AMNOR

Nephite PN & Lehite PN	1.	Captain, ca. 87 BC (Alma 2:22)
Nephite measure	2.	Silver measure, ca. 82 BC (Alma 11:6, 11)

Etymology

It is possible that two etymologies may need to be suggested for the two NEPHITE usages of this name, unless the silver amount is named after the PN AMNOR.

AMNOR could be composed of two elements, ʿmm, “people, clan, paternal uncle, grandfather,” which is used in Semitic names as a theophoric element, and nwr, “light.” The name might then mean “people of light” (JAT), or “(my divine) kinsman is light” (JH). Several biblical PNs contain the lexeme nr, including Abner and Neriah. Compare the Ugaritic PNs nu-ra-nu, nûr-i-^dma-lik (Gröndahl, p. 166) and the Palmyrene PNs nwrbl and nwry (Stark, p. 99) and the EA PN amunira.

AMNOR could also be composed of ʾmn, “craftsman; faithfulness; truth,” and ʾwr, “light,” yielding the meaning “faithfulness is light.” For “light” in a positive passage, see Micah 7:8 (RFS).

The silver unit AMNOR remains somewhat more difficult. Generally, monetary terms fall into two categories, words of foreign origin and words derived from roots meaning to weigh or measure (JH). The common Semitic root mny, “to weigh, count, measure,” forms the basis for several monetary terms, and could be part of AMNOR.

Nibley believes this name contains the EGYPTIAN element imn, the god Amon (LID 30, ABM 235).

A mixed Semitic and EGYPTIAN name, such as “Amon is light” (RFS), is also possible, though somewhat less likely.

Cf. Book of Mormon COMNOR, AMNIHU, LIMNAH

See also Amnor, amnor / omnor Variant

Variants

omnor

Deseret Alphabet: 𐐈𐐣𐐤𐐊𐐡 (æmnʌr)

Notes

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