Amos

Amos is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin, widely used in Jewish and Christian communities and in many other cultures. The name appears in the Hebrew Bible and is often associated with the Hebrew root meaning “to bear” or “to carry.” It is commonly interpreted as “carried by God” or simply as “burden.”

The Book of Amos, commonly referred to simply as Amos, is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. It is attributed to the prophet Amos of Tekoa and is generally dated to the 8th century BCE, during the reign of Jeroboam II in the northern kingdom of Israel. Amos is one of the twelve minor prophets. The book contains oracles and visions that critique social injustice, exploitation of the poor, and empty ritual, and it warns of divine judgment while calling for righteousness and true worship. It also emphasizes the coming day of the Lord and universal judgment against surrounding nations.

Notable people with the name include Amos Oz (1939–2018), Israeli writer and novelist; and Amos Tversky (1937–1996), Israeli-American cognitive psychologist and economic theorist known for prospect theory.