Amen
literally “true” and used as a substantive, “that which is true,” “truth,” (Isaiah 65:16) a word used in strong asseverations, fixing, as it were, the stamp of truth upon the assertion which it accompanied, and making it binding as an oath. Comp. (Numbers 5:22) In the synagogues and private houses it was customary for the people or members of the family who were present to say “amen” to the prayers which were offered.
(Matthew 6:13; 1 Corinthians 14:16) And not only public prayers, but those offered in private, and doxologies, were appropriately concluded with “amen.” (Romans 9:5; 11:36; 15:33; 16:27; 2 Corinthians 13:14) etc.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Amen
Amen a-men' (in ritual speech and in singing a-men', a'men) ('amen; amen, = "truly," "verily"): Is derived from the reflexive form of a verb meaning "to be firm," or "to prop." It occurs twice as a noun in Isa 65:16, where we have (the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American)) "God of truth." This rendering implies the pointing 'omen or 'emun i.e. "truth," or "faithfulness," a reading actually suggested by Cheyne and adopted by others. "Amen" is generally used as an adverb of assent or confirmation--fiat, "so let it be." In Jer 28:6 the prophet endorses with it the words of Hananiah. Amen is employed when an individual or the whole nation confirms a covenant or oath recited in their presence (Nu 5:22; De 27:15 ff; Ne 5:13, etc.). It also occurs at the close of a psalm or book of psalms, or of a prayer. ⇒See a list of verses on AMEN in the Bible. That "Amen" was appended to the doxology in the early church is evident both from Paul and Rev, and here again it took the form of a response by the hearers. The ritual of the installation of the Lamb (Re 5:6-14) conclud…
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible on Amen
This word found its way bodily from the Heb. (]?¥) into the Hellenistic idiom tnrough the LXX, and strengthened its hold later on by its more copious use in the version of Symmachus. It is derived from [ix he propped, in Niphal (re- flexive) he was firm. So the adverb ]PN, firmly, came to be used, like our surely, for confirmation, in various ways. (1) It is used for the purpose of adopting as one's own what has just been said (this answering sense being apparently the orig. one, Nu 5^) = ' so is it,' or ' so shall it be,' rather than the less compre- hensive ' so be it,' though ' so be it ' is occasionally the prominent meaning (Jer 28'). The word is limited to the religious atmosphere, being, on human lips, an expression of faith that God holds the thing true, or will or can make it true. Thus after the ' oath of cursing,' recited in Nu 5^, there is added, both in the orig. Hebrew and in the Greek of Sym., 'The woman shall say. Amen, Amen,' the word being doubled for empnasis; where the LXX, however, haa the inadequate y^voiro, yivotro, so be it, as is the case in nineteen out of t…
Fausset's Bible Dictionary on Amen
("firm", "faithful", else "verily".) Jesus is "the Amen, the, faithful and true witness" (Rev 3:14). Compare 2Co 1:20; Joh 1:14; Joh 1:17; Joh 14:6. "The God of Amen" (Hebrew for "truth") (Isa 65:16). Jesus alone introduces His authoritative declarations with Amen in the beginning; in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, singly, in John (Joh 3:3; Joh 3:5; Joh 3:11; Joh 10:1) always doubled. It is most marked how the apostles and others avoid the use of it in the beginning, which is His divine prerogative. Jer 28:6 is not an exception; it is praying for the divine ratification of what preceded. In oaths those who pronounce the "Amen" bind themselves by the oath (Num 5:22; Deu 27:15-26). God alone can seal all His declarations of promise or threat with the "Amen," verily, in its fullest sense; our assertions mostly need some qualification. As John records Christ's discourses on the deeper things of God, which man is slow to believe, the double Amen is appropriately found at the beginning of such discourses 25 times. Amen was the proper response to a prayer, an oath, or a solemn promise (1Ki 1:30;…
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia