Biblical Hebrew: Words RevealedSample

Biblical Hebrew: Words Revealed

The Meaning Behind “Amen”

The Epiphany of the Extraordinary Word

Amen is the Bible’s supreme expression of assent. By saying amen, we mean much more than simple agreement. It is a remarkable word because it allows us to succinctly articulate “Praise the Lord” and “I agree”. For example, Jeremiah agrees with the words of Hananiah, a fellow prophet, by saying: “Amen! May the Lord do so; may the Lord fulfill the words that you have prophesied” (Jeremiah 28:6).

This powerful word comes from the Hebrew root אָמֵן (a-m-n) that is also related to the Hebrew word אֱמוּנָה (Emunah) which means “faith”. Interestingly, Amen is classified as an adjective that describes states and moods. This word is not another "Yes" or "No". When a person says Amen, they commit themselves to a state of conscious agreement, judgment and faith. In the Bible, having faith is not just a question of being spiritually awake but of being firmly committed to one’s religious identity.

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Learning the biblical language

The structure of the old Semitic Hebrew language allows the expression of complex ideas such as self-awareness to one's faith. It is not surprising at all that this word was not translated to most languages and was simply kept in its original Hebrew form. Some words and meanings cannot be detached from the Hebrew language. With the new Biblical Hebrew course offered by the Israel Institute of Biblical Studies, you will no longer depend on translations. ENROLL NOW and discove r a new world of pure meaning!