The word amen has several meanings. Webster’s Dictionary, Strong’s Concordance and the Jamieson, Fausset, Brown Commentary (JFB), all agree that amen means: “true, faithful, and so be it.” The JFB says it is a word used to affirm and confirm a statement. This word is actually a Hebrew word and commonly explained to mean “so be it.” It was used to express assent and agreement. The word is derived from a root that signifies “truth.” Therefore, anyone saying amen confirms that all that has been said before in speech or in song is “true, trustworthy, and reliable.” In other words, when you say it, you are agreeing with what was said, and make what was said your own words, as if you said them yourself. So, we can see that saying amen does have much importance. If you agree with what has been said in a prayer as true trustworthy and reliable, then you say amen, and make the prayer even more effective and powerful in God’s eyes. If one isn’t paying attention to what has been said and simply repeats amen because everyone else has, then it wouldn’t be sincere and may make the prayer less effective to God (1 Corinthians 14:16).
The word amen is the most frequently used of all religious words. It is used by Jews and Christians. Even Muslims conclude hymns, prayers and recitals of the Mohammedan Bible, the Koran, with the word amen. This word is used thirteen times in the Old Testament and 119 times in the New Testament. The very first time this word is found in the Bible is in Numbers 5. Here the word is used concerning the trial of jealousy. If a man suspected his wife of adultery, he took her to the priest to prove or disprove her innocence. The priest had her drink of the bitter water, and if she was innocent, nothing happened; but if she was guilty, her belly would swell and her body would rot. She was informed of this before she drank of the bitter water, and to prove she knew the consequences, we read in Numbers 5:22 that she said, “Amen, amen.” The last time it is used is at the end of the book of Revelation. The very last word in the Bible is amen, which means that everything that has been said before is true, trustworthy and reliable. Amen does mean, “so be it,” yet that isn’t all it means as some seem to think. Sometimes it does mean “so be it,” but at other times “so be it” would not be appropriate. The example, in Numbers 5, would be correctly translated “so be it,” but in the book of John the word amen appears 25 times, and usually at the beginning of the sentence. When used at the beginning of a sentence, it emphasizes what is to be said.
Jesus Christ used it frequently this way. When used at the beginning of a sentence it should be rendered “truly.” For example, in John 3:3 Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” This word “truly,” is the same word rendered amen, in other places. So in this case the word would be rendered, “very truly,” or “it is true, except a man be born again.” It was a custom, which passed over from the synagogues, into the Christian assemblies. When he had offered up a solemn prayer to God, and others in attendance responded amen, and thus made the substance of what was uttered their own. Here again we can see the importance of not taking this tradition lightly.
Every book in the New Testament, with the exception of Acts and 3 John, closes with the word amen. Probably any of the definitions we’ve discussed would be appropriate at the end of these books, whether it be “so be it,” or “everything that has gone before is true, trustworthy and reliable.” Christ used this word many times. Christ gave us an outline for prayer in Matthew 6:7-13, in which He concluded with the word amen. Here we are given direct authority to use amen at the end of our prayers.
The reason we say amen in God’s Church after a prayer is because the example comes from the Bible. When God had Moses tell the people to obey His laws, Moses went over each one so that they all understood what was expected. Then, after each law was given, the people were to say amen (Deuteronomy 27). This was not a church service but a special assembly where they were told about the blessings and coursing that would come as a result of certain conduct. Then they had to say amen after this was pronounced.
Praising God and saying amen is not new. God shows us by His word that saying amen is proper. In Nehemiah 5:13, we read that all the congregation said amen and praised the Lord. The Scriptures show that when the people said amen they were praising God. After David had brought the ark to Jerusalem, the choir came out and sang David’s song of thanksgiving. It was a joyous occasion. “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.” (1 Chronicles 16:36) Saying amen is a type of praising God. “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the Lord.” (Psalm 106:48). Again we see that after the word amen, we read, “Praise you the Lord.” Therefore, saying amen is a type of praising God. It is biblical, and we follow Christ’s and the apostles’ example when we do this.
Should we say amen after a prayer? Yes! We have seen that this is scriptural; and if you agree with what has been said, then you are willing to make the words spoken in the prayer your words, saying, “so be it,” and mean it and that everything that was said was true, trustworthy and reliable. Should we say amen if we did not clearly hear or understand what was said? No! How can you make the words that were said yours if you don’t know what was said? “Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying?” (1 Corinthians 14:16). It is speaking here of someone speaking in another language, but the same principle applies. This puts a lot of responsibility on those who have the opening and closing prayers. These men should speak slowly and clearly, so that everyone can hear what is being said. You need to understand what was said before you say amen, or you may be saying amen to something to which you do not agree.
Should you say it at a wedding or a funeral when one of God’s ministers is officiating, and maybe not all are believers? Yes, here again, if you agree with the prayer. But if you would be embarrassed, you could even say amen silently. Since we have seen that it is scriptural to say “amen,” then we need to say it after the prayer of anointing. You need not feel ashamed or embarrassed to say amen in the presence of the minister, after all he is praying for you. Should we say Amen with the long sound of the vowel A or “ah-men,” with the short sound? Either way is acceptable. I myself prefer Amen (long vowel), when speaking, and ah-men (short vowel), when singing. The sound is not nearly as important as the reason why we do it. Saying amen should be meaningful to you. You should not say it just because everyone around you does. We all need to listen very intently to the prayer, and be certain that you can agree with what is being said. Then, by saying amen, you can make “the substance of what is uttered, your own.” Then God can hear the united voice of His people coming up to His very throne. I hope that the next time you say amen, it will have a much better and clearer meaning to you.
The Hebrew word translated “amen” literally means “truly” or “so be it.” “Amen” is also found in the Greek New Testament and has the same meaning. Nearly half of the Old Testament uses of amen are found in the book of Deuteronomy. In each case, the people are responding to curses pronounced by God on various sins. Each pronouncement is followed by the words “and all the people shall say Amen” (Deuteronomy 27:15-26). This indicates that the people applauded the righteous sentence handed down by their holy God, responding, “So let it be.” The amen attested to the conviction of the hearers that the sentences which they heard were true, just, and certain.
Seven of the Old Testament references link amen with praise. The sentence “Then all the people said ‘Amen’ and ‘Praise the LORD,’” found in 1 Chronicles 16:36, typifies the connection between amen and praise. In Nehemiah 5:13 and 8:6, the people of Israel affirm Ezra’s exalting of God by worshiping the Lord and obeying Him. The highest expression of praise to God is obedience, and when we say “amen” to His commands and pronouncements, our praise is sweet music to His ears.
Most of the New Testament writers use “amen” at the end of their epistles. The apostle John uses it at the end of his gospel, two of his three letters, and the book of Revelation, where it appears nine times. Each time it is connected with praising and glorifying God and referring to the second coming and the end of the age. Paul says “amen” to the blessings he pronounces on all the churches in his letters to them, as do Peter and Jude in their letters. The implication is that they are saying, “May it be that the Lord will truly grant these blessings upon you.”
When Christians say “amen” at the end of our prayers, we are following the model of the apostles, asking God to “please let it be as we have prayed.” Remembering the connection between amen and the praise of obedience, all prayers should be prayed according to the will of God. Then when we say “amen,” we can be confident that God will respond “so be it” and grant our requests (John 14:13; 1 John 5:14).
At various times in the gospels, Jesus introduces a statement using phrases such as “Verily, I say” or “Truly, I say this to you.” In the Gospel of John, Jesus frequently uses the phrase “Truly, truly” (ESV) or “Verily, verily” (KJV) or “Very truly” (NIV). These expressions all use the Greek word amēn, taken directly from the Hebrew word āˈmēn. This word has different implications depending on how and where it is used. Jesus’ application of the term is noticeably different from prior uses.
In modern use, the word amen is typically used at the end of a prayer. It may also be spoken to show agreement with some statement or idea. This is slightly different from, but closely related to, the original use of the term as seen in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word āˈmēn literally means “so be it.” The term is an expression of complete and total agreement. In passages such as 1 Chronicles 16:36 or Deuteronomy 27:15–26, this is how the term is used. Placing the word amen at the end of a statement is a way of accepting, agreeing, or endorsing what came before.
Jesus, however, was fond of saying, “Amen,” before making a statement or giving a message. When used in this way, the word amen has slightly different implications. Leading off with amen not only implies that what follows is true but also that the person making the statement has firsthand knowledge and authority about it. Saying, “Verily, verily,” before making a statement is a strong claim to truth, presented from an almost audacious attitude. Speaking on worldly or secular matters, saying, “Verily, verily,” would imply that what follows is that person’s own original idea.
So, when Jesus leads off with the words truly in verses such as Matthew 18:3, Mark 3:28, Luke 23:43, and John 8:51, He is not merely saying, “Believe me, this is true.” He is actually saying, “I know this is true firsthand.” Since many of these comments are on heavenly, spiritual, or godly issues, Jesus’ use of truly,truly is part of His consistent claim of divinity. Jesus is not merely aware of these truths: He is the One who originated them!
The disciples and others listening to Jesus’ words would have understood His use of these phrases in exactly that way. So, when we read Jesus’ words and see statements beginning with “verily,” “truly,” or some variation, we should recall the deeper meaning. Those claims are not only Jesus’ opinion on the truth. Those are ideas about which He has intimate, personal, firsthand knowledge.
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