AMMAH
| Lehite PN | 1. | Missionary, ca. 91 BC (Alma 20:2; 21:11) |
Etymology
The most likely root here seems to be ˁmm, a common Semitic kinship term meaning variously “people, clan, paternal uncle, grandfather,”[1] and appears in several biblical PNs, e.g., Ammiel, Ammihud, Amram, and Amraphel. This name could be a hypocoristicon similar to the Aramaic PN ˁmʼ,[2] and the Punic PN ˁmʼ (KAI 78:9), of the Book of Mormon type AMINADAB, AMINADI, or the Amorite PNs ḫa-am-mu-dda-gan “people/kinsman of (the god) Dagan,”[3] and am-mi-ad-du, “people/kinsman of (the god) Addu.”[4] Compare also the Amorite PN am-mi-ia,[5] and the Palmyrene PN ˁmbkrʼ.[6] Cf. the Hebrew or Aramaic ˁmʼ, name of an artisan on stone inscription from Persian period[7] (JAT).
Also possibly same as KJV GN Ammah, Hebrew ʼammâ, a hill east of Gibeon (2 Samuel 2:24), which may derive from Hebrew ʼammâ “cubit; foundation.”
Cf. Book of Mormon AMINADAB, AMINADI
Variants
Deseret Alphabet: 𐐈𐐣𐐂 (æmɑː)
Notes
Cf. Hebrew or Aramaic ʿmʾ, name of an artisan on stone inscription from Persian period (IDAM No. 44.323) (JAT).
Neither ʾmmh “forearm, cubit” nor ʾmh “handmaid” fit this NEPHITE masculine PN.
