Lexical Summary
Amots: Amots
Original Word:אָמוֹץ
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:Amowts
Pronunciation:ah-MOHTS
Phonetic Spelling:(aw-mohts')
KJV: Amoz
NASB:Amoz
Word Origin:[fromH553 (אָמַץ - courageous)]
1. strong
2. Amots, an Israelite
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Amoz
From'amats; strong; Amots, an Israelite -- Amoz.
see HEBREW'amats
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
ametsDefinition"strong," the father of Isaiah
NASB TranslationAmoz (13).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
( = follow-ing)
Isaiah 1:1;
Isaiah 2:1;
Isaiah 13:1;
Isaiah 20:2;
Isaiah 37:2,21;
Isaiah 38:1 =
2 Kings 19:2,20;
2 Kings 20:1; 2Chronicles 26:22; 32:20,32.
Topical Lexicon
IdentityAmoz appears exclusively as “Amoz the father of Isaiah the prophet” (2 Kings 19:2) and is never spoken of in the narrative as an actor in his own right. His prominence, therefore, lies in the fact that he is the immediate progenitor of the greatest of the Major Prophets and that his name establishes Isaiah’s lineage each time the prophet is introduced (Isaiah 1:1; 2:1; 13:1; 20:2; 37:2; 37:21; 38:1).
Biblical References
2 Kings 19:2, 19:20; 20:1
2 Chronicles 26:22; 32:20, 32
Isaiah 1:1; 2:1; 13:1; 20:2; 37:2; 37:21; 38:1
Historical Setting
Amoz lived during the eighth–century reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah—the era that framed Isaiah’s ministry and the Syro-Ephraimite crisis, the Assyrian conquests, and Hezekiah’s revival. Though not a court official in his own right, his son’s repeated access to the palace (2 Kings 19:20) hints at a respectable family standing in Jerusalem. Jewish tradition even identifies Amoz as a brother of King Amaziah, which, if accurate, would explain Isaiah’s accepted entry before kings; yet Scripture itself is silent on the point, underscoring that vocation and message outweigh bloodlines.
Amoz and the Ministry of Isaiah
1. Source of Prophetic Call: Each superscription—“The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw” (Isaiah 1:1)—anchors Isaiah’s authority in a concrete family context. By naming Amoz, the text affirms that prophecy is grounded in real history rather than detached mysticism.
2. Witness to Hezekiah’s Prayer: When King Hezekiah sought divine counsel against Assyria, those dispatched were “Eliakim the steward, Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, wearing sackcloth, to Isaiah son of Amoz” (2 Kings 19:2). The pairing of priestly representatives with the prophet emphasizes that the faithful remnant trusted God’s word mediated through this lineage.
3. Confirmation of Healing: “In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, ‘This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order…’” (2 Kings 20:1). Amoz’s mention reminds readers that the prophet who declared judgment also announced mercy, reflecting the covenant balance of curse and blessing.
Amoz in Chronicles
The Chronicler gives additional theological coloring. In2 Chronicles 26:22 the record of Uzziah’s reign is tied to “Isaiah son of Amoz, the prophet,” affirming the historical reliability of Isaiah’s writings for royal annals. Later,2 Chronicles 32:32 relates Hezekiah’s acts to “the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz,” demonstrating that canonical prophecy served as an authoritative historical source for post-exilic readers.
Tradition and Extra-Biblical Witness
Rabbinic literature associates Amoz with royal descent and martyrdom under King Manasseh, highlighting the cost that often accompanies faithfulness in Judah. While unverifiable, these traditions illustrate the high esteem in which both Isaiah and his father were held and reinforce the biblical theme that prophetic truth is frequently opposed by unrighteous rulers.
Theological Significance
• Covenant Continuity: By consistently tethering Isaiah to Amoz, Scripture underscores lineage as a thread connecting generations under Yahweh’s covenant.
• Prophetic Legitimacy: The recurrence of the patronymic protects against pseudonymous writings; only oracles “son of Amoz” bear the stamp of canonical authenticity.
• Model of Godly Heritage: Although silent, Amoz evidently cultivated an environment in which the Lord could call his son to extraordinary service. Christian households today are reminded of the power of quiet faithfulness that bears fruit in subsequent generations.
Christological Foreshadowing
Isaiah son of Amoz becomes the chief herald of the coming Messiah: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). The mention of Amoz in each prophetic heading subtly attests that the promise of Christ emerged in history through identifiable people and places, grounding the gospel in verifiable reality.
Lessons for the Church
1. Known by God, Not by Deeds: Amoz is remembered not for his own exploits but for his link to Isaiah; yet his name is etched permanently in Scripture, demonstrating that obscurity before men does not preclude honor before God.
2. Stewarding the Next Generation: Parents and mentors, though seldom chronicled, can be crucial to raising voices that will shape nations.
3. Scripture’s Internal Consistency: The thirteen references display harmony between Kings, Chronicles, and Isaiah, reinforcing confidence in the unified testimony of the Old Testament.
Amoz, though silent, stands as a living witness that God weaves every faithful life into His redemptive story.
Forms and Transliterations
אָמ֑וֹץ אָמ֔וֹץ אָמ֖וֹץ אָמ֛וֹץ אָמ֜וֹץ אָמֽוֹץ׃ אָמוֹץ֙ אָמוֹץ֮ אמוץ אמוץ׃ ’ā·mō·wṣ ’āmōwṣ aMotz
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