Amen to confirm

AMEN

Author: Jim Fox

Hebrew-amen Greek-amen

The word Amen is, in both English and Greek, a transliteration of Hebrew, the root form meaning “confirm,” “support,” “firmness,” “dependability,” “certainty,” and “truth.” In the Old Testament it is used about 25 times with doxologies (1 Chron 16:36, Neh 8:6, Psalms 41:13); assent by the congregation to laws (Num 5:22, Deut 27:15-26); oaths (Neh 5:13); appointments (1 King 1:36); title of God (Isaiah 65:16).In the Gospels it is only used by Jesus, and often in the formula “Amen, I say to you…” It was a strong affirmation that what Jesus was about to say was certain and reliable, and that what He taught must be considered binding on Himself and His hearers.In the New Testament it is used as the assent of the congregation to the utterances of leaders (1 cor 14:16). Also it equated with the certainty of promises of God (2 Cor 1:20). In a general sense “so let it be,” “truly,” “indeed.”

Sources:
Richards Expository Dictionary of Bible Words The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary

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