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Matthew 6:24

Footnote:

19

Lord Mammon

The Greek term μαμωνแพถς (mamลnas), found in the New Testament, is often translated as "wealth" or "riches" and is personified as a master that competes with God for loyalty.  The etymology of "μαμωνแพถς" provides deeper insight into its meaning. It is derived from the Chaldean term ืžืืžื•ื ื (mamona), which is associated with trust and reliance, being derived from the Hebrew ืืžืŸ aman meaning to trust, believe, support. This led to certain interpretations of "money" or "wealth" as a common thing people trust in (according to Gesenius is contracted from the Hebrew word ืžื˜ืžื•ืŸ (matmon Strongs #4301), meaning "hidden treasure" or "buried treasure.").

The Hebrew term ืืžื•ื ื” (amunah) means "faith/trust/confidence" 

The Hebrew word ืžืืžื•ื ื” (ma'amunฤ) comes from the root ืืžื  (’mn), which is related to ideas of faith, trust, and reliability (as seen in ืืžื•ื ื” (emunah), meaning faith or trustworthiness). However, ืžืืžื•ื ื” has a distinct meaning, usually related to concepts of trust, reliability, or faithfulness in a more practical or functional sense.

ืžืืžื•ื ื” Someone who is trusted:

  1. Trust / Faithfulness – In Aramaic, ืžืืžื•ื ื” refers to the concept of being entrusted or reliable, often indicating someone who is trusted or someone appointed to a role of responsibility.

  2. Appointed Overseer or Guardian – It can also refer to someone who is appointed to a position of responsibility, such as a steward, warden, or guardian. This is often the sense in Jewish Aramaic literature, particularly in the Talmud, where ืžึทืึฒืžื•ึผื ึธื” might describe a guardian of something or someone entrusted with a task or responsibility.

Etymology and Morphology:

  • Root: The root ืึพืžึพื  (’mn) is connected to trust and faith, as seen in the related words ืึฑืžื•ึผื ึธื” (emunah, faith) and ืžึธืžื•ึนื ึธื (mฤmลnฤ, wealth).

  • Pattern: The word ืžืืžื•ื ื” would be a passive participle in Aramaic, derived from the root, and denotes something or someone that is entrusted, faithful, or reliable. Is it riches? Or, a person?

The key meaning here lies in the personification. Mammon is also personifed as a master or lord, and thus one representing the power of ืืžื•ื ื” "faith", placed in a person of trust. As a master or lord, Mammon would thus be one demanding trust, devotion, faith.