“These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God” (Revelation 3:14).
Saying “amen” after a prayer is a practice deeply rooted in biblical tradition and carries significant meaning beyond simply marking the end of a statement. The word “amen” is quite exceptional and has a rich etymology, primarily originating from Hebrew. “Amen” invites us to act, to be true and faithful.
Transliterated directly out of Hebrew into Greek in the New Testament, then into Latin, English, and countless other languages, it’s essentially a universal term. This could be the most widely recognized word in the world. It is far more than a simple closing to a prayer or statement; it embodies the concepts of agreement and commitment.
The word has a close connection—almost perfect match—to the Hebrew word aman which means “believe”, or “faithful”. It developed to express “sure” or “truly,” displaying full trust and confidence. Saying “amen” is our promise to be true and faithful. It’s often translated as “verily” or “truly” in the New Testament.
It’s even one of Christ’s titles. The last of His letters to the seven churches begins with a remarkable salutation by the glorified Lord: “These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God” (Revelation 3:14). The word Ahman, the name of God the Father in Adam’s original language, closely parallels amen and aman. Could His name imply being true and faithful?
Even the commandments of God illustrate “amen’ by being “true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled” (Doctrine and Covenants 1:37).
Etymology of Amen
Here’s a breakdown of its origins and related meanings:
- Hebrew Root
- Amen comes from the Hebrew root אָמַן and is derived from the Hebrew verb aman which means “to uphold, to be faithful, to be firm”. It’s interesting that the word Aman is translated as “doorposts” in 2Ki 18:16, the very pillars faithfully supporting the Holy Temple.
- Linked to True and Faithful
- “Amen” is commonly translated as “truly” or “verily” and shares the same root as “truth” emet (אמת).
- Jesus is “The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness” in Revelation 3:14. One of God’s names in Isaiah 65:16 is “The God of Truth,” which can be translated as “The God of Amen”. The Babylonian Talmud connects “Amen” to “God, faithful King”.
- Meaning in Practice (Derived from Etymology)
- “Amen” signifies a solemn affirmation and speaks the words as your own.
- “Every covenant that we make with God ends with amen (see Doctrine and Covenants 20:73, 77-79). Thus, amen is used to secure or seal covenants. It implies a firm commitment to do as one has promised.
- The “Amen, Amen” formula Jesus used may come from a legal language of the time, where it meant “Very truly” for asserting truth and confirming His statements, like an oath or blessing.
- Saying “Amen” during sacrament prayers represents a commitment to remember Christ, take His name, and keep His commandments. It’s seen as a deliberate commitment or oath.
- Likewise, when we end our prayers with amen, we are not saying ‘the end;’ rather, we are saying ‘I promise’” (Barkdull, “Amen! What Does the Word Truly Mean?” Meridian Magazine, June 6, 2012).
- Scriptural Examples in Oaths
- “Typically, modern speech simply uses amen as end punctuation for a prayer or a religious talk, or as an expression of one’s casual concurrence with what has been said, meaning ‘I agree.’ In biblical times, however, amen had greater significance. ‘[It] was the customary response made to an oath’ and a ‘solemn acknowledgement of the validity of a threat or a curse affecting oneself.’ Thus, when the people said amen under conditions outlined in Num. 5:19–22, Deut. 27:14–26, or Neh. 5:7–13, they bound themselves to solemn oaths and serious obligations (see also Moro. 4:3; Moro. 5:2)” (John W. Welch, “Word Studies from the New Testament,” Ensign, Jan 1995).
- The first biblical appearance of “Amen” is in Numbers 5:22, during the trial of bitter water for a woman accused of adultery. It was a test of her truthfulness and faithfulness. The woman, under oath, was required by God to say “Amen, Amen” when the priest pronounced the curse.
- Brigham Young concludes the revelation to the camp of Israel with Doctrine and Covenants 136:42 “Be diligent in keeping all my commandments, lest judgments come upon you, and your faith fail you, and your enemies triumph over you. So no more at present. Amen and Amen”.
- Note – the only scriptural example of “amen” as a “concluding word or act” (Oxford English Dictionary, “amen,” see #3) is Doctrine and Covenants 121:37.
My greatest desire is to be true and faithful to the end of my days on this earth.
President James E. Faust
An Illustration
What does it mean to take our “amens” seriously and to be true and faithful despite the danger?
At the age of 19, Joseph F. Smith was returning home from a mission with a group of other missionaries. His wagon-train journey took him through a dangerous area where enemies of the Church had vowed to kill the Mormons.
President Smith wrote: “One day after the little company of wagons had … made their camp, a company of drunken men rode into the camp on horseback, cursing and swearing and threatening to kill any ‘Mormons’ that came within their path. … Some of the brethren when they heard them coming had cautiously gone into the brush down the creek, out of sight. … Joseph F. was a little distance from the camp gathering wood for the fire when these men rode up. When he saw them, he said, his first thought was to do what the other brethren had done, and seek shelter in the trees and in flight. Then the thought came to him, ‘Why should I run from these fellows?’ With that thought in mind he boldly marched up with his arms full of wood to the campfire. As he was about to deposit his wood, one of the ruffians, still with his pistols in his hands and pointing at the youthful Elder, and cursing as only a drunken rascal can, declaring that it was his duty to exterminate every ‘Mormon’ he should meet, demanded in a loud, angry voice, ‘Are you a “Mormon”?’
“Without a moment of hesitation and looking the ruffian in the eye, Joseph F. Smith boldly answered, ‘Yes, siree; dyed in the wool; true blue, through and through.’
“The answer was given boldly and without any sign of fear, which completely disarmed the belligerent man, and in his bewilderment, he grasped the missionary by the hand and said: “‘Well, you are the —— —— pleasantest man I ever met! Shake, young fellow, I am glad to see a man that stands up for his convictions.’
“Joseph F. [Smith] said in later years that he fully expected to receive the charge from this man’s pistols, but he could take no other course even though it seemed that his death was to be the result.”
Elder K. Brett Nattress of the Seventy testified: “This incredible act of courage has been an inspiration to me over the years. Joseph F. Smith was unafraid to stand up and be true—“true to the faith that [his] parents [had] cherished” and “true to the truth for which martyrs have perished.” (“Stand Up—Be True,” Liahona, Feb. 2019). This is what it means to take our “amens” seriously.
