the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes. Thebes lay in Upper Egypt along the Nile and was famed for its vast temple complexes dedicated to the god Amon (also spelled Amun or Amen), whom the Egyptians revered as king of their pantheon. In Israel’s Scriptures the name functions as a prophetic touchstone, illustrating how even the mightiest pagan strongholds fall under the sovereignty of the LORD. Biblical Context (Nahum 3:8) “Are you better than No-Amon, situated by the Nile, surrounded by waters, whose rampart was the river, whose wall was the waters?” (Berean Standard Bible). Nahum’s oracle confronts Nineveh, capital of the Assyrian Empire. By invoking No-Amon, the prophet reminds Nineveh—and by extension all nations—that prior greatness offers no immunity from divine judgment. If Thebes, fortified by natural barriers and renowned for military strength, could be toppled, then so could Nineveh. The single mention in Nahum is therefore a strategic precedent: past judgment guarantees future accountability. Historical Background 1. Political might: During Egypt’s New Kingdom (approximately sixteenth–eleventh centuries B.C.), Thebes was the imperial capital, commanding armies and extensive vassal territories. Religious Significance The name highlights the worship of Amon-Ra, a syncretistic deity merging solar and creative aspects. Israel’s prophets consistently denounce foreign gods as powerless (Isaiah 19:1; Jeremiah 46:25). By pairing “No” (city) with “Amon” (deity), Scripture exposes both the political seat and religious root of Egypt’s pride, underscoring the futility of trusting idols (Psalm 96:5). Prophetic and Theological Themes • Divine sovereignty over nations: Psalm 22:28 affirms, “For dominion belongs to the LORD and He rules over the nations.” No-Amon’s fall exemplifies this truth. Archaeological Corroboration Modern excavations at Karnak and Luxor corroborate Thebes’ size, wealth, and devotion to Amon. Reliefs depicting conquered peoples and tribute echo Nahum’s portrayal of imperial arrogance. These findings enhance confidence in the Bible’s historical precision. Ministry Applications 1. Preaching: No-Amon serves as an illustrative backdrop when teaching on pride, idolatry, and divine judgment (Romans 1:21–23). Key Takeaway A single mention of Amon evokes a sweeping narrative: a famed city, a celebrated deity, and an empire’s collapse—all marshaled by the Holy Spirit to declare that worldly strength, however formidable, cannot shield from the righteous judgment of the LORD. Forms and Transliterations אָמ֔וֹן אמון ’ā·mō·wn ’āmōwn aMonLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Nahum 3:8 HEB: הֲתֵֽיטְבִי֙ מִנֹּ֣א אָמ֔וֹן הַיֹּֽשְׁבָה֙ בַּיְאֹרִ֔ים INT: better No multitude was situated of the Nile 1 Occurrence |
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