Ammi — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Hebrew word meaning “my people.” The expression “people of God” is the most common designation for the nation of Israel in the OT. It originated in God’s promise to Moses before the exodus: “I will make you my own special people (‘ammi), and I will be your God” (Ex 6:7, NLT). For Israel to be called “my people” emphasized the unique personal nature of their religion in contrast with the idolatry of neighboring nations. The word represented God’s love for them and his faithfulness to the promises he had made to their forefathers (Dt 4:37; 7:8). In return for the privileges the name implied, God required faithfulness and obedience from Israel. Yet repeatedly the people of Israel failed, and repeatedly the prophets reminded them of their responsibility to God.

Show passage in OET: EXO 6:7

OET-RV EXO 6:7

7 I’ll take you all to be my own people, and I’ll be your god. Then you’ll know that I am Yahweh your god—the one rescuing you all from the Mitsri (Egyptian) oppression.

OET-LV EXO 6:7

7 And_I _will _take you(pl) to_me to_a _people and_I _will _be to/for_you(pl) (into)_god and_you(pl)_will _know if/because _that I am_YHWH god _of_your(pl) who_brought_out you(pl) from_under the _forced _labour _of Miʦrayim.

Show passage in OET: DEU 4:37

OET-RV DEU 4:37

37 Because he loved your ancestors, he chose their descendants as his people and used his power and strength to lead you out of Mitsrayim

OET-LV DEU 4:37

37 And_because if/because he _loved DOM ancestors _of_your and_he _chose (in)_offspring _of_his after_him and_he_brought _you _out by_his _own _of_presence by_power _of_his the_big/great(sg) from_Miʦrayim.

Show passage in OET: DEU 7:8

OET-RV DEU 7:8

8 but because Yahweh loves you all and because he kept the promise that he’d made to your ancestors. Yahweh used his power to rescue you all from the slavery imposed by Mitsrayim’s (Egypt’s) King Par’oh (Pharaoh).

OET-LV DEU 7:8

8 If/because from_the _love of_YHWH you(pl) and_because_kept_he DOM the_oath which he _swore to_ancestors _of_your(pl) YHWH he _brought _out you(pl) by_a _hand strong and_he_redeemed _you from_a _house _of slaves from_the _hand _of Parˊoh the _king _of Miʦrayim/(Egypt).

Jump to OET EXO 6:7 section.

Jump to OET DEU 4:37 section.

Jump to OET DEU 7:8 section.

An example of such prophetic warning is found in the writings of Hosea. The prophet saw in his own marriage to an adulterous wife a picture of God’s relationship to his people: God had joined himself to a people who had forsaken him for other gods. The names Hosea gave his children reflected God’s attitude toward his unfaithful people. The first child was named Jezreel (Hos 1:4), a name with a double meaning. As the name of the place where King Ahab murdered Naboth (1 Kgs 21:1-16), it recalled a terrible experience in Israel’s history. But the name also means “God sows,” and expressed Hosea’s hope that the people of Israel, despite all their failures, would soon return to God. A second child was named Lo-ruhamah (“Not pitied,” Hos 1:6). That name expressed God’s hatred for disobedience and his inclination to turn from an unrepentant people. Hosea’s third child was named Lo-ammi (“Not my people,” Hos 1:9). That name represented ultimate tragedy for Israel: dissolution of God’s covenant relationship with them. God was saying to Israel, “Name him Lo-ammi—‘Not my people’—for Israel is not my people, and I am not their God” (Hos 1:9). Although all seemed lost, Hosea’s prophecy did not end on a note of doom. Rather, he foresaw that Israel would repent. In response, God would restore his covenant relationship with them: “And to those I called ‘Not my people,’ I will say, ‘Now you are my people.’ Then they will reply, ‘You are our God!’” (Hos 2:23).

Show passage in OET: HOS 1:4

OET-RV HOS 1:4

4 Then Yahweh told him, “Name him Yizre’el (Jezreel), because in a little while I’ll avenge the blood shed in the Yizre’el valley on Yehu’s (Jehu’s) family, and I’ll put an end to the kingdom of Yisrael (Israel).

OET-LV HOS 1:4

4 And_ YHWH _he/it _said to_him/it call his/its_name Yizrəˊ^ʼēl/(Jezreel) if/because yet a _little and_I _will _visit DOM the _blood(s)_of Yizrəˊ^ʼēl/(Jezreel) on the _house _of Yēhūʼ/(Jehu) and_I _will _put _an _end _to the _kingdom _of the _house _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

Show passage in OET: HOS 1:6

OET-RV HOS 1:6

6 Then Gomer conceived again and bore a daughter, and Yahweh told Hoshea, “Name her Lo -Ruhamah (which means ‘No mercy’), because I’ll no longer have mercy on the Israelis, and I won’t forgive them at all.

OET-LV HOS 1:6

6 And_she/it _conceived/became _pregnant again and_she/it _gave _birth a _daughter and_he/it _said to_him/it call his/its_name Lo- Ruḩāmāh if/because not I _will _repeat again I _will _have _compassion _on DOM the _house _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) if/because certainly _(forgive) I _will _forgive to/for_them.

Show passage in OET: HOS 1:9

OET-RV HOS 1:9

9 Then Yahweh said, “Name him Lo -Ami (which means ‘Not my people’) because you’re not my people and I’m not your god.”

OET-LV HOS 1:9

9 And_he/it _said call his/its_name Lo- Ammi if/because you(pl) not people _of_are_my and_I not I _will _belong to_you(pl).

Show passage in OET: HOS 2:23

OET-RV HOS 2:23

23 I will sow her for myself in the land,
⇔ and I will have mercy on Lo -Ruhamah (‘No mercy’).
⇔ I will tell Lo -Ami (‘Not my people’),
⇔ ‘You are my people,’
⇔ and they’ll say, ‘You’re our God.’ ”

OET-LV HOS 2:25

25  And_I_will _sow _her to/for_me on _the_earth and_I _will _have _compassion _on DOM Lo- Ruhamah and_I _will _say to_Lo- ammi people _of_are_my you and_he he _will _say god _of_my.

Jump to OET HOS 1:4 section.

Jump to OET HOS 1:6 section.

Jump to OET HOS 1:9 section.

Jump to OET HOS 2:23 section.