{
  "id": "dict_000177",
  "term": "Amana",
  "slug": "amana",
  "letter": "A",
  "entry_type": "place_name",
  "entry_family": "theological_term",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "Amana is a biblical place name mentioned in Song of Solomon 4:8, probably referring to a mountain or mountain region in the far north of the biblical world.",
  "simple_one_line": "A biblical place name in Song of Solomon 4:8, likely a northern mountain region.",
  "tooltip_text": "A place name in Song of Solomon 4:8, usually understood as a mountain or mountain range in the north.",
  "aliases": [],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [
    "Lebanon",
    "Senir",
    "Hermon",
    "Song of Solomon"
  ],
  "see_also": [
    "Anti-Lebanon",
    "geography in Scripture",
    "Song of Solomon"
  ],
  "lede_intro": "Amana is a biblical place name that appears in Song of Solomon 4:8. Most interpreters understand it as a mountain or mountain region, though its exact location is uncertain.",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "Biblical place name; likely a mountain or mountain region mentioned poetically in Song of Solomon 4:8.",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [
    "Appears in Song of Solomon 4:8",
    "Probably refers to a northern mountain region",
    "Exact identification is uncertain",
    "Functions as geographic and poetic imagery, not a distinct doctrine"
  ],
  "description_academic_short": "Amana appears in Song of Solomon 4:8 alongside Lebanon, Senir, and Hermon, and is usually understood as a mountain peak or part of the Anti-Lebanon range. It is a geographic term rather than a theological concept.",
  "description_academic_full": "Amana is a biblical place name found in Song of Solomon 4:8, where it is listed with other northern mountain regions such as Lebanon, Senir, and Hermon. Most interpreters understand it as a mountain, peak, or part of a mountain range in the far north of Israel’s world, though the exact identification is not certain. In context, the term functions as poetic geography rather than as the basis for a distinct doctrine. Because of that, it belongs in a place-name entry rather than a theological-term entry.",
  "background_biblical_context": "Song of Solomon 4:8 uses a sequence of northern geographic names to evoke distance, height, and wildness. Amana appears in that poetic setting and contributes to the imagery of the passage.",
  "background_historical_context": "The exact historical location of Amana is uncertain. It is commonly associated with a northern mountain area, possibly in the Anti-Lebanon region, but the identification cannot be stated with certainty.",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "Ancient readers likely understood Amana as a real geographic reference, even if the precise site was unclear. In the Song’s poetry, such place names intensify the sense of remoteness and splendor.",
  "key_texts_primary": [
    "Song of Solomon 4:8"
  ],
  "key_texts_secondary": [
    "No other clear biblical occurrences are certain."
  ],
  "original_language_note": "The Hebrew form is a geographic name of uncertain derivation. Its precise etymology and location are debated.",
  "theological_significance": "Amana itself does not teach a doctrine. Its significance is literary and geographic, helping to shape the imagery of Song of Solomon 4:8.",
  "philosophical_explanation": "As a place name, Amana shows how Scripture uses real-world geography in poetry. The meaning comes from its literary function in context rather than from any abstract concept attached to the name.",
  "interpretive_cautions": "Do not build doctrine on Amana itself. The exact identification is uncertain, so claims about location should remain qualified.",
  "major_views_note": "Most interpreters take Amana as a northern mountain or mountain range, often linked with the Anti-Lebanon region. A minority of proposals differ on the exact site, but the general geographic sense is widely accepted.",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "Amana is not a doctrinal term and should not be treated as a basis for theological teaching beyond its role in the biblical text.",
  "practical_significance": "Amana reminds readers that biblical poetry often uses real geography to create vivid imagery. It also illustrates the value of careful distinction between names, places, and doctrines.",
  "meta_description": "Amana is a biblical place name in Song of Solomon 4:8, probably a mountain or mountain region in the far north.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/amana/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/amana.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}