Greek word · G301

Ἀμώς

amōs

Amos

As a name, Ἀμώς normally renders Hebrew ʿĀmôs, the prophet Amos. In this verse it stands for King Amon (Hebrew ʾĀmôn, possibly 'faithful' or 'trustworthy'; some suggest a link to the Egyptian god Amun).

Appears 3 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

Ἀμώς, ὁ indecl. (Heb. אָמוֹץ, Isaiah 1:1; עָמוֹס, Amos 1:1; אָמוֹן, 2 Kings 21:18 ff. B)

1. as in 2Ki, Lc. B (Α. Ἀμμών; Jos., Ἀμμών, "Αμωσσς), Amon: Matthew 1:10.

2. Amos: Luke 3:25.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Matthew 1:10

Range of meaning

As a name, Ἀμώς normally renders Hebrew ʿĀmôs, the prophet Amos. In this verse it stands for King Amon (Hebrew ʾĀmôn, possibly 'faithful' or 'trustworthy'; some suggest a link to the Egyptian god Amun).

Against the English

The BSB, KJV, WEB, YLT, NIV, NASB and NLT all print 'Amon', the Old Testament form. The ESV and NRSV follow the earliest Greek manuscripts and print 'Amos', with a footnote explaining the difference.

How it drifted

English versions that print 'Amon' are harmonising. They make Matthew agree with 2 Kings and 1 Chronicles instead of printing what the oldest manuscripts of Matthew most likely say. That is defensible, but it hides an interesting feature of Matthew's text.

Used elsewhere in the period

Some manuscripts of the Greek Old Testament themselves spell the king's name Αμως (for example at 2 Kings 21:18–26 and 1 Chronicles 3:14). So the spelling was already in circulation in the Greek Bible that Matthew and his community read. A similar issue comes up in Matthew 1:7–8, where the oldest manuscripts read 'Asaph' for King Asa.

Where it appears

Matthew · 2

  1. Matthew 1:10 Ἀμώς· Ἀμὼς Amos;, Amos

    Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah,

    Here: The oldest manuscripts spell the king's name 'Amos', not 'Amon' (Hebrew ʾĀmôn) as the Old Testament has it. The man meant is clearly King Amon, who reigned two years (around 642–640 BC) and was murdered by his own officials (2 Kings 21:19–26). See textual notes on the spelling.

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 3:25 Ἀμὼς of Amos

    the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.