Amen is a Hebrew word meaning 'truly, so be it' — from aman, 'to be firm, to believe.' It passed untranslated into Greek and English. Jesus uniquely opened sayings with it ('Verily'), and Revelation calls Him 'the Amen.'

What does amen mean?

Amen comes from the Hebrew root aman (H539), "to be firm, reliable, to trust" — the same root that gives us emunah (faithfulness). To say "amen" is to plant your feet on what was just said: firm, true, let it stand. It entered Greek, Latin, and English untranslated — possibly the most universal word on earth.

Normally amen is a response — the congregation's signature on a prayer or blessing. But Jesus did something no one else did: He put it at the front of His own sentences, vouching for His words in advance. The KJV renders this "Verily":

“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 (KJV)

Paul makes amen point to Christ Himself — the guarantee of every promise:

“For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”2 Corinthians 1:20 (KJV)

And in Revelation, Amen becomes His name outright: "These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness." Fittingly, the entire Bible closes with the word — the last word of Revelation 22:21 is "Amen."

See amen (G281) through the NT →

What does amen mean?

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