AMMAH: Difference between revisions

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'''Etymology'''
'''Etymology'''


The most likely root of '''AMMAH''' seems to be ''ʿmm'', a common Semitic kinship term meaning variously “people, clan, paternal uncle, grandfather” (''HALOT'', sv. עם), and appears in several biblical PNs, e.g., Ammiel, Ammihud, Amram, and Amraphel.
The most likely root here seems to be ''ˁmm'', a common Semitic kinship term meaning variously “people, clan, paternal uncle, grandfather,”<ref>''HALOT'', sv. עם.</ref> and appears in several biblical PNs, e.g., Ammiel, Ammihud, Amram, and Amraphel.
This name could be a hypocoristicon similar to the Aramaic PN <i>ˁmʼ</i>,<ref>''KAI'',  232.</ref> and the Punic PN <i>ˁmʼ</i> (KAI 78:9), of the Book of Mormon type [[AMINADAB|A<small>MINADAB</small>]], [[AMINADI|A<small>MINADI</small>]], or the Amorite PNs ''ḫa-am-mu-<sup>d</sup>da-gan'' “people/kinsman of (the god) Dagan,”<ref>''KAI'', 197.</ref> and ''am-mi-ad-du'', “people/kinsman of (the god) Addu.”<ref>''CAAA'', 261.</ref> Compare also the Amorite PN ''am-mi-ia'',<ref>''CAAA'', 260.</ref> and the Palmyrene PN ''ˁmbkrʼ''.<ref>Stark, 45.</ref> Cf. the Hebrew or Aramaic ''ˁmʼ'', name of an artisan on stone inscription from Persian period<ref>IDAM No. 44.323.</ref> ([[John A. Tvedtnes|JAT]]).


This name could be a hypocoristicon similar to the Aramaic PN ''ʿmʾ'' (KAI 232) and the Punic PN ''ʿmʾ'' (KAI 78:9) of the type [[AMINADAB|A<small>MINADAB</small>]] (see above), or the Amorite PNs ''ḫa-am-mu-<sup>d</sup>da-gan'' (KAI, p. 197) “people/kinsman of (the god) Dagan” and ''am-mi-ad-du'' (CAAA, p. 261) “people/kinsman of (the god) Addu.” Compare also the Amorite PN ''am-mi-ia'' (CAAA, p. 260), and the Palmyrene PN ''ʿmbkrʾ'' (Stark, p. 45).
Also possibly same as KJV GN Ammah, Hebrew ''ʼammâ'', a hill east of Gibeon ([http://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/2-sam/2.24?lang=eng#23 2 Samuel 2:24]), which may derive from Hebrew ''ʼammâ'' “cubit; foundation.”
 
Although ''ʾmm'' as a possible root would seem obvious, it is doubtful that this PN can be derived either from the biblical GN ''ʾmmh'', '''A<small>MMAH</small>''', a hill on the way to the Gibeon desert ([http://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/2-sam/2.24?lang=eng#23 2 Samuel 2:24]), especially since the LXX reads ''amman'' for this place name, or from the hapax legomenon ''ʾmmh'' (if indeed the word is distinct from the GN in [http://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/2-sam/2.24?lang=eng#23 2 Samuel 2:24]) in [http://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/2-sam/8.1?lang=eng#primary 2 Samuel 8:1] that the LXX apparently treats as a territorial term. (''BDB'', takes ''ʾmmah'' in the latter context to mean “mother city,based on ''ʾm'' in [http://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/2-sam/20.19?lang=eng#18 2 Samuel 20:19] and Phoenician ''ʾm'' that clearly can mean “mother city” [Tomback 23].) The Palmyrene PN ''ʾmbkrʾ'' (Stark, p. 5) may be a variant of Palmyrene ''ʿmbkrʾ''  mentioned above.


Cf. Book of Mormon [[AMINADAB|A<small>MINADAB</small>]], [[AMINADI|A<small>MINADI</small>]]
Cf. Book of Mormon [[AMINADAB|A<small>MINADAB</small>]], [[AMINADI|A<small>MINADI</small>]]

Revision as of 13:21, 3 October 2013

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.

  1. HALOT, sv. עם.
  2. KAI, 232.
  3. KAI, 197.
  4. CAAA, 261.
  5. CAAA, 260.
  6. Stark, 45.
  7. IDAM No. 44.323.