עָמָל
𐤏𐤌𐤋
Amal
H6000 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name: Amal, found as an eponymous ancestor of a lineage or clan. The name does not have an independent lexical meaning in biblical usage but is treated as a proper noun.
Semantic Range
Amal (personal name), eponymous ancestor, proper noun, not used as a common noun
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root עמל, which generally carries meanings associated with toil, labor, or trouble. As a personal name, 'Amal' likely reflects this root meaning, though as is common with biblical names, the original significance may not have remained semantically active for later readers.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name עָמָל (ʻAmal) appears in 1 Chronicles 7:35-36 as part of genealogical lists, identifying an individual within the broader Israelite tribal structure. It is used exclusively as a proper name in the Hebrew Bible, not as a common noun. The underlying root, עמל (ʻ-m-l), is otherwise used in the Hebrew Bible with the lexical sense of 'toil, trouble, labor.' However, in the context of a personal name, the semantic nuance is typically subordinate to the onomastic (naming) tradition—meaning the significance of the name often becomes obscured over time. The term is not to be confused with the similar root עמל as used for 'toil' or 'trouble.' English translations sometimes obscure the meaning by simply treating it as a name, without explanation. In later rabbinic and translation tradition, the name does not have significant theological or interpretive weight and is not associated with the later term 'Jew' or Judean identity. The individual and his descendants are presented as Israelites of the First Temple period.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as עָמָל; Amal, an Israelite; Amal.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עמל (ʿ-m-l) — to toil, labor, work with effort
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5998 | עָמַל | burdensome toil |
| H5999 | עָמָל | burdensome toil |
| H6001 | עָמֵל | toiling one |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6000-01 |
וְ/עָמָֽל | veamal | HC/Np |
and-Amal | and Amal | and Amal | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6000-01 |
1 Chronicles 7:35 | וְ/עָמָֽל | veamal | HC/Np |
and-Amal | and Amal | and Amal |