### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Hămôwnâh**, represented by `{{H1997}}`, is a proper name meaning **multitude**. Derived as the feminine form of הָמוֹן (hamon), it appears just **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible, signifying its highly specific use as a place name.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single appearance of `{{H1997}}` is in [[Ezekiel 39:16]], where it is designated as the name for a city. The passage states, "And also the name of the city shall be **Hamonah**." This naming occurs in the context of a prophecy detailing the aftermath of a great battle, where the land must be cleansed. The name itself, meaning "multitude," serves as a memorial to the vast army defeated and buried there.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its biblical context illuminate the meaning of **Hămôwnâh**:
* `{{H5892}}` **ʻîyr** (city): This is the object being named Hamonah. The word is defined as "a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch)." Hamonah is specifically identified as a **city**, establishing it as a fixed location and a landmark [[Ezekiel 39:16]].
* `{{H776}}` **ʼerets** (land): The act of naming the city Hamonah is directly linked to the cleansing of the **land** [[Ezekiel 39:16]]. This word for land can refer to a specific country or the earth at large, which God promises to heal and restore for His people [[2 Chronicles 7:14]].
* `{{H8034}}` **shêm** (name): The verse explicitly states "the **name** of the city shall be Hamonah." A name serves as a "mark or memorial of individuality," carrying implications of character and renown [[Zephaniah 3:19]]. The name Hamonah thus serves as a permanent memorial.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H1997}}` is rooted in its singular, powerful context.
* **Memorial of Divine Judgment:** The name **Hamonah** ("multitude") permanently marks the location where God's judgment was executed upon a massive enemy force. It serves as a lasting reminder of divine power over opposition.
* **Symbol of Cleansing:** The naming of the city is part of the process to "cleanse the land" [[Ezekiel 39:16]]. This connects the name to a theme of purification and restoration, where a place of death and defilement is redefined through a divinely appointed name.
* **Prophetic Declaration:** By naming a **city** `{{H5892}}`, the prophecy establishes a concrete, geographical testimony to a spiritual event. The name itself becomes a declaration of what God has done in that place.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1997}}` **Hămôwnâh** is a unique biblical word used once to name a city. Its meaning, "multitude," is not abstract but is directly tied to the historical and prophetic event of God's victory over a vast army. The name transforms a burial ground into a monument, forever marking the land with a memorial of divine judgment and subsequent cleansing.
TRV