AMEN word study by 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
Contributed by The Manna System
../