Bible Word Study
אֶמֶת
ʼemeth · stability; (figuratively) certainty, truth, trustworthiness
אֶמֶת
stability; (figuratively) certainty, truth, trustworthiness
Definition
The Hebrew word אֶמֶת (ʼemeth) fundamentally means 'firmness,' 'stability,' or 'reliability.' It describes something that is solid, trustworthy, and enduring. Figuratively, it most often means 'truth'—not just factual accuracy, but a reliable, faithful, and dependable reality that aligns with God's character and promises (e.g., Genesis 24:27). It can describe a person's integrity (Exodus 18:21), the certainty of a statement (Genesis 42:16), or the trustworthiness of God's covenantal love (Exodus 34:6).
Biblical Usage
אֶמֶת is used 124 times across the Old Testament, appearing most frequently in Psalms, Proverbs, and the historical books. It often describes God's faithful character and reliable words (Psalm 31:5). In legal or covenantal contexts, it denotes honesty and integrity in human dealings (Exodus 18:21). A key pattern is its pairing with חֶסֶד (ḥesed, 'steadfast love'), especially in describing God's attributes (Psalm 25:10, Exodus 34:6).
Etymology
Derived from the root אָמַן (ʼāman, H539), which means 'to be firm, support, be faithful.' This root gives us words like 'amen' and 'faithful' (אֱמוּנָה, ʼemunah). אֶמֶת is a noun form expressing the state or quality of being firm, reliable, and true, evolving from concrete stability to abstract concepts of faithfulness and truth.
Semantic Range
אֶמֶת is a cornerstone theological term for understanding God's nature. It reveals God as utterly reliable, faithful to His covenants, and the source of all truth. This Hebrew concept enriches the reading of passages like Exodus 34:6, where God's 'truth' (אֶמֶת) is part of His self-revelation, inseparable from His mercy. It underpins the biblical idea that truth is not just an idea but a faithful, active reality grounded in God's character. In ancient Israelite culture, truth was understood more in relational and covenantal terms than as mere factual correspondence. A 'true' statement or person was one you could build your life upon because it was dependable and faithful. This contrasts with some modern, more abstract or purely intellectual understandings of truth. אֱמוּנָה (ʼemunah, H530) — emphasizes faithfulness, trustworthiness as a firm belief. צֶדֶק (tzedeq, H6664) — emphasizes righteousness, justice, and rightness in action. יָשָׁר (yashar, H3477) — emphasizes uprightness, moral straightness.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]