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Discover the meanings of thousands of Biblical names in Abarim Publications' Biblical Name Vault: Ammon

Ammon meaning

Ammon in Biblical Hebrew
עמון
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Source: https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Ammon.html

🔼The name Ammon: Summary

Meaning
A People, The Homies
Etymology
From the noun עם ('am), people or kinsman.
Related names
• Via עם ('am): Adullam, Amalek, Amalekite, Amam, Amasa, Ammi, Ammiel, Ammihud, Ammihur, Amminadab, Ammishaddai, Ammizabad, Amram, Aniam, Balaam, Ben-ammi, Bileam, Chephar-ammoni, Eliam, Gomorrah, Ibleam, Immanuel, Ithream, Jashobeam, Jekameam, Jeroboam, Jokdeam, Jokmeam, Jokneam, Jorkeam, Lo-ammi, Rehoboam, Ummah

🔼The name Ammon in the Bible

There's only one Ammon in the Bible, but he is the arch-father of the Ammonites. Ammon is the incestuous son of Lot — the son of Haran and nephew of Abraham and Nahor — and his unnamed daughter.

After the destruction of Sodom, where they used to live, the two daughters of Lot are worried that they will remain childless. And so they concoct the plan of boozing up their father and mating with him when he is passed out. The plan works. Without Lot ever realizing what goes on, the older sister becomes pregnant and gives birth to a boy she names Moab. He will be the father of the Moabites. The younger sister becomes pregnant and gives birth to Ben-ammi. He will be the father of "the sons of Ammon".

The story does not tell how Lot explained to himself the pregnancy of his two daughters without there being any other men around.

🔼Etymology of the name Ammon

The name Ammon derives of the verb עמם:

Excerpted from: Abarim Publications' Biblical Dictionary
עמם

The verb עמם ('mm) probably expressed to be inclusive or comprehensive. Its rare uses in the Bible relate to making secrets or making info available to an in-crowd. Preposition עם ('im) means 'with', מעם (me'im) means 'from', and עמה ('umma) means 'beside'. Noun עם ('am) means a people, ranging from all of mankind to the in-crowd of a small village. Noun עם ('am) refers to one's (paternal) kinsman.

— See the full Dictionary article —

The ון upon which the name Ammon ends is a common construction to localize or personify the root.

🔼Ammon meaning

For a meaning of the name Ammon, NOBSE Study Bible Name List reads A People. Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names proposes Great People, taking the ון extension as an intensitive. BDB Theological Dictionary doesn't translate the name Ammon, but refers to the noun עם, meaning kinsman.