peace . love . joy

I think most of us, if not all, have wondered at some point what "amen" means. We say it so often as an end to our prayer, every so often an "amen" is called out when the pastor preaches. So what does it mean, really?

"Amen" is actually one of the few in Scripture that remains in its original Hebrew form across translations. As one site puts it, "it is practically a universal word, having been adopted directly from the Hebrew into Greek, Latin, English, Spanish, and many other languages". This probably indicates that its meaning is not accurately translatable across languages. And this probably also implies that the meaning is too important for any inaccurate or inadequate translation. So if no one term in the English language (that which I am most comfortable with) correctly embodies the meaning of "amen", let us look then to the meaningS we can infer from its use in the Bible.

In essence, we can deduce "amen" to mean "to be firm, faithful, sure". But looking at that bare abstract definition alone subtracts all richness of its meaning. Let us look now into the Bible. Let us look now at how it is, was used by the people whose lives were recorded in the Bible.
(I will give a few examples, not all. Else this will be one really long post.)

"Amen" may be said in response to a prayer, or sermon.
Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, From everlasting and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen
~ Psalm 41:13
Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say "Amen" to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?
~ 1 Cor 14:16
Here, though, it would be good to note that "amen" is not to be said in a flippant manner. It takes one to be utterly serious when uttering "amen". It takes one to comprehend, not just know, what one is responding to. It is heart-felt.

"Amen" may be used as an expression of complete comprehension.
There entails possibly a clause: “whoever pronounces the Amen to them [the laws] acknowledges awareness of the sentence for the pertinent activities. Thus the speaker judges his/her own guilt in the event such a crime is committed” (Wineberger in "Theological Lexicon of the Old Testament").
The earliest (at least as far as I know) record of the use of "amen" is here:
'...May this water that brings the curse pass into your bowels and make your womb swell and your thigh fall away.' And the woman shall say, 'Amen, Amen.'
~ Numbers 5:22
Here, the Lord is speaking to Moses. This was the test for adultery.

"Amen" may be said as a confirmation of Truth.
There is another dimension, shall we say, to "amen". It is that the speaker understands and believes that what was said is True. Truth, with the capital "T". The Truth that is perfect and the total Truth. This is bordering, if not already, implying that that Truth is like a promise. One may believe in it and hold fast to it in all earnestness. It is a display of confidence and faith.
" 'Cursed be anyone who lies with any kind of animal.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'
~ Deuteronomy 27:21

"Amen" was said by Jesus.
In John, "amen" was always recorded twice; "verily, verily". Which means "truly, truly". This may serve as an emphasis of the authority of the Christ. As an expression of "thus sayeth the Lord" with absolute confidence in every word.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
~ John 8:51

"Amen" as one of the Names of God Almighty
"And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation..."
~ Revelations 3:14
He who invokes a blessing on himself in the land shall do so by the God whose name is Amen...
~ Isaiah 65:16

What really fascinates me is just that - my God is the God of the Amen. My God is Amen.

Do you not realise what that means?
"Amen" means Truth. "Amen" means faithfulness.
My God is Truth embodied. All I believe in and about Him is True. And that I can say with complete confidence.
My God is faithful. All that He promises will and must come to pass.

You think I say this with the faith of a young child? Why this strikes me is precisely because I am a growing child! A child who has a thing for looking into the past. My God has blessed me with sufficient insight into the past and the future. Enough for me to know that He is moving. Enough for me to know His Plan at some junctures. Enough for me to say that He is True. He is faithful.

Look into your own past. See the Hand of the All Mighty move!
See and know for sure that He is faithful.
See and know for sure that what you believe in, who you believe in is True!

My God is the God of the "Amen".

Who is your God?