Thanks for clicking on this study. I want to express my gratitude for the increasing number of emails I have been receiving from Townhall readers. Please know that I try to respond to each one, and I am grateful when you take the time to write. Moreover, it inspires me to continue chugging along since our study begins its fifth year in February. Amen! — which heralds today’s topic.
“Amen” presented itself after I suddenly learned I had to postpone the intended lesson. After about 30 seconds of topic-less anxiety, I saw a bookmark sticking out on my desk with “Amen” in large letters. Indeed, that bookmark had been there for ages, but I missed it until “Amen” proclaimed, “I am your topic.” (Non-verbally, since bookmarks don’t talk, although the quiet message was loud and clear.) Amen to that, and off we go!
First, let’s establish the multi-meanings of Amen. It can be an affirmation about something true or a hopeful “let it be so” about whatever has been announced or prayed. Bear with me as I quote from Wikipedia — the authoritative source of all secular and religious knowledge (joke) — about the derivation of the word Amen:
“Meanings of the root in Hebrew include to be firm or confirmed, to be reliable or dependable, to be faithful, to have faith, to believe. The word was imported into Greek from the Judaism of the early Church. From Greek, ‘Amen’ entered other European languages. According to a standard dictionary etymology of the English word ‘Amen’ passed from Greek into Late Latin, and thence into English.”
The first time “Amen” appears in the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) is in Numbers — the third book of the Five Books of Moses — known as the Torah. In Numbers chapter 5, starting with verse 5:11, the passage subhead reads, “The Test for an Unfaithful Wife,” when the Lord tells Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them…” But we begin with verse 5:20 and note that compared to our modern culture, the punishment for adultery was mighty harsh:
“‘But if you have gone astray while married to your husband and you have made yourself impure by having sexual relations with a man other than your husband’ — here the priest is to put the woman under this curse— ‘may the Lord cause you to become a curse among your people when he makes your womb miscarry and your abdomen swell. May this water that brings a curse enter your body so that your abdomen swells or your womb miscarries.’ Then the woman is to say, ‘Amen. So be it’” (Numbers 5:20 -22). (I did warn you.) OK then.. let’s move on to the second time “Amen” appears in the Hebrew Bible.
That is in Deuteronomy, the fifth and final book of the Torah, where the subhead preceding verse 27:9 reads: “Curses from Mount Ebal.” There, Moses addressed the tribes of Israel:
“‘Be silent, Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the Lord your God. Obey the Lord your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today’” (Deuteronomy 27: 9-10).
Then Moses revealed 12 curses if the Israelites dared to disobey the Lord. Each of the 12 ends: “Then the people shall say, Amen!” For example, below are three of the 12:
“‘Cursed is anyone who has sexual relations with any animal. Then all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’” (Deuteronomy 27:21).
“‘Cursed is anyone who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person. Then all the people shall say, “Amen!’” (Deuteronomy 27:25).
And the final “umbrella” curse: “‘Cursed is anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out. Then all the people shall say, “‘Amen!’” (Deuteronomy 27:26).
According to Baker’s Dictionary of Biblical Theology, the verb form of Amen “occurs more than one hundred times in the Old Testament.” The dictionary explains “Amen as an exclamation on twenty-five solemn occasions in the Old Testament. Israel said ‘Amen’ to join in the praises of God – 1 Chron 16:36; Neh 8:6; and at the end of each of the first four books of Psalms, 41:13; 72:19; 89:52; 106:48.”
Regarding Jesus saying “Amen,” numerous translations complicate His use of the actual word. Instead, as an affirmation, we often read Jesus saying, “Truly, truly I say to you.” Again, Baker’s Dictionary of Biblical Theology states there are “nearly seventy occasions in the Gospels (thirty times in Matthew, thirteen in Mark, six in Luke, and twenty in John, where the Amen is always doubled).” However, in my research, I found that usually, we won’t see “Amen” in the most popular translations. For example, in the King James Bible:
“Jesus answered and said unto him, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God’”(John 3:3). In the New International Version:
“Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again’” (John 3:3). Then in the English Standard Version:
“Jesus answered him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God’” (John 3:3).
Outside of the Gospels is when we read the word “Amen.” Once again, Baker’s Dictionary says:
“Several other New Testament epistles follow Paul by praising God and/or calling on him to bestow the grace the readers need (Heb 13:20-21; 1 Pet 4:11; 5:10-11; 2 Pet 3:17-18; Jude 24-25; Rev 22:21).”
Amen is a serious confirmation of God’s word to use as often as you want if you are praising Him, confirming something related to His glory, or praying for His help. Therefore, never sarcastically say “Amen,” even though it is commonly heard and widely accepted in our secular culture. Remember, He is always listening!
Finally, I saw a photo this week that made me want to praise God. It was appropriately captioned “Heavenly,” showing the birth of a star cluster as witnessed by NASA’s James Webb Telescope. Immediately, my thoughts turned to Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” and here was proof. So now, let’s say it twice and loud enough to please the Lord, “Amen and Amen!”
Myra Kahn Adams is a conservative political and religious writer with numerous national credits. Her book, “Bible Study For Those Who Don’t Read The Bible,” reprints the first 56 volumes of this popular study. “Part 2,” with the same title, reprints Vols. 57-113. Order it here.
Myra is also the Executive Director of SignFromGod.org and the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit. Both are educational donor–supported ministries dedicated to building a permanent Shroud of Turin exhibit in Washington, D.C. Visit the life-sized Shroud replica in D.C. Contact: MyraAdams01@gmail.com.
Cross-posted at Townhall and Substack
