خواص دارویی و گیاهی
Copy Right By 2016 – 1395
The Hebrew language developed in a nomadic agricultural culture. Because of this much of the language is centered around this lifestyle. The more we understand their way of life and culture, the more we can understand their language. This benefits us, as Bible students, because we can better understand the author’s message if we better understand his language.
In our culture, concepts, words and ideas are taught by using other concepts, words and ideas. Often this is a very difficult task to accomplish. Since the Hebrew language is a task oriented language, teaching these concepts, words and ideas are much easier.
The subject we are going to cover here, is a prime example. If you wanted to teach your children what it means to believe, how would you do it? If you think about it, it is very difficult thing to do.
In Genesis 4:20 we read about the first Nomad Jabal, a descendent of Adam through Cain.
“And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.”
meaning of the word believe in hebrew
We know that Jabal and his descendents were nomads from the simple fact they lived in tents and raised livestock. A tent (ohel in Hebrew) is a portable shelter for the purpose of moving from one grazing place to another. The Hebrew word used in the above for cattle is miqneh which actually means any livestock property. This could be cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys, etc. When the livestock consumed the edible vegetation in one area, the herder would then pack up his tent and his belongings and move on to better grazing land.
Probably the most famous nomad is Abraham. He traveled a great deal through the land of the Near East living in tents and raising livestock.
The tent is a very important part of the nomads life. By looking at the many words derived from this shelter we have tangible, hands on tools with which to teach our children the basic concepts in the Bible. In this study we will be looking at a tent stake. For those who have camped before, you are probably familiar with these stakes. What is the most important factor when placing your tent stakes? The ground. If you drive it in soft ground, any tension on the rope will pull the stake right out. You need very firm ground to hold the stake in. The ideal ground would require a hammer to beat the stake in. In ground like this the stake will remain secure in its position even in a strong wind. Let us now look at a passage of Scripture that uses this “concept”.
Isaiah 22:23 “I will drive him like a peg into a firm place, he will be a seat of honor for the house of his father.”
Here we have the stake (peg) being driven into a “firm” place. The Hebrew word translated as “firm” here is the verb אמן (aman, Strong’s #539) which literally means “to be firm or sure”. When setting up our tent, we desire to find a spot where the ground will be firm.
The verb aman is used 110 times in the Old Testament. Let us now look at another passage using this same verb and see what it says.
Genesis 15:6
“Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness”
The word “believed” is the very same Hebrew verb aman. The picture we have from this is that Abram was firm in his devotion to God. Just as a stake planted in firm ground supports the tent, even in a storm, Abram will support God, even in the storms of life. The question we now ask is, how did Abram remain firm? The verse just before states;
Genesis 15:5,6 ‘[God] took [Abram] outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars–if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness.’
We usually read this to mean that Abram believed God’s promise in verse 5. The problem with this is that the Hebrew verb aman means more than just knowing something to be true. Why did God give this promise to Abram?
Genesis 26:4,5 “I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws (Torah in Hebrew)”.
God made this promise to Abram because he was firm in his obedience to God. The Hebrew in Genesis 15:6 does not say Abram “believed” God, it says he was “firm” in God. From Genesis 26:5 we see that he was firm in his obedience to God and his Torah.
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We are told
that if we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ then we shall be saved[1].
It therefore clearly behooves us to know what the word believe really
means. Fortunately it is a fairly direct translation of two words:
‘âman (H539)
in the Hebrew and pisteuō (G4100). There are two additional Greek words
rendered believe but they are the noun and adjective form of the same verb.meaning of the word believe in hebrew
Somewhat less
pleasingly the meaning of the Hebrew is very broad indeed. The distribution of
KJV translations for
‘âman emphasizes this: believe[2](44),
faithful (20), sure(12), established (7), brought(5), trust(6), verified(3),
continuance(2), nurse(5), stand(1). This slightly off-putting list needs to be
balanced by the emphasis the Bible places upon the importance of the word. Here
is the first use of
âman.
Gen 15:6 And he [Abraham] believed539
in the LORD;3068 and he counted2803
it to him for righteousness.6666
Clearly the
word ‘believe’ and ‘salvation’ are as closely tied in Old Testament theology as
they are in the New Testament.
Looking up
‘âman in a dictionary[3]
shows that the breadth of translation provided by the King James is entirely
reasonable:
1) to support, confirm, be faithful
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to support, confirm, be faithful, uphold, nourish
1a1a) foster-father (substantive)
1a1b) foster-mother, nurse
1a1c) pillars, supporters of the door
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be established, be faithful, be carried, make firm
1b1a) to be carried by a nurse
1b1b) made firm, sure, lasting
1b1c) confirmed, established, sure
1b1d) verified, confirmed
1b1e) reliable, faithful, trusty
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to stand firm, to trust, to be certain, to believe in
1c1a) stand firm
1c1b) trust, believe
Of course the
quick answer is simply to jump to the Hiphil parsing; note that it is the
parsing used in Gen 15:6[4]
and simply state that it means a firm trust in something. In many ways that is
reasonable but I think the other definitions help color the meaning
beautifully.
Firstly we
note that the root meaning is to build up or support.[5]
This is used of a nail supporting a door and of someone nursing a child. We see
both the firmness and strength coupled with the need for ongoing persistence (or
faithfulness). The Niphal then shows the effect of the root; that one
should be supported, established or verified. The Hiphal is then causative (the
NET Bible[6]
describes it as declarative); the effect of this steadfast reliability and
support is that one considers something steadfast, reliable and
supportive. Walker-Jones[7]
gives a fascinating insight into the Hiphil; he states that the Hiphil tends to
refer to something that only occurs a few times and that the object as well as
the subject are causal in the event. Thus in the case of Abraham we may well be
seeing saving faith at this point; Abraham is responding to God’s providence by
transitioning to a state where he considers God as his supporter.
Often when
coming upon the meaning of an English word in the Bible one is faced with the
question as to whether or not the Hebrew and Greek meanings of a translated word
are equivalent. Happily we have no such decision to make for ‘believe’ as the
Holy Spirit made it for us. Rom 4:3 quotes Gen 15:6 and the Greek word used in
place of
‘âman is
pisteuō.
The translation of pisteuō is also not in question. Of the 250 times it
occurs it is translated believe or some derivative 240 times; the other ten
commit (7) and trust(3). What is interesting however is that the root meaning of
the word is very different from the Hebrew equivalent.
Pisteuō is the verb
form of
pistis which means the conviction of truth of something or to trust the
fidelity of someone[8].
They are both derived from
peithō which means to persuade. Thus we see that whereas
‘âman looks for a response to providence
pisteuō looks for a response to truth.
Whilst
remembering that the Spirit has equated these two words it is interesting to
ponder why such an important concept is allowed to have two different shades of
meaning in the Old and New Testament. I suggest it is a simple result of the
cultural realities of the situation. In the Old Testament God had worked
extensively and visibly with Abraham prior to his believing. Throughout Israel’s
history they were raised directly under the hand of God and their covenant
provided that faithfulness would be met by increased provision. In the New
Testament there is no such guarantee; our reward is in heaven. Also prior to
belief the Gentile is an object of wrath and thus whilst the object of
general provision they will not have been the subject of special provision.
We are thus asked to believe in the truth of God’s promises independent
of physical verification.
The above
stated: it is probably worth also noting that in Gen 15:6 Abraham believed
immediately after God made a promise that defied physical verification or common
sense[9].
The New Testament makes clear also that the nature of God is visible to
us through creation even before our salvation. I think we therefore see how the
two shades of meaning dovetail together. No matter the covenant in force the
requirement placed upon man is that they should believe (consider true) what God
is telling them and rely upon it.
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The Hebrew word Emunah may not sound familiar to you at first, but how about the word AMEN? How is “faith” defined in Hebrew? What does Amen really mean? How are these two Hebrew words are connected? Read on to find out.
Exploring the meaning of Hebrew words is like receiving an unexpected gift. The depth of God’s character is unveiled in the process. That, in turn, can make way for new facets of trust to be established in our relationship with Him.
Let’s define “faith.” The Hebrew word emunah (אמונה, pronounced “eh-moo-nah”) is understood in English to mean “faith” or “belief”. But it is often also translated as “faithfulness.” And yet, it describes much more than just believing a statement about God. It reveals a life of full reliance upon Him. Let’s find out about the meaning of Amen.
Emunah is faith that results in faithfulness, implying action. It shouldn’t be a total surprise then that the word amen shares the root with Emunah. Amen means “so be it” or “may it be so,” and shares the root also with eman, meaning “to confirm”. Add to that haemeen, which means “to trust” or “confide in”.meaning of the word believe in hebrew
Consider all their meanings together and you’ll realize something very profound. When we say “amen” at the end of a prayer, it is not just a closing statement or ritual word. It is an agreement to act upon what we have prayed!
Think about that for a moment and allow the awareness of “amen” to serve as a reminder each time you pray. It’s easy to ask something of God in prayer. But as His children, we are invited into a partnership with Him – what a beautiful concept!
Faith doesn’t just happen in your head – it happens in your entire body.
Throughout the Bible, the idea of faith is like a staircase. You may intellectually know that the stairs go up to the next level. But until you climb the stairs, you won’t actually experience that next level. This is what Martin Luther King Jr. meant when he said: “faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.”
You can’t just believe in the stairs and settle for knowing the stairs are there. You have to climb the stairs!
I love what James, who was the brother of Jesus, wrote: “Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?” (James 2:17)… Maybe you’ve heard it in a different translation that says, “In the same way, faith without works is dead.”
Emunah is not faith alone, it is faith completed by works. According to the biblical definition of faith, what you do is more important than what you know.
The Emunah kind of faith is what set apart the biblical saints described in Hebrews 11. This chapter is commonly referred to as the “hall of heroes”. We read here about Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses and Rahab. And more!
Though their stories and circumstances varied, they each held a firm conviction in their hearts. They lived with the expectation that God would accomplish all that He had promised. This was reflected in the way they lived, in defining faith itself.
“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (NASB 1995)
The same should be true of us as followers of Yeshua. Keep in mind that our spiritual heroes credited in Hebrews 11 weren’t without flaws. And thankfully God doesn’t expect total perfection of us in order to recognize or accept the steps taken in faith.
In fact, it is not about us or dependent upon our humanity. Emunah faith is powerful because it is a reflection of the great I Am. We can take those steps into the unknown because we are relying on and putting our trust in God and His Word.
On this note, the late theologian Dr. Edmund Perry offers a beautiful revelation:
This steadiness, however, is not the result of stabilizing oneself with one’s own resources. One steadies himself by taking hold of or supporting himself on something or someone regarded to be stable and reliable.1
What about when the Lord allows us, His sons and daughters, to face a challenge to our faith? The times when He knows and allows us to walk into circumstances that turn out to be challenging or even downright wretched?
Consider the account in Matthew 14:22, which says:
“Immediately afterward He compelled the disciples to get into the boat and to go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away.” (NASB, emphasis mine)
Other translations say Jesus “made the disciples” (ESV), “constrained his disciples” (KJB) and even “insisted” (NLT). Which sounds like He intentionally sent them into the storm.
Dave Adamson, director of IsraelU, reflects on this seemingly irrational (perplexing?) idea:
“Jesus knew His followers would be scared, and He knew they would cry out to Him. But He sent them anyway. Jesus sent them into the storm because He knew it was in the middle of the storm that He would reveal His love and mercy! He knew He would calm their storm.”
Jesus’ friends and disciples knew about God. But this circumstance necessitated that they press in and cry out for His intervention—even in prayer. We need BOTH the understanding and the action. When we assume faith is just about what you know, then we miss half of what it means to HAVE Emunah – faith! We need to be able to say with confidence, “amen,” and mean it.
In His sovereign wisdom, God gives us these storms for our advantage and sanctification. So that our faith might be “perfected”. Lately I’ve been recognizing this in terms of building layers of trust to the foundation of faith that I have in Jesus.
“We hope for power in the midst of weakness; we hope for peace in the midst of conflict and for joy in the presence of sorrow. For all these reasons, God’s people require faith to persevere in a difficult world.” Explains Richard Philips.2
In a sense, emunah is also an expression of persistence, or steadfastness. It is often in those difficult circumstances that a certain level of endurance is cultivated. Our faith becomes tenacious.
In Exodus 17 we read about how Moses raised his hands all day long until the Israelites won a key battle. The details say that his hands remained steady, emunah, until sunset. In this sense emunah means steadfast.
Other words to describe emunah are: reliable, dependable, stable, steady, verified, true.
Emunah is faithfulness in fulfilling promises and is applicable to both man (Psalm 37:3, Habakkuk 2:4) and God (Deut 32:4, Psalm 36:6).
“Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.” Habakkuk 2:4, NLT.
Emunah faith is backed up with action consistent with the assertion of faith. Faith placed in God and all that He promised to us in Jesus is the means by which we possess the kingdom of heaven while on the earth.
So here’s the question of the day: Do the people around you SEE your faith in actions? Do they experience your faith in God only through words …or through the way you serve them?
He rewards the faith of those who passionately seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6 TPT)
When you read the Bible, knowing some Hebrew words will always enhance your understanding. Check out the 7 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know.
meaning of the word believe in hebrew
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BELIEVE
HEBREW = ‘AMAN
Aman (0539) conveys the basic idea of providing stability and confidence. To be steady, firm and thus trustworthy. Aman speaks of certainty and thus can mean to confirm or to affirm.
See Related Resources:
Some sources consider the primary root meaning of aman to be “to prop” or “to support”, a meaning which is literally portrayed in the use in 2Ki 18:16 where aman is used to depict the doorposts, clearly emphasizing the ideas stability or support. Another picture of the meaning of ‘aman is seen in the related (derivative) noun ’emunah in Ex 17:12
But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady (emunah derived from ‘aman) until the sun set.meaning of the word believe in hebrew
IMPORTANCE OF
THE HEBREW VERB STEM
Since various Hebrew verb stems are referenced in this discussion of the verb aman, let us review a very simple classification of the Hebrew verb stems: (1) Simple Action = Qal (Active) and Niphal (Passive) (2) Intensive Action = Piel (Active) and Pual (Passive) (3) Causative action = Hiphil (Active) and Hophal (Passive) (4) Reflexive action = Hithpael. It follows that aman has slightly different nuances of meaning depending on which Hebrew verb stem is used…
Qal = to nurse (Nu 11:12, Ru 4:16, 2Sa 4:4 = nurse, 2Ki 10:1, Is 49:23 = guardians), to nourish
Comment: The idea is that of providing stability and confidence, like a baby would find in the arms of a parent, nurse or guardian.
Niphal = show to be firm, to be established, to be steadfast; to be carried (Is 60:4), be faithful
Hiphil = to consider established, to regard as true, to consider faithful, to cause to be supported by, to rely on, to commit oneself to, to believe
Comment: One of the best OT examples of a man who was faithful was Daniel. Although Da 6:4 (see note) is written in Aramaic, the Aramaic verb (aman) is essentially identical to the Hebrew.
PRINCIPLE OF
FIRST USE
Recall that the “first use” of a word in Scripture is often very significant as it establishes the primary or most significant meaning, and this general principle is true in the Spirit’s inspired use of ‘aman in Genesis 15:6 where “Abram believed in Jehovah” = Hebrew verb ‘aman = Greek verb (Septuagint – Lxx) pisteuo [see word study]
Genesis 15:6-note Then he believed (Aman in the Hiphil stem) in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
Comment: The use of aman in this passage indicates that Abram did not just give mental assent to God’s promise (Ge 15:5), but that he relied on that promise and made a personal commitment. In other words Abram’s faith was not only cognitive (the mental act of acquiring knowledge) but also personal for he believed God’s word of promise (Cp the NT “commentary” on this OT use of “aman” — Hebrews 11:8-note = His faith was the root of the fruit of obedience, which is a sign that one’s faith is genuine saving faith and not just mental assent! {See obedience of faith and separate discussion of faith and obedience} Note the depth of his faith which led to the ultimate act of obedience in Heb 11:17, 18, 19-note) and he committed his soul to the God Who had revealed Himself. Considering that “amen” (truly, it is certain) is derived from “aman”, it is as if Abram heard God’s promise in Ge 15:5 and said “Amen!” Jesus repeatedly used the Hebrew word “amen” (“Truly”) to express the trustworthiness and abiding certainty of His sayings.
Paul’s use of Genesis 15:6 in Ro 4:3-note, Ro 4:9-note, Ro 4:22-note and Galatians 3:6 demonstrates that this Old Testament verse is foundational for our understanding of what it means to “believe” God.
Caveat: The use of the Hebrew verb aman in Genesis 15:6 provides the key to how a man or woman was saved in Old Testament and that key is by grace through faith just as in the New Testament. OT saints were not saved by works of “righteousness” (Ro 3:20-note Ro 9:11-note Ro 11:5,6-note Eph 2:8, 9-note 2Ti 1:9-note, Titus 3:5-note), by keeping the Law (Dt 27:26, Gal 3:10, Jas 2:10) or by performing the prescribed sacrifices (He 9:9, 10-note, He 10:1, 2-note, He 10:11-note He 10:3-note explains in part the purpose of sacrifices). Wendell Johnston writes that…
The Mosaic Law was the rule of life for Israel, but salvation came, as it always does, by faith, not from keeping the Law. With the Law came a greater realization of God’s character and a deeper understanding of their unrighteousness. The Law demanded complete obedience to every detail, something impossible to do. (The Theological Wordbook, pp 111-112). (Bold italics mine for emphasis)
Now does this indisputable truth abrogate, negate or in any way disparage the Law? Does it make one “lawless” once they are justified (declared righteous) by grace through faith? A thousand times “no”! While this page is not the forum in which the importance of the Law will be discussed, just let us remember that no less of a theologian than Paul the Apostle asked “Is the Law sin?” and quickly answered “May it never be!” (Ro 7:7-note) and goes on to extol the Law as “holy, and the commandment (as) holy and righteous and good” (Ro 7:12, 13-note, Ro 7:14-note). And of course the greatest “Theologian”, our Lord Jesus Christ underscored the holiness of the Law when He declared “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.” (Mt 5:17-note). In his sermon on Mt 5:18-note entitled The Perpetuity of the Law of God, C H Spurgeon introduces his message with these words…
IT has been said that he who understands the two covenants is a theologian, and this is, no doubt, true. I may also say that the man who knows the relative positions of the law and of the gospel has the keys of the situation in the matter of doctrine. The relationship of the law to myself, and how it condemns me: the relationship of the gospel to myself, and how if I be a believer it justifies me-these are two points which every Christian man should clearly understand. He should not “see men as trees walking” in this department, or else he may cause himself great sorrow, and fall into errors which will be grievous to his heart and injurious to his life.
To form a mingle-mangle of law and gospel
is to teach that which is neither law nor gospel,
but the opposite of both.
May the Spirit of God be our teacher, and the Word of God be our lesson-book, and then we shall not err….O God, I am everywhere condemned, for everywhere thy Law reveals to me my serious deviations from the way of righteousness and shows me how far short I come of thy glory. Have Thou pity on Thy servant, for I fly to the Gospel which has done for me what the law could never do.
To see the law by Christ fulfill’d,
And hear his pardoning voice,
Changes a slave into a child,
And duty into choice.
Respected theologian J. Gresham Machen emphasized the importance of the place of the Law writing…
A new and more powerful proclamation of that law is perhaps the most pressing need of the hour; men would have little difficulty with the gospel if they had only learned the lesson of the law. So it always is: a low view of law always brings legalism in religion; a high view of law makes a man a seeker after grace/ Pray God that the high view may again prevail. (What is Faith?, [Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust], pp. 141-142).
For more on relationship of the Old Covenant (“the Law”) and the New Covenant see Covenant: Abrahamic vs Old vs New
The Septuagint (LXX) translates aman in Genesis 15:6 with the Greek verb pisteuo which like aman represents not just a mental assent (one has to of course first have a mental apprehension or grasp of the truth) to the truth but as W E Vine has summarized includes (1) a firm conviction producing a full acknowledgement of God’s revelation or truth (2) a personal surrender to that truth (ultimately “truth” is a Person – Christ = Jn 14:6) and (3) a conduct inspired by that surrender.
The Hiphil (verbal stem – causative) form of the verb aman signifies to build upon, and so to rest one’s faith upon which perfectly describes the description of Abram who rested his confidence in the Divine character, and based his hope of a future Seed on the Divine word. In other words, as Paul explains, Abram believed the Gospel (Gal 3:8 = the Gospel was preached in the OT!) and in the promise of the Seed, the Messiah, Christ. Abram thus becomes the “prototype” for all OT men and women who also were also justified (declared righteous) by grace through faith in the good news of the coming Messiah. As to how much detail the OT believers had regarding the redemptive work of the Messiah we can only surmise. The point is that they had enough light to make a firm committal to God’s promise of a coming Redeemer and to result in genuine salvation.
Run and work the Law commands
But gives me neither feet nor hands.
A sweeter sound the Gospel brings;
It bids me fly and gives me wings.
NET Bible Note: The Hebrew verb אָמַן (’aman) means “to confirm, to support” in the Qal verbal stem. Its derivative nouns refer to something or someone that/who provides support, such as a “pillar,” “nurse,” or “guardian, trustee.”
In the Niphal (Passive simple – thus “be”) stem it comes to mean “to be faithful, to be reliable, to be dependable,” or “to be firm, to be sure.”
In the Hiphil, the form used in Ge 15:6, ‘aman takes on a declarative sense: “to consider something reliable [or “dependable”].” Abram regarded the God who made this promise as reliable and fully capable of making it a reality. (NETBible Genesis 15:6)
Richards comments: Aman…focuses our attention on the absolute trustworthiness of the object of Abram’s faith, and expresses Abram’s own firm conviction that God’s promise to him was reliable. Abram’s belief in God is held up in Scripture as an example of saving faith. Abram examined the circumstances, recognized the human impossibility of fathering a child with Sarai, and yet remained convinced that God could and would do what He promised (Ed: Note that implicit in Abram’s “aman” is the idea of believing the promise even while not seeing the promise fulfilled). Ro 4:18-note, Ro 4:19, 20, 21-note reminds us that a similar faith–won righteousness is credited to us when we too are “fully persuaded that God [has] power to do what He [has] promised” us in Christ.
In summary, when aman means to believe it pictures the firm, wholehearted committal of one’s self to the truth which is revealed and which calls for a response (to believe or not to believe? — that is the question!). Genuine belief holds nothing back as poignantly illustrated when God asked the Abraham to take his “only son, whom you love, Isaac” and sacrifice him as a whole “burnt offering” [such an offering completely burnt would be a picture of holding nothing back from God!] (Ge 22:2, See the truth about God that Abraham knew and truly believed in He 11:19-note)
Is there such a thing as “Belief of Unbelief?” – See Discussion of this Topic by Charles Swindoll and Roy Zuck
Charles Swindoll: Tragically many people are convinced that it doesn’t really matter what you believe, so long as you are sincere. This reminds me of a Peanuts cartoon in which Charlie Brown is returning from a disastrous baseball game. The caption read, “174 to nothing! How could we lose when we were so sincere?” The reality is, Charlie Brown, that it takes more than sincerity to win the game of life. Many people are sincere about their beliefs, but they are sincerely wrong! (Understanding Christian Theology)
Net Bible says that…
the verbal root אָמַן (’aman) means “to support.” There are a number of derived nouns that have the sense of reliability: “pillars,” “master craftsman,” “nurse,” “guardian.” Modifiers related to this group of words includes things like “faithful,” “surely,” “truly” (amen). In the derived stems the verb (‘aman) develops various nuances: The Niphal has the meanings of “reliable, faithful, sure, steadfast,” and the Hiphil has the meaning “believe” (i.e., consider something dependable). The noun “truth” (’emet which is derived from ‘aman) means what is reliable or dependable, firm or sure. (NETBible Proverbs 8:7)
Derivatives of aman include: (1) emunah “faith” (2) amen which conveys this idea of “It is solidly, firmly, surely true and verified and established.”meaning of the word believe in hebrew
TWOT writes…
This very important concept in biblical doctrine gives clear evidence of the biblical meaning of “faith” in contradistinction to the many popular concepts of the term. At the heart of the meaning of the root is the idea of certainty. And this is borne out by the NT definition of faith found in Hebrews 11:1-note.
The basic root idea is
firmness or certainty.
In the Qal it expresses the basic concept of support and is used in the sense of the strong arms of the parent supporting the helpless infant. The constancy involved in the verbal idea is further seen in that it occurs in the Qal only as a participle (expressing continuance of the support). The idea of support is also seen in 2Ki 18:16 (‘aman = doorposts), where it refers to pillars of support.
In the Hiphil (causative), it basically means “to cause to be certain, sure” or “to be certain about,” “to be assured.” In this sense the word in the Hiphil conjugation is the Biblical word for “to believe” and shows that biblical faith is an assurance, a certainty, in contrast with modem concepts of faith as something possible, hopefully true, but not certain.
Following from this we find the word in the passive Qal participle used with a passive meaning “one who is established” or “one who is confirmed,” i.e. “faithful one” (2Sa 20:19; Ps 12:1; 31:23).
In the Niphal conjugation the meaning is “to be established” (2Sa 7:16; 1Chr 17:23; 2Chr 6:17; Is 7:9).
GOD IS
‘AMAN
God is described as faithful (‘aman – Dt 7:9, Isa 49:7). Beloved let us meditate on this eternal truth – Others may and often do disappoint us. God never fails. His Word never fails as affirmed with the last words of one of His faithful men, Joshua (Josh 23:14). He remains faithful, true and constant throughout all the storms of life. That does not mean we won’t experience or feel the brunt of those storms, but it means that even in the storms, He remains ‘aman which should evoke from all His children a grace enabled, gratitude filled “Amen”! (See 2Cor 1:20NIV)! Sometimes we are being allowed to experience the storms, so that we might grow to trust Him more, yea even to learn the secret as did Paul (in Php 4:11, 12-note) which was the foundation for his famous declaration in Php 4:13-note! (See related topic – Inductive Study on the Power of God’s Word)
God has bound Himself to His people when He cut an everlasting, unconditional (He will fulfill it regardless of what men do or don’t do) covenant (Ge 15:18). His covenant relationship binds Him to be ever faithful to those who are in covenant with Him. God responds with covenant love to those who love and serve Him. (See also study of God’s attribute = Faithfulness; Topic related to God’s faithfulness is His lovingkindness – see Study of Lovingkindness – Hesed).
The City of God (Ps 46:4-note, Ps 87:3-note), Jerusalem, is referred to twice as a “Faithful (aman) city”. The first mention refers to the city created to be faithful but which had fallen into (spiritual) harlotry (Isa 1:21-note). In the second mention of Jerusalem, Isaiah presents a prophetic promise from the Faithful God that His city will once again be “be called the city of righteousness, A faithful (aman) city.” (Isaiah 1:26-note)
GOD’S WORD IS
‘AMAN
Not only is God described as faithful but so is His Word (testimony) (Ps 19:7-note; Ps 93:5-note; Ps 111:7-note; cp Ps 119:66-note). And because of such a sure, reliable, trustworthy Word, the hymnist can unwaveringly declare (as can all His children)…
His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.
My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less (The Solid Rock)
YouTube – 4Him – The Solid Rock
YouTube – My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less
Beloved, this quality of God’s Word and the hymn’s testimony to it’s trustworthy character, begs the question – Are you allowing God’s sure, confirmed testimonies and precepts to be your support in the flood you are currently experiencing (or may soon be experiencing)? Dear tested child of God, you can rely fully and firmly on the fact that…
Every word of God is tested.
He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
Proverbs 30:5-note by Charles Bridges
‘Aman describes Abraham the believer (Gal 3:9), the friend of God (2Chr 20:7, Is 41:8, Jas 2:23-note) who believed (Ge 15:6) and Moses God’s friend (Ex 33:11) and servant who was “faithful” (‘aman – Nu 12:7). These associations of ‘aman with the covenant term “friend” beg the question – “Am I a friend of God? Does the general direction and tenor of my life support that claim?” If we desire to be a friend of God, we must believe Him and our behavior should sound a loud “amen” (Click for Mounce’s interesting note on the true meaning of “amen”) as testimony to the fact that we are fully, wholehearted committed to Jehovah, our Covenant Partner and faithful covenant keeping God.
ASSOCIATION OF BELIEVE WITH
OBEDIENCE, HOPE, PERSEVERANCE
Few words in the Bible carry as much meaning as ‘believe” and “belief.” They are related to such words as “trust,” “confidence,” and “faith.” To help understand believe (or place one’s faith in something) let’s look at some of it’s “friends” such as words like obey and hope and persevere.
Obedience is a supernatural “fruit” of faith, which is the “root”. Thus we see in Ge 15:6 Abraham believed and Ge 22:18 God says he obeyed. We also see his obedience in Ge 17:26, 27 in carrying out God’s call to circumcise the males. In neither case did Abraham’s obedience “save” him (result in God’s reckoning or crediting perfect righteousness to his account so to speak), but in both cases his obedience was the natural (more accurately supernatural) outworking of his faith (cp He 11:8-note, see also topic faith and obedience).
Faith is related to hope, because Biblical hope is not “hope so” but reflects an absolute assurance that God will do good to me in the future, which is very close to the Hebrews 11:1-note “definition” of faith as “the assurance of things hoped (elpizo [word study]) for, the conviction of things not seen.” And so we see Abraham the believer and father of all who believe (Gal 3:9, Ro 4:11-note) expressing his belief in not looking for an earthly city but with eyes of faith “looking for the city which has foundations whose architect and builder is God.” (Heb 11:9, 10-note, cp Php 3:20-note).
Steven Cole commenting on Hebrews 11:9,10 writes: As God’s people, our homeland is heaven. We’re just passing through this earth. Our mindset toward success, possessions, and purpose in life should be radically different than the mindset of the natives. The natives’ hopes center in this life only, and so they try to accumulate all of the things and engage in all of the activities that they think will bring them happiness in this life. But pilgrims’ hopes (Ed: See study on elpis = Biblical hope) center in Jesus Christ and their eternal inheritance in Him. So they hold the things of this life loosely. They enjoy all that God provides, but their real treasures are in heaven (1Ti 6:17, 18, 19). (Read the full sermon Hebrews 11:8-12 The Nitty-gritty of Faith)
The Old Testament saints of faith demonstrated a close connection with perseverance (patience), as summarized by the writer of Hebrews…
And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you may not be sluggish (The great enemy of perseverance is laziness), but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 13 For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “I WILL SURELY BLESS YOU, AND I WILL SURELY MULTIPLY YOU.” 15 And thus, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. (Hebrews 6:11, 12-note, He 6:13, 14, 15-note)
Comment: One of the manifestations of faith is long suffering. Long suffering is not added to faith but is an integral part of it, because faith’s vision will produce patient tenacity. In other words, Abraham as an example of a man who patiently waited in faith and obtained God’s promise.
Steven Cole comments: We are to imitate those who by faith and patience inherit the promises. As Hebrews 11 makes clear, most of the Old Testament saints died in faith without realizing the promises in their lifetimes (He 11:39). This means, as Paul puts it, that if “we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied” (1Co 15:19). God’s promises are fulfilled in eternity. That’s where faith comes into play. Will we trust God to keep His promises, even if in this life we are despised, rejected, and destitute? Will we endure hardship as good soldiers of Jesus Christ, knowing that He will reward us far beyond any sacrifices that we make here below? (Read the full sermon [his sermons are superb and function like “verse by verse” commentaries] Hebrews 6:9-12 Things That Accompany Salvation)
Mounce explains that ‘aman…
also involves trusting that God is powerful enough to accomplish His word and that what He says is absolute truth and certainty.
And when the Israelites saw the great power the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant” (Ex 14:31; cf. Nu 14:11; Dt 1:32; Ps 78:22, 32, 37).
A key story here is that of King Jehoshaphat, when he faces the threat of Moab and Ammon. The king assures the people that the Lord will fight for them, provided they have faith:
Have faith (Imperative = command; ‘aman; Lxx = empisteuo = entrust, trust in) in God and you will be upheld; have faith (Imperative = command; ‘aman; Lxx = empisteuo = entrust, trust in) in His prophets and you will be successful (2Chr 20:20NIV).
God then destroys the enemy nations gathered against his people.
It is from this same root that we get the word “amen” (see Nu 5:22; Dt 27:15-26; 32:20; 1Chr 16:36; Ps 72:29). Rather than being a perfunctory reply to an agreeable statement, “amen” means “so let it be established” or “let it be so.” Like the idea of faith in general, “amen” is to be followed by a commitment to enact it:
“At this the whole assembly said, ‘Amen,’ and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised” (Neh 5:13).
ALL THE USES
OF ‘AMAN
‘Aman – 109x in 103v in NAS –
Ge 15:6; 42:20; 45:26; Ex 4:1, 5, 8f, 31; 14:31; 19:9; Num 11:12; 12:7; 14:11; 20:12; Deut 1:32; 7:9; 9:23; 28:59, 66; Judg 11:20; Ru 4:16; 1Sa 2:35; 3:20; 22:14; 25:28; 27:12; 2 Sam 4:4; 7:16; 20:19; 1 Kgs 8:26; 10:7; 11:38; 2 Kgs 10:1, 5; 17:14; 18:16; 1 Chr 17:23f; 2 Chr 1:9; 6:17; 9:6; 20:20; 32:15; Neh 9:8; 13:13; Esth 2:7; Job 4:18; 9:16; 12:20; 15:15, 22, 31; 24:22; 29:24; 39:11f, 24; Ps 12:1; 19:7; 27:13; 31:23; 78:8, 22, 32, 37; 89:28, 37; 93:5; 101:6; 106:12, 24; 111:7; 116:10; 119:66; Pr 11:13; Pr 14:15; 25:13; 26:25; 27:6; Isa 1:21, 26; 7:9; 8:2; 22:23, 25; 28:16; 33:16; 43:10; 49:7, 23; 53:1; 55:3; 60:4; Jer 12:6; 15:18; 40:14; 42:5; Lam 4:5, 12; Hos 5:9; 11:12; Jonah 3:5; Hab 1:5
‘Aman is translated multiple ways in the NAS =
believe(26), believed(11), believes(2), bringing(1), carried(1), chronic(1), confirmed(5), doorposts(1), endure(1), enduring(3), established(3), faithful(21), firm(2), fulfilled(1), guardians(3), has assurance(1), have faith(1), have…assurance(1), last(1), lasting(1), nurse(3 – eg Nu 11:12), put your trust(2), puts…trust(2), reared(1), reliable(1), stand still(1), sure(4), trust(4), trusted(1), trustworthy*(1), unreliable*(1), verified(1).
Here are all the uses of ‘aman…
Genesis 15:6 (see preceding discussion) Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
Genesis 42:20 and bring your youngest brother to me, so your words may be verified, and you will not die.” And they did so.
Genesis 45:26 They told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and indeed he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” But he was stunned, for he did not believe them.
Exodus 4:1 Then Moses said, “What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.'”
Exodus 4:5 (Ex 4:4) “that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”
Exodus 4:8 “If they will not believe you or heed the witness of the first sign, they may believe the witness of the last sign.
Exodus 4:9 “But if they will not believe even these two signs or heed what you say, then you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground; and the water which you take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.”
Comment: Note that in this passage “believe” is coupled with “heed” or obey (See more on important relationship of faith and obedience)
Exodus 4:31 So the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD was concerned about the sons of Israel and that He had seen their affliction, then they bowed low and worshiped.
Exodus 14:31 When Israel saw the great power which the LORD had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in His servant Moses.
Swindoll and Zuck have an important comment on the use of aman in this verse: The word aman is used in Exodus 14:31 where Moses reported that as a result of their miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, the Israelites “believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses”. The miracle confirmed the fact that the Lord can be trusted to protect and deliver His own. And by faith the Israelites followed Moses, their leader, into the desert of Sinai. But their faith was fickle. As a result of their refusal to follow Caleb and Joshua into the Promised Land, God questioned Moses, “How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them?” (Nu 14:11). God had revealed His power to deliver, but the people did not follow through with faith and obedience. (Understanding Christian Theology)
Exodus 19:9 The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever.” Then Moses told the words of the people to the LORD.
Numbers 11:12 “Was it I who conceived all this people? Was it I who brought them forth, that You should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom as a nurse carries a nursing infant, to the land which You swore to their fathers ‘?
Numbers 12:7 “Not so, with My servant Moses, He is faithful in all My household;
NET Bible note: The word “faithful” is נֶאֱמָן (ne’eman), the Niphal participle of the verb אָמַן (’aman). This basic word has the sense of “support, be firm.” In the Niphal it describes something that is firm, reliable, dependable – what can be counted on. It could actually be translated “trustworthy.”
Numbers 14:11 The LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst?
NET Bible notes states that ‘aman: has the basic idea of support, dependability for the root. The Hiphil has a declarative sense, namely, to consider something reliable or dependable and to act on it. The people did not trust what the Lord said.
Eerdman’s Bible Dictionary adds that: Often the Hebrews’ trust in Yahweh, their covenant God, wavered or failed altogether (e.g., Nu 14:11; cf. Ps. 78:22). Such was the case later in the promised land as well (Dt. 32:20, “no faithfulness”; KJV “no faith”; JB “no loyalty”). But even through the peril which destruction and exile would bring to the nation and the land, a core of the people would remain faithful, a remnant who attempted to maintain a life infused by faith (cf. Hab. 2:4). (See related topic The Doctrine of the Faithful/Believing Remnant)
Numbers 20:12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”
Deuteronomy 1:32 “But for all this (Read context for why they should have believed or trusted God – Dt 1:1-31), you did not trust the LORD your God,
Deuteronomy 7:9 “Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments;
Comment: God’s faithfulness to keep His side of the covenant (this is a reference to the Old Covenant of Law which was conditional = fulfillment of the promises were contingent on obedience) demands a response of loyalty (love Him…keep His commandments) from His people.
Deuteronomy 9:23 “And when the LORD sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, ‘Go up and possess the land which I have given you,’ then you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God; you neither believed (‘aman; Lxx = pisteuo) Him nor listened to His voice.
Deuteronomy 28:59 then the LORD will bring extraordinary plagues on you and your descendants, even severe and lasting plagues, and miserable and chronic sicknesses.
Deuteronomy 28: 66 “So your life shall hang in doubt before you; and you shall be in dread night and day, and shall have no assurance of your life.
Comment: In context note that the pathogenesis of the “no assurance” is the fact that they were disobedient. Disobedience breeds lack of assurance. Do you lack assurance of your salvation? God desires for us to be sure of our salvation (1Jn 5:10, 13, Ro 8:16-note, Gal 4:6)? If you lack assurance, ask God to reveal to you any area of disobedience (Ps 139:23-note, Ps 139:24-note, 2Pe 1:10, 11-note).
Judges 11:20 ‘But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory; so Sihon gathered all his people and camped in Jahaz and fought with Israel.
Ruth 4:16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her lap, and became his nurse.
1 Samuel 2:35 ‘But I will raise up for Myself a faithful (aman) priest who will do according to what is in My heart and in My soul; and I will build him an enduring (aman) house, and he will walk before My anointed always.
Comment: Note two uses of aman. Although the priesthood had been promised to Aaron’s descendants in perpetuity (Ex 29:9), this promise was conditioned on faithfulness, and Eli and his sons had forfeited this claim (1Sa 2:30, 31; 3:11, 12, 13, 14). The promise of a faithful (aman) priest, with a sure (aman) house, is fulfilled in Christ, “a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God” (Heb 2:17-note, He 4:14-note, Heb 7:26, 27, 28-note) finally be fully consummated when He returns to rule and reign in the Millennium .
Note: There are three occurrences of the phrase “enduring house” – 1 Sa 2:35 1Sa 25:28 1 Ki 11:38
1Samuel 3:20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed (‘aman; Lxx = pistos) as a prophet of the LORD.
1 Samuel 22:14 Then Ahimelech answered the king and said, “And who among all your servants is as faithful as David, even the king’s son-in-law, who is captain over your guard, and is honored in your house?
1 Samuel 25:28 “Please forgive the transgression of your maidservant; for the LORD will certainly make for my lord an enduring house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the LORD, and evil will not be found in you all your days.
1 Samuel 27:12 So Achish believed David, saying, “He has surely made himself odious among his people Israel; therefore he will become my servant forever.”
2 Samuel 4:4 Now Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son crippled in his feet. He was five years old when the report of Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled. And it happened that in her hurry to flee, he fell and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.
2Sa 7:16 “And your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established (‘aman; Lxx = anorthon = rebuilt, restored – speaks of the so-called unconditional Davidic covenant which promised restoration of the Davidic dynasty through Christ – see Acts 15:16) forever.”‘:
2 Samuel 20:19 “I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You are seeking to destroy a city, even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?”
1 Kings 8:26 “Now therefore, O God of Israel, let Your word, I pray, be confirmed which You have spoken to Your servant, my father David.
1 Kings 10:7 “Nevertheless I did not believe the reports, until I came and my eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. You exceed in wisdom and prosperity the report which I heard.
1 Kings 11:38 ‘Then it will be, that if you listen to all that I command you and walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight by observing My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build you an enduring house as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you.
2 Kings 10:1 Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, the elders, and to the guardians of the children of Ahab, saying,
2 Kings 10:5 And the one who was over the household, and he who was over the city, the elders, and the guardians of the children, sent word to Jehu, saying, “We are your servants, all that you say to us we will do, we will not make any man king; do what is good in your sight.”
2Ki 17:14 However, they did not listen, but stiffened their neck like their fathers, who did not believe (‘aman) in the LORD their God. 15 And they rejected His statutes and His covenant which He made with their fathers, and His warnings with which He warned them. And they followed vanity and became vain, and went after the nations which surrounded them, concerning which the LORD had commanded them not to do like them. (See also 2Ki 17:16, 17)…18 So the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them from His sight; none was left except the tribe of Judah.
Comment: The 10 northern tribes did not believe in Jehovah as shown by their rejection of His statutes. Their disobedience was a natural outflow of their disbelief. Their failure to believe incurred Jehovah’s wrath.
2 Kings 18:16 At that time Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the doorposts which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.
1 Chronicles 17:23 “Now, O LORD, let the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house be established forever, and do as You have spoken. 24 “Let Your name be established and magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel; and the house of David Your servant is established before You.’
2 Chronicles 1:9 “Now, O LORD God, Your promise to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.
2 Chronicles 6:17 “Now therefore, O LORD, the God of Israel, let Your word be confirmed which You have spoken to Your servant David.
2 Chronicles 9:6 “Nevertheless I did not believe their reports until I came and my eyes had seen it. And behold, the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me. You surpass the report that I heard.
2 Chronicles 20:20 They rose early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa; and when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, put your trust in the LORD your God and you will be established. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed.”
Comment: ‘Aman is used 3 times in this one verse.
2 Chronicles 32:15 ‘Now therefore, do not let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you like this, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you from my hand?'”
Neh 9:8 “And Thou didst find his heart faithful (‘aman; Lxx = pistos) before Thee, And didst make a covenant (Literally “cut a covenant” = Ge 15:18, 19, 20, 21, Ge 17:7 – And He Who cut covenant is Himself “faithful” Dt 7:9 = ‘aman) with him To give him the land (Ge 13:15, 17:8, Acts 7:5) of the Canaanite, Of the Hittite and the Amorite, Of the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite– To give it to his descendants (seed). And Thou hast fulfilled Thy promise, For Thou art righteous.
Nehemiah 13:13 In charge of the storehouses I appointed Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and in addition to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were considered reliable, and it was their task to distribute to their kinsmen.
Esther 2:7 He was bringing up (‘omen, the participial form of ‘aman) Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had no father or mother. Now the young lady was beautiful of form and face, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.
Job 4:18 ‘He puts no trust even in His servants; And against His angels He charges error.
Job 9:16 “If I called and He answered me, I could not believe that He was listening to my voice.
Job 12:20 “He deprives the trusted ones of speech And takes away the discernment of the elders.
Job 15:15 “Behold, He puts no trust in His holy ones, And the heavens are not pure in His sight;
Job 15:22 “He does not believe that he will return from darkness, And he is destined for the sword.
Job 15:31 “Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself; For emptiness will be his reward.
Job 24:22 “But He drags off the valiant by His power; He rises, but no one has assurance of life.
Job 29:24 “I smiled on them when they did not believe, And the light of my face they did not cast down.
Job 39:11 “Will you trust him because his strength is great And leave your labor to him?
Job 39:12 “Will you have faith in him that he will return your grain And gather it from your threshing floor?
Job 39:24 “With shaking and rage he races over the ground, and he does not stand still at the voice of the trumpet.
NET Bible Note: The use of אָמַן (’aman) in the Hiphil in this place is unique. Such a form would normally mean “to believe.” But its basic etymological meaning comes through here. The verb means “to be firm; to be reliable; to be dependable.” The causative here would mean “to make firm” or “to stand firm.” (NETBible Job 39:24)
Ps 12:1 (For the choir director; upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David.) Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases to be, For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.
Spurgeon’s sermon on Ps 12:1 A Suitable Watchword.
Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure (‘aman; Lxx = pistos), making wise the simple.
Spurgeon: God bears his testimony against sin, and on behalf of righteousness; he testifies of our fall and of our restoration; this testimony is plain, decided, and infallible, and is to be accepted as sure. God’s witness in his Word is so sure that we may draw solid comfort from it both for time and eternity, and so sure that no attacks made upon it however fierce or subtle can ever weaken its force.
What a blessing that in a world of uncertainties we have something sure to rest upon! We hasten from the quicksands of human speculations to the terra firma of Divine Revelation.
Spurgeon’s sermon on Ps19:7 – Revelation and Conversion.
Psalm 27:13 I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.
Comment: Faith sees the unseen, not the unknown.
Spurgeon: Faintness of heart is a common infirmity; even he who slew Goliath was subject to its attacks.
Faith puts its bottle of cordial to the lip of the soul,
and so prevents fainting.
Hope is heaven’s balm for present sorrow.
In this land of the dying, it is our blessedness to be looking and longing for our fair portion in the land of the living, whence the goodness of God has banished the wickedness of man, and where holy spirits charm with their society those persecuted saints who were vilified and despised among men. We must believe to see, not see to believe; we must wait the appointed time, and stay our soul’s hunger with foretastes of the Lord’s eternal goodness which shall soon be our feast and our song.
See also Spurgeon’s Sermon on Ps 27:13: Believing to See from which we have this brief excerpt:
Most people see to believe, but in David’s case the process was reversed and put into Gospel order—he believed to see and this is the keynote of our discourse. The prayer of my heart is that some may be led to believe to see, and that those who have been trying to see in order to believe may now come and trust in Jesus and believe and see the Grace of God. Here we have in the words I select for the text, a doctrine stated, many difficulties removed, and some directions afforded for the Christian life. I. We have here before us a fundamental truth and DOCTRINE of our faith that the great act by which a man is saved, so far as he is concerned, is the act of faith. That is to say he gives up all other righteousness and casts himself upon the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The moment he does that he is saved—his past sins are forgiven him—his future is secure. That one simple act of confidence in Jesus, insignificant as it may appear to be, is the dawn of spiritual life, the evidence of security, the token of eternal salvation!…
…Oh, let us go on, we who are younger, who have scarcely begun the voyage, knowing that all is well! Storms may toss us about. Waves may dash against our hull. The billows may seem as if about to swallow us up. But our fathers have gained the beach. Their ships, like those of Columbus, are drawn up on yonder shore. They are safe and blessed. Hark! We can almost hear their song. Their, “Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, for the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!” might almost be heard even here, were not this earth so full of noise—were not the whirl of the wheels of business so incessant. Let us, then, O let us believe to see, and we shall soon see it and glorify Him who taught us so to believe!
Richard Baxter: Unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living: a cordial made up of three sovereign ingredients — a hope to see; and to see the goodness of God; and the goodness of God in the land of the living.
Psalm 31:23 O love the LORD, all you His godly ones! The LORD preserves the faithful (‘aman) And fully recompenses the proud doer.
Spurgeon: For the Lord preserves the faithful. They have to bide their time, but the recompense comes at last (cp 2Th 1:4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9; Ro 12:19-note, see also study on your Covenant Defender), and meanwhile all the cruel malice of their enemies cannot destroy them.
Psalm 78:8 And not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not prepare its heart And whose spirit was not faithful to God.
Psalm 78:22 Because they did not believe in God And did not trust (batach) in His salvation.
Psalm 78:32 In spite of all this they still sinned And did not believe in His wonderful works.
Psalm 78:37 For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, Nor were they faithful in His covenant.
Psalm 89:28 “My lovingkindness (covenant term – see study on hesed/chesed/heced) I will keep for him forever, and My covenant shall be confirmed to him (NET = “My covenant with him is secure”).
Spurgeon: With Jesus the covenant is ratified both by blood of sacrifice and by oath of God, it cannot be cancelled or altered, but is an eternal verity, resting upon the veracity of one who cannot lie. What exultation fills our hearts as we see that the covenant of grace is sure to all the seed, because it stands fast with him with whom we are indissolubly united.
Psalm 89:37 “It shall be established forever like the moon, And the witness in the sky is faithful.” Selah.
Psalm 93:5 Your testimonies are fully confirmed (ESV = very trustworthy; NET = completely reliable; NIV = stand firm; YLT = very steadfast; ‘aman; Lxx = pistoo = to be sure about something because of its reliability); Holiness befits Your house, O LORD, forevermore.
Comment: “Confirmed” is “very reliable” and literally “very amen-ed” as one scholar has written (because “amen” derives from aman).
Spurgeon: As in providence the throne of God is fixed beyond all risk, so in revelation his truth is beyond all question. Other teachings are uncertain, but the revelations of heaven are infallible. As the rocks remain unmoved amid the tumult of the sea, so does divine truth resist all the currents of man’s opinion and the storms of human controversy; they are not only sure, but very sure (Ps 93:5KJV). Glory be to God, we have not been deluded by a cunningly devised fable: our faith is grounded upon the eternal truth of the Most High.
Psalm 101:6 My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; He who walks in a blameless way is the one who will minister to me.
See Spurgeon’s sermon on Ps 101:6 – The King and His Court
Psalm 106:12 Then they believed His words; They sang His praise.
Psalm 106:24 Then they despised the pleasant land; They did not believe in His word (and Ps 106:25 shows the “disobedience” that flowed from their unbelief, which is analogous to obedience that flows from belief.),
Psalm 111:7 The works of His hands are truth and justice; All His precepts are sure. (ESV, NIV, NLT = “trustworthy”, NET = “reliable”; BBE = “unchanging”) (‘aman; Lxx = pistos)
Spurgeon: All that he has appointed or decreed shall surely stand, and his precepts which he has proclaimed shall be found worthy of our obedience, for surely they are founded in justice and are meant for our lasting good. He is no fickle despot, commanding one thing one day and another another, but his commands remain absolutely unaltered, their necessity equally unquestionable, their excellence permanently proven, and their reward eternally secure. Take the word commandments to relate either to his decrees or his precepts, and we have in each case an important sense; but it seems more in accordance with the connection to take the first sense and consider the words to refer to the ordinances, appointments, or decrees of the great King.
Whatever the mighty Lord decrees,
Shall stand for ever sure.
The settled purpose of his heart
To ages shall endure.
Psalm 116:10 I believed when I said, “I am greatly afflicted.”
Psalm 119:66-note Teach me good discernment and knowledge, for I believe (‘aman; Lxx = pisteuo) in Your commandments.
Spurgeon: For I have believed thy commandments. His heart was right, and therefore he hoped his head would be made right. He had faith, and therefore he hoped to receive wisdom. His mind had been settled in the conviction (Ed: A good “definition” of ‘aman!) that the precepts of the word were from the Lord, and were therefore just, wise, kind, and profitable; he believed in holiness, and as that belief is no mean work of grace upon the soul, he looked for yet further operations of divine grace. He who believes the commands is the man to know and understand the doctrines and the promises (Ed: cp Jn 7:17 where the obedience that flows from faith is coupled with understanding of the teaching).
Proverbs 11:13 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is trustworthy conceals a matter. (See William Arnot’s exposition on Pr 11:9,13 Hypocrites and Talebearers)
Proverbs 14:15 The naive believes everything, But the sensible man considers his steps.
William Arnot comments that: Trust is a lovely thing; but it cannot stand, unless it get Truth to lean upon. When its tender hand has been often pierced by a broken reed of falsehood, it pines away, and dies of grief. A man would find it easier to be trustful, if his neighbors were trust-worthy. (See full note Laws from heaven for life on earth)
Proverbs 25:13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest Is a faithful messenger to those who send him, For he refreshes the soul of his masters.
See William Arnot’s interesting exposition: A Faithful Messenger – Pr 25:13, 19
Proverbs 26:25 When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart.
Proverbs 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.
NET Bible Note: The Niphal participle of אָמַן (’aman) means “faithful; reliable; sure; trustworthy.” The word indicates that the wounds from a friend “can be trusted” (so NIV, NCV) because they are meant to correct and not to destroy (e.g., Pr 25:12; Dt 7:9; Job 12:20).
Isaiah 1:21-note How the faithful city has become a harlot, She who was full of justice! Righteousness once lodged in her, But now murderers.
Isaiah 1:26-note “Then I will restore your judges as at the first, And your counselors as at the beginning; After that you will be called the city of righteousness, A faithful city.”
Isaiah 7:9 and the head of Ephraim is Samaria and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you will not believe (‘aman), you surely shall not last (‘aman; HCSB = “not stand”, Darby = “not be established”, ESV = “Will not be firm at all”, NET = “will not remain secure”).”‘
NET Bible Note: “if you do not believe, you will not endure.” The verb forms are second plural; the Lord here addresses the entire Davidic family and court. (Isa 7:4 was addressed to the king.) There is a wordplay in the Hebrew text, designed to draw attention to the alternatives set before the king (cf. Isa 1:20). “Believe” (תַאֳמִינוּ, ta’aminu) is a Hiphil form of the verb אָמָן (’aman); “endure” (תֵאָמֵנוּ, te’amenu) is a Niphal form of this same verb.
Isaiah 8:2 “And I will take to Myself faithful witnesses for testimony, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.”
Isaiah 22:23 “I will drive him like a peg in a firm place, And he will become a throne of glory to his father’s house….25 “In that day,” declares the LORD of hosts, “the peg driven in a firm place will give way; it will even break off and fall, and the load hanging on it will be cut off, for the LORD has spoken.”
Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.
Comment: Quoted in the NT – Ro 9:33, Ro 10:11, 1Pe 2:6 and all three passages change “He who believes in it” to “He who believes in Him (the Messiah)”
Isaiah 33:16 He will dwell on the heights, His refuge will be the impregnable rock; His bread will be given him, His water will be sure.
Isaiah 43:10 “You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “And My servant whom I have chosen, So that you may know and believe Me And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me.
Isaiah 49:7 Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel and its Holy One, To the despised One, To the One abhorred by the nation, To the Servant of rulers, “Kings will see and arise, Princes will also bow down, Because of the LORD who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel who has chosen You.”
Isaiah 49:23 “Kings will be your guardians, And their princesses your nurses. They will bow down to you with their faces to the earth And lick the dust of your feet; And you will know that I am the LORD; Those who hopefully wait for Me will not be put to shame.
Isaiah 53:1 Who has believed our message? (Quoted by John in Jn 12:38 and by Paul in Ro 10:16) And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
Isaiah 55:3 “Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, According to the faithful mercies shown to David.
Isaiah 60:4 “Lift up your eyes round about and see; They all gather together, they come to you. Your sons will come from afar, And your daughters will be carried in the arms.
Jeremiah 12:6 “For even your brothers and the household of your father, Even they have dealt treacherously with you, Even they have cried aloud after you. Do not believe them, although they may say nice things to you.”
Jeremiah 15:18 Why has my pain been perpetual And my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will You indeed be to me like a deceptive stream With water that is unreliable (NIV = a spring that fails, Net = cannot be relied on, ESV = waters that fail, BBE = waters that are not certain)
Jeremiah 40:14 and said to him, “Are you well aware that Baalis the king of the sons of Ammon has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them.
Jeremiah 42:5 Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with the whole message with which the LORD your God will send you to us.
Lamentations 4:5 Those who ate delicacies Are desolate in the streets; Those reared (ESV = brought up, NET = grew up wearing) in purple Embrace ash pits.
Lamentations 4:12 The kings of the earth did not believe, Nor did any of the inhabitants of the world, That the adversary and the enemy Could enter the gates of Jerusalem.
NET Bible Note: Heb “they did not believe that.” The verb הֶאֱמִינוּ (he’eminu), Hiphil perfect 3rd person common plural from אָמַן (’aman, “to believe”), ordinarily is a term of faith and trust, but occasionally it functions cognitively: “to think that” (Job 9:16; 15:22; Ps 116:10; Lam 4:12) and “to be convinced that” (Ps 27:13). The semantic relationship between “to believe” = “to think” is metonymical, that is, effect for cause.
The expression “to enter the gates” of a city is an idiom referring to the military conquest of that city. Ancient Near Eastern fortified cities typically featured double and sometimes triple city gates – the bulwark of the defense of the city. Because fortified cities were enclosed with protective walls, the Achilles tendon of every city was the city gates – the weak point in the defense and the perennial point of attack by enemies (e.g., Judg 5:8, 11; 1 Sam 17:52; Isa 29:6; Jer 17:27; 51:54; Ezek 21:20, 27; Mic 1:9, 12; Neh 1:3; 2:3, 13, 17).
Hosea 5:9 Ephraim will become a desolation in the day of rebuke; Among the tribes of Israel I declare what is sure.
Hosea 11:12 Ephraim surrounds Me with lies And the house of Israel with deceit; Judah is also unruly against God, Even against the Holy One who is faithful.
Jonah 3:5 Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them.
Habakkuk 1:5 “Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days– You would not believe if you were told.
AMEN
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
A glorious way to begin to study the beautiful Hebrew word AMEN is to listen to the angelic voices of the choir sing Handel’s peerless piece…
Amen (0543) (from aman = to be firm, dependable, durable, steady, stable, sure, established, trustworthy) and was used to acknowledge and emphasize what was valid, sure and true, or important and significant.
Amen is “A common biblical expression signifying certainty and veracity.” (MacArthur)
When Abram believed (aman) God in Genesis 15:6, in a sense he gave a heart felt “amen” to God’s promise in Genesis 15:5. He said in essence God’s promise “is dependable and trustworthy”! Have you ever shouted “amen” after reading or hearing a promise from the faithful, non-lying God? It is a good practice while we are still on earth for what will surely be our privileged practice in our heavenly home!
As noted amen is derived from aman which can also mean “believe” or “faithful” and thus came to mean “sure” or truly,” an expression of absolute trust and confidence. When one believes God, he indicates his faith by an amen. When God makes a promise, the believer’s response is amen or “so it will be!”
Webster on “amen” – used to express solemn ratification (as of an expression of faith) or hearty approval (as of an assertion). As a verb, it signifies to confirm, establish, verify; to trust, or give confidence; as a noun, truth, firmness, trust, confidence; as an adjective, firm, stable. In English, after the oriental manner, it is used at the beginning, but more generally at the end of declarations and prayers, in the sense of, be it firm, be it established.
Anecdotal Story Regarding Daniel Webster…
On the night of Daniel Webster’s death at Marshfield, October 24, 1852, his physician, Dr. Jeffries, knowing Mr. Webster’s religious faith, suggested that he should read to him one of his favorite hymns. Mr. Webster having intimated his consent, Dr. Jeffries read Cowper’s hymn, beginning.
There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins.
He read on till he had finished the last stanza:
Then in a nobler, sweeter song,
I’ll sing thy power to save,
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue
Lies silent in the grave.
Then, although his tongue was one of the least feeble and stammering of human tongues, Webster in a clear, strong voice replied. “Amen! Amen! Amen!” (Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times)
Spurgeon in comments on Ps 12:6 aptly remarks that “Man’s words are yea and nay, but the Lord’s promises are yea and amen.” Indeed they are and on that steadfast truth we can rest eternally secure ( in Christ) and can be eternally grateful. Amen!
Note amen occurs after the doxologies which end each of first four books of the Psalms – Ps 41:13; Ps 72:19; Ps 89:52; Ps 106:48 end with an “amen”. Adam Clarke writes that “in prayer (amen) signifies let it be so, make it steady, let it be ratified.”
Zodhiates says
In the OT used often at the end of a sentence as an adverb meaning truly, surely, certainly. It thus confirms the preceding words and invokes their fulfillment: “so be it,”
TDNT…
The OT uses the term (amen) in relation to both individuals and the community
1. to confirm the acceptance of tasks whose performance depends on God’s will (1Ki. 1:36), (Ed: In this context “amen” is the equivalent of a binding promise)
2. to confirm the application of divine threats or curses (Nu 5:22, Neh 5:13, Dt 27:15-26), and
3. to attest the praise of God in response to doxology (1Chr 16:36, Ps 41:13, 14 Ps 72:19; Ps 89:52 Neh. 8:6; Ps. 106:48)
Richard Sibbes has an interesting comment writing that
Amen is a short word, but marvellously pregnant, full of sense, full of spirit. It is a word that seals all the truths of God, and seals every particular promise of God. And it is never likely to arise in the soul, unless there be first an almighty power from heaven, to seize on the powers of the soul, to subdue them, and make it say, “Amen.” There is such an inward rising of the heart, and an innate rebellion against the blessed truth of God, that unless God, by his strong arm, bring the heart down, it never will nor can say, “Amen.”
Amen is often at the end of a sentence as an adverb and conveys the sense of truly, surely, certainly, essentially serving as a confirmation to the veracity of the preceding words and also calling for their fulfillment (the idea is “so be it”) .
The Septuagint (LXX) renders amen by the verb ginomai (to become) which in the optative of wish (optative is similar to making a prayer) genoito. Paul uses the this same verb genoito in the negative sense when he wants to issue the strongest possible refutation to a statement – “May it never be” e.g. in answer to the query of whether we should sin so that grace might increase, he says “Me genoito” = “May it never be”. This is in a sense the antithesis of “amen”.
Adolph Saphir commenting on amen in Ps 106;48 writes that most everyone knows the literal meaning of “amen” as “so be it” and…
yet few consider the deep meaning, the great solemnity, and the abundant consolation treasured up in this word, which has formed for centuries the conclusion of the prayers and praises of God’s people. A word which is frequently used without due thoughtfulness, and unaccompanied with the feeling which it is intended to call forth, loses its power from this very familiarity, and though constantly on our lips, lies bedridden in the dormitory of our soul.
E. H. Plumptre has this note on the occurrences of “amen” in the Psalms…
As the Psalms were not written by one man, so neither do they form one book. The Psalter is, in fact, a “Pentateuch” (“five books”), and the lines of demarcation, which divide the five books one from another, are clear and distinct enough. At the end of the 41st Psalm, of the 72nd, of the 89th, and of the 106th, we meet with the solemn, Amen, single or redoubled, following on a doxology, which indicates that one book ends and that another is about to begin. A closer study of the Psalms shows that each book possesses characteristics of its own. Jehovah (“the Lord”) for example, is prominent as the divine name in the first book, Elohim (“God”) in the second. (E. H. Plumptre, M.A., in “Biblical Studies,” 1870)
NIDNTT add that…
Septuagint (LXX) transliterates the Hebrew ’āmēn 8 times; in Jer 28:6 (LXX 35:6) it is translated by alēthōs; it is rendered 17 times by genoito (so may it be). This latter makes it an expression of hope and desire, and no longer a confirmation of what is; the obligation conveyed by “amen” is also obscured
As a confirmation by the speaker (or writer) of his own words, amen has been found only once in the OT period, in a letter (an ostrakon) from the end of the 7th cent. B.C., written by Metzad Chashavyahu, where he says, “Amen, there is no mistake on my part.”
In Rabbinic sources “amen” is found only as a confirmatory and emphatic answer to what has been said by another. R. Jose b. Chanina (c. A.D. 270) said, “Amen contains an oath, the acceptance of words, and the confirmation of words.” Anyone saying amen to a prayer or doxology made it his own. Anyone saying amen to an adjuration, blessing or curse made it binding on himself. Hence it was inferred that the adjuration of the woman suspected of adultery to which she had to answer Amen (Num. 5:11–31), had to be in a language she understood (Sifre Num. 12 on Num. 5:19). The Jew had to say amen to any doxology he heard. He who says amen properly will be richly rewarded by God. Amen is seldom found at the end of a prayer. In the worship of the Synagogue, but not of the Temple, the congregation answered “amen” to the doxologies pronounced by the leader of the worship and also to the three sections of the Aaronic blessing (Num. 6:24ff.), which had to be modified to a prayer if spoken by a layman. (Brown, Colin, Editor. New International Dictionary of NT Theology. 1986. Zondervan)
A FEW “AMEN-ISM’S”
FROM EXCELLENT EXPOSITOR
TONY EVANS
Tony Evans applies the amen to our trials — when the trials come will we still shout “amen” or will it be “oh my”? Evans (speaking on Dt 8:1, 2, 3) asks…
Have you ever had trials like this in your life? “He let you be hungry” God tests obedience through trials. He tries you in order to test you. He tries me in order to test me. You see, it’s not enough for God just to hear us say “Amen” in church. When the benediction is over God is going to test us. He wants to see whether the “Amen” out of our mouths is also the “Amen” of our feet. He wants to know, when things go against us, do we believe Him enough to obey Him? Do we trust Him enough to follow Him? (Our God is Awesome)
Notice I did not say God sends adversity so He can know how spiritual you are. He already knows what you are going to do. The test is for your sake, so you can see whether your “amens” on Sunday are as real as you thought they were when you said them. (Returning to your first love: Putting God back in first place)
That’s what God does when He sends us trials. He wants to see whether we are willing to implement on Monday what we said “amen” to on Sunday. (What matters most: Four absolute necessities in following Christ)
In another section Evans notes that…
Fellowship with God occurs when God’s invisible Spirit and your invisible spirit get together with one another, when they commune and communicate. If God has your body, but He does not have your invisible spirit, you cannot worship the God who is spirit. You can clap to the songs. You can sing with the choir. You can say “Amen” to the words, but unless the spirit has kicked into gear, you cannot worship. (Ibid)
So the spotlight may shift for a while, but remember this. It is the Holy Spirit who makes the truths we’re about to study come alive in your heart, because the Spirit is also the Illuminator of Scripture…When you read God’s Word about your security in Christ and something within you says, “Amen, that’s true and I believe it,” that’s the ministry of the Spirit. (Evans, A. T. (1996). The promise : Experiencing God’s greatest gift, the Holy Spirit)
A (fleshly) Christian…speaks Christian, but then he lives another dialect. He says, “Praise God! Hallelujah! Amen!” with his lips, but he speaks a different language with his life. (Returning to your first love: Putting God back in first place)
Amen – 30x in 24v in the NAS – 28 are translated “amen” and 2 are translated “truth”.
Numbers 5:22 (Context = A woman suspected of adultery) and this water that brings a curse shall go into your stomach, and make your abdomen swell and your thigh waste away.” And the woman shall say, “Amen. Amen.”
NET Bible Note: The word “amen” carries the idea of “so be it,” or “truly.” The woman who submits to this test is willing to have the test demonstrate the examination of God.
Expositor’s Bible Commentary: The woman…may return to her home to await the outcome of the oath. If she was innocent of infidelity, she should count on progeny. This means, of course, she returns to her husband’s embrace. If she was guilty of infidelity but not caught in the act, then she would suffer debilitating physical symptoms that would prohibit successful pregnancies. (Gaebelein, F, Editor: Expositor’s Bible Commentary OT 7 Volume Set: Books: Zondervan Publishing)
Deuteronomy 27:15 ‘Cursed is the man who makes an idol or a molten image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’
Comment: Twelve times the people are to confirm the veracity of the curse just spoken. Given that these curses are related to disobedience to the Old Covenant (of Law), the amen by the people is their acknowledgment that they have heard, understand and agree that the specific curse is fair and justified.
NET Bible notes: The Levites speak again at this point; throughout this pericope the Levites pronounce the curse and the people respond with “Amen.”
Dt 27:16 ‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Dt 27:17 ‘Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s boundary mark.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Dt 27:18 ‘Cursed is he who misleads a blind person on the road.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Dt 27:19 ‘Cursed is he who distorts the justice due an alien, orphan, and widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Dt 27:20 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s skirt.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Dt 27:21 ‘Cursed is he who lies with any animal.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Dt 27:22 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father or of his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Dt 27:23 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Dt 27:24 ‘Cursed is he who strikes his neighbor in secret.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Dt 27:25 ‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to strike down an innocent person.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Dt 27:26 ‘Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
1 Kings 1:36 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, “Amen! Thus may the LORD, the God of my lord the king, say.
1 Chronicles 16:36 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, From everlasting even to everlasting. Then all the people said, “Amen,” (Lxx = Amen) and praised the LORD.
Nehemiah 5:13 I also shook out the front of my garment and said, “Thus may God shake out every man from his house and from his possessions who does not fulfill this promise; even thus may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said, “Amen!” (Lxx = Amen) And they praised the LORD. Then the people did according to this promise.
NIDNTT: Neh. 8:6 and 1 Chr. 16:36 show it to be the people’s expression of response. Through “amen” that which has been said is affirmed as certain, positive, valid and binding. (Brown, Colin, Editor. New International Dictionary of NT Theology. 1986. Zondervan)
Nehemiah 8:6 Then Ezra blessed the LORD the great God. And all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” (Lxx = Amen, Amen) while lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
Psalm 41:13 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, From everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.
MacArthur Comments: The essence of the Hebrew root of “amen” is “it is true,” i.e., reliable, confirmed, verified. Note that Book I of the Psalms (Ps 1-41) closes with a doxology; cf. the endings of the other 4 books (Ps 72:18, 19; 89:52; 106:48; 150:6). (MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word)
Spurgeon: Amen and amen. So let it surely, firmly, and eternally be. Thus the people joined in the Psalm by a double shout of holy affirmation; let us unite in it with all out hearts. This last verse may serve for the prayer of the universal church in all ages, but none can sing it so sweetly as those who have experienced as David did the faithfulness of God in times of extremity.
Matthew Henry: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen. We are here taught, (1) To give glory to God, as the Lord God of Israel, a God in covenant with his people; that has done great and kind things for them, and has more and better in reserve. (2) To give him glory as an eternal God, that has both his being and his blessedness from everlasting and to everlasting. (3) To do this with great affection and fervour of spirit, intimated in a double seal set to it, Amen, and Amen. We say Amen to it, and let all others say Amen too. Matthew Henry.
Psalm 72:19 And blessed be His glorious name forever; And may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen.
Spurgeon quotes Neale and Littledale: “Amen, and Amen.” Rabbi Jehudah the Holy, said, “He that said Amen in this world is worthy to say it in the world to come. David, therefore, utters Amen twice in this Psalm, to show that one ‘Amen’ belongs to this world, the other to that which is to come. He who saith ‘Amen’ devoutly, is greater than he who uttereth the prayers, for the prayers are but the letter, and the Amen is the seal. The scribe writeth the letters, the prince alone seals them.”
Thomas Woodcock: “Amen, and Amen.” What is “Amen” in Matt. 16:28 is alethos or “verily” in Luke 9:27. Our Saviour hath this phrase peculiar to himself, “Amen, Amen,” to give confirmation to the doctrine, and to raise our attention and faith; or to show that not only truth is spoken, but by him who is truth itself.… There is no need for a rubric by the men of the Great Synagogue, or a canon, to command a man to blush, when it is only the natural passion that will command it; so, when the heart is warm in prayer with serious and earnest affections, a double Amen doth as naturally flow from us as milk from a mother’s breast to her suckling. And Amen comes from אָמֵן, aman, which signifies “to nurse;” as if it were, if not the mother, yet the faithful nurse, of lively devotion. Assent to repetitions is essential unto prayer, and it is not signified publicly but by one Amen. (1695 in “Morning Exercises)
Psalm 89:52 Blessed be the LORD forever! Amen and Amen.
NET Bible Note: Heb “surely and surely” (אָמֵן וְאָמֵן) This is probably a congregational response to the immediately preceding statement about the propriety of praising God; thus it has been translated “We agree! We agree!”
Psalm 106:48 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, From everlasting even to everlasting. And let all the people say, “Amen.” Praise the LORD!
Spurgeon’s comment: And let all the people say, Amen. They have all seen spared by his grace, let them all join in the adoration with loud unanimous voice. What a thunder of praise would thus be caused! Yet should a nation thus magnify him, yea, should all the nations past and present unite in the solemn acclaim, it mould fall far short of his deserts. O for the happy day when all flesh shall see the glory of God, and all shall aloud proclaim his praise.
Adolph Saphir on “Amen”: Martin Luther said once of the Lord’s Prayer that “it was the greatest martyr on earth because it was used so frequently without thought and feeling, without reverence and faith.” This quaint remark, as true as it is sad, applies perhaps with still greater force to the word “Amen.”
Familiar to us from our infancy is the sound of this word, which has found a home wherever the natives have learnt to adore Israel’s God and Saviour. It has been adopted, and without translation retained, in all languages in which the gospel of Jesus the Son of David is preached. The literal signification, “So be it”, is known to all; yet few consider the deep meaning, the great solemnity, and the abundant consolation treasured up in this word, which has formed for centuries the conclusion of the prayers and praises of God’s people. A word which is frequently used without due thoughtfulness, and unaccompanied with the feeling which it is intended to call forth, loses its power from this very familiarity, and though constantly on our lips, lies bedridden in the dormitory of our soul. But it is a great word this word “Amen”; and Luther has truly said, “As your Amen is, so has been your prayer.”
It is a word of venerable history in Israel and in the church. The word dates as far back as the law of Moses. When a solemn oath was pronounced by the priest, the response of the person who was adjured consisted simply of the word “Amen.” In like manner the people responded “Amen” when, from the heights of Ebal and Gerizim, the blessings and the curses of the divine law were pronounced. Again, at the great festival which David made when the ark of God was brought from Obed Edom, the psalm of praise which Asaph and his brethren sang concluded with the words, “Blessed be the Lord. God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen” (1Chr 16:36). Thus we find in the Psalms, not merely that David concludes his psalm of praise with the word Amen, but he says, And let all the people say, Amen. (Adolph Saphir, in “The Lord’s Prayer”, 1870)
Isaiah 65:16 “Because he who is blessed in the earth will be blessed by the God of truth; and he who swears in the earth will swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hidden from My sight!
Comment: Now take the definitions of “amen” above and insert them in the phrase “God of Amen.” And so He is the God Who is “firm, dependable, steady, stable, sure, established, trustworthy.” This is our God beloved. Let us run by faith into the strong tower of this great descriptive Name of God and be safe (Pr 18:10-note ). And Who is this God of the Amen? John the apostle would surely say that indeed this is Jesus, the “Amen” in Rev 3:14. Hallelujah! Amen!
J A Motyer writes: The title the God of truth/‘the God of [the] Amen’, found only here, is recalled in 2Corinthians 1:20, which makes its meaning clear: he is the God who says ‘Amen’ to all His promises, affirming their reality and His trustworthiness in keeping them—the God Who promised of old in Abraham that people world-wide would enter into blessing and who has kept His word. This world-wide enjoyment of the faithful God is followed by corresponding world-wide commitment: takes an oath byswears loyalty to’ (cf. Isa 45:23).
MacArthur Comments: Literally this is “God of Amen,” referring to the very God, the True God, who will honor His promises to Israel, thus vindicating Himself in the eyes of all people. Someday the rebels will be purged out and the redeemed remnant will be left. In that time, all blessing and swearing will be by the one and only True God, because all idols will be vanquished and forgotten in the glory of the kingdom of Messiah. (MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word)
Jeremiah 11:5 in order to confirm the oath which I swore to your forefathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day.”‘” Then I said, “Amen (So be it), O LORD.”
Comment: Jeremiah utters “amen” to affirm the curse of Jer 11:3.
Jeremiah 28:6 and the prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! May the LORD do so; may the LORD confirm your words which you have prophesied to bring back the vessels of the LORD’S house and all the exiles, from Babylon to this place.
AMEN
IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
Amen (281)(amen) is a transliteration from the Hebrew word amen which in turn is from the Hebrew verb aman = to be firm, to believe, this word conveying the idea of certainty)
Amen is transliterated into Latin and English and many other languages, so that it is practically a universal word. In fact amen has been called the best-known word in human speech. To say “Amen” confirms a statement by someone else.
Renn notes that Amen “indicates the solemn affirmation of the divine will and purpose in about one-third of the nearly 150 occurrences of the term. The remaining uses of the term yield the adverbial meaning “truly.” (Expository Dictionary of Bible Words)
Surely acknowledges that which is valid and binding. The OT often used “amen” at the end of a sentence (truly, surely, certainly) to confirm the preceding words and invokes their fulfillment. Only the Lord Jesus uses amen (truly) at beginning of a sentence. His “Amen” guarantees the truth of His saying and affirms His authority.
Friberg summarizes amen – Amen is transliterated from the Hebrew amen; usually translated into Greek by genoito (let it be so, truly); (1) liturgically, used as a particle of strong affirmation and assent at the end of a doxology this is indeed true (Ro 11.36) or a prayer of thanksgiving that is the way it should be (1Cor 14.16 ); (2) used with lego (to speak) to emphasize that what is being said is a solemn declaration of what is true (Jn 1.51); (3) figuratively and substantivally the Amen, used by Christ of himself as the one speaking what is true ( Rev 3.14)
Amen is a response to something that has just been said, except in Jesus’ teachings. Jesus, the ultimate “Amen” (Rev 3:14), is the supreme authority and so it is clearly apropos that His teachings be introduced by amen. John’s Gospel has 25 uses of “amen” and every use is a double amen (or double “truly” in the NAS – 25 times). None of the other 3 Gospels use a “double amen.” It is also notable that in the four Gospels, amen is used only by our Lord Jesus Christ, almost always “to introduce new revelations of the mind of God.” (Vine) Every use of “amen” or “truly” by Jesus serves to affirm what follows and by extension to cause us to pay close attention to the teaching. The Pauline uses of amen occur primarily at the close of his prayers or doxologies, and as such serve to confirm them as “it is firm” (or “so let it be”).
BDAG has an interesting note that in the papyri amen was
W E Vine…commenting on amen notes that
Its meanings may be seen in such passages as Dt. 7:9, ‘the faithful (the Amen) God,’ Isa. 49:7, ‘Jehovah that is faithful.’ 65:16, ‘the God of truth,’ ‘the God of Amen.’ And if God is faithful His testimonies and precepts are “sure (amen),” Ps. 19:7; 111:7, as are also His warnings, Hos. 5:9, and promises, Isa. 33:16; 55:3. ‘Amen’ is used of men also, e.g., Pr. 25:13.
There are cases where the people used it to express their assent to a law and their willingness to submit to the penalty attached to the breach of it, Dt. 27:15, cf. Neh 5:13. It is also used to express acquiescence in another’s prayer, 1Ki 1:36, where it is defined as “(let) God say so too,” or in another’s thanksgiving, 1Chr 16:36, whether by an individual, Je 11:5, or by the congregation, Ps 106:48.
Thus ‘Amen’ said by God ‘it is and shall be so,‘ and by men, ‘so let it be.’
Once in the NT ‘Amen’ is a title of Christ, Rev 3:14, because through Him the purposes of God are established, 2Co 1:20.
The early Christian churches followed the example of Israel in associating themselves audibly with the prayers and thanksgivings offered on their behalf, 1Co 14:16, where the article ‘the’ points to a common practice. Moreover this custom conforms to the pattern of things in the Heavens, see Rev 5:14, etc.
“The individual also said ‘Amen’ to express his ‘let it be so’ in response to the Divine ‘thus it shall be,’ Rev 22:20. Frequently the speaker adds ‘Amen’ to his own prayers and doxologies, as is the case at Ep 3:21, e.g. (Vine, W E: Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. 1996. Nelson)
TDNT writes that in the NT, amen has three main uses…
1. As an acclamation in worship, it signifies response (Rev. 5:14).
2. At the conclusion of prayers and doxologies (e.g., Gal 1:5; Ep 3:21; 1Ti 1:17…), it expresses the priority of prayer and doxology////
Vincent on “amen”…
The English word is a transcription (or transliteration) of the Greek and of the Hebrew. (Amen is) a verbal adjective, meaning firm, faithful.
As Utley reminds us…
Jesus is the only one who ever started a sentence with this term. It seems to have the connotation of “this is an important and trustworthy statement, listen closely.”
Amen is our Lord’s self-designation in Rev 3:14 (cp Isaiah 65:16 where “God of truth” is literally “God of amen”). We can be preeminently certain that His Word is always faithful and true, because He is none other than the Creator of all things, and thus He is our eternal “Amen.” J. Hampton Keathley III adds that…
Amen also connoted the idea of finality or the last word; is used of our Lord as the True One, the last word and final authority in each individual’s life as well as for the entire world. As used of Christ, it points to Him as the end, the finality and certainty of all things. With Him one needs no substitutes, no subtractions or additions. With Jesus Christ there is no further search needed for truth for in Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:3). Thus, every promise He makes is true and every woe He pronounces shall come to pass.
In his devotional on Rev 3:14, Spurgeon writes…
The word Amen solemnly confirms that which went before; and Jesus is the great Confirmer; immutable, for ever is “the Amen” in all his promises. Sinner, I would comfort thee with this reflection. Jesus Christ said, “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” If you come to him, he will say “Amen” in your soul; his promise shall be true to you. He said in the days of his flesh, “The bruised reed I will not break.” O thou poor, broken, bruised heart, if thou comest to him, he will say “Amen” to thee, and that shall be true in thy soul as in hundreds of cases in bygone years. Christian, is not this very comforting to thee also, that there is not a word which has gone out of the Saviour’s lips which he has ever retracted? The words of Jesus shall stand when heaven and earth shall pass away. If thou gettest a hold of but half a promise, thou shalt find it true. Beware of him who is called “Clip-promise,” who will destroy much of the comfort of God’s word.
Jesus is Yea and Amen in all his offices. He was a Priest to pardon and cleanse once, he is Amen as Priest still. He was a King to rule and reign for his people, and to defend them with his mighty arm, he is an Amen King, the same still. He was a Prophet of old, to foretell good things to come, his lips are most sweet, and drop with honey still—he is an Amen Prophet. He is Amen as to the merit of his blood; he is Amen as to his righteousness. That sacred robe shall remain most fair and glorious when nature shall decay. He is Amen in every single title which he bears; your Husband, never seeking a divorce; your Friend, sticking closer than a brother; your Shepherd, with you in death’s dark vale; your Help and your Deliverer; your Castle and your High Tower; the Horn of your strength, your confidence, your joy, your all in all, and your Yea and Amen in all. (Ed: And all God’s people said “Amen”!)
It is, therefore, profoundly meaningful that the entire Bible closes with an “amen.” “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (Revelation 22:21), assuring everyone who reads these words that the whole Book is absolutely true and trustworthy. Amen! – HMM (Source unknown)
In his introduction to his sermon on “The Amen” Spurgeon writes…
THE word “Amen” is much more full of meaning than may be supposed, and as a title of our Lord Jesus Christ it is eminently suggestive. As you know the word is a Hebrew one, which has been very properly conveyed not only into our language, but into most, if not all the languages of Christendom. It is a happy circumstance that some of these words should have had vitality enough in them to be transplanted into other tongues, and still to flourish; it gives some faint foreshadowing of the united worship of celestial spirits; and it indicates the Lord’s will that the Hebrew race shall not be forgotten by his Church, and that the language of his well-beloved Israel stills sounds sweetly in his ear.
AMEN signifies, true, faithful, certain, but its sense will he better seen by carefully noting its uses. It had at least three forms of practical meaning.
First, it was used in the sense of asserting; when a person would give peculiar authority to his words, he either commenced or concluded with the word Amen; and thus declared as with the solemn “yea, yea,” of an honest truth-loving man, certainly, assuredly, so it is. Our Savior uses the term frequently. The word, which we translate “Verily, verily,” is this word “Amen.” You must have observed that John who has a quick eye for the divine moods of the Lord Jesus notes with unerring fidelity the repetition of the asserting word. Whenever our blessed Lord was about to say something peculiarly solemn, into which he would throw the full weight of his authority, he asserted it by the doubling of the word “Amen, amen,” or “Verily, verily,” at the commencement of it.
The second sense of the word Amen slightly varies from asserting, and may be more properly described as consenting. There is a memorable instance of this in the case of the woman who drank the water of jealousy. (Nu 5:22.) When she drank the water of jealousy, it was enacted that if she had been guilty of the crime laid to her door, certain terrible results should follow as the effect of this water; she, at the time she drank it, said “Amen, amen;” that is, she gave her consent that such-and-such pangs should fall upon her if she had been really guilty of adultery. And a more memorable instance still is that of the people assembled upon Mount Ebal and Gerizim; when the threatenings and the blessings were both read in their hearing, the people said “Amen, amen.” So let it be. Of the like character is the case in the book of Nehemiah; when Ezra blessed Jehovah, the great God, all the people answered, Amen, with lifting up of their hands.
A third meaning of the word Amen is what we may call petitionary. In this sense we use it at the close of our prayers. “Our Father who art in heaven” is not a complete model of public prayer till it concludes with “Amen.” In the ancient Church it was customary for the entire congregation to say Amen. Paul alludes to this custom in that expression in the Corinthians, where he speaks of persons praying in an unknown tongue; he says, “How should he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?” We have it put on record by Jerome, that at Rome the people were accustomed to say Amen in the gatherings of the early Christians so heartily, I might add so lustily, that it was like the dash of a cataract, or a clap of thunder. I could wish that we more uniformly and universally said Amen at the close of public prayer; I am sure it would be scriptural and apostolic, and I believe it would be useful to you all. Perhaps the custom was dropped on account of the irregular way in which the brethren said Amen. I have heard the same regularity in certain rustic Methodist congregations, when I have thought that the Amen was put in the wrong place; and could have wished the custom to be discontinued altogether, because certain illiterate, rash, but zealous brethren said Amen when there was nothing to say Amen to, and so rather created ridicule than reverence, and showed as much folly as fervor. However, a judicious revival of the custom would, I doubt not, be useful in the Church of God. It then signifies, “So be it, so let it be,” and is virtually the consent of the entire congregation to the prayer which has been put up. Observe the devout Amen of Benaiah, at the close of David’s dying prayer, with the remarkable addition, “The Lord God of my lord the king say so too.” (1Ki 1:36.) Notice also how the psalmist closes several of the psalms, such as the forty-first and the seventy-second with the emphatic conclusion, “Amen and Amen.”
“Let every creature rise and bring
Peculiar honors to our King;
Angels, descend with songs again,
And earth, repeat the long Amen.”
NIDNTT notes that…
The sayings of Jesus introduced by amen often show primitive traits, eschatological pronouncements (Matt. 10:23; 19:28; 24:34; 25:40), and a sharp contrast with Pharisaism (Mt. 6:2, 5, 16; 8:10). ([Tr.] The contrast here is rather with standard Judaism or its exaggeration.) By introducing his words with amen Jesus labelled them as certain and reliable. He stood by them and made them binding on himself and his hearers. They are an expression of his majesty and authority.
Spurgeon comments on the striking use of the word amen by his audience…
I have preached during this week in the simplest manner I could these truths to somewhere about twenty or thirty thousand Welsh people in one congregation, and such a sight I never saw, when all as one man they kept crying out, “Aha! Amen! Amen–Gogoniant (Ed: In the Welsh Dictionary = “glory”);” the whole sermon through, carried away with enthusiasm because they heard again the good old truths that Christmas Evans (Ed: The theme of his preaching was free and sovereign grace) used to thunder out to them, and which the Welsh still hold intact, even though the English may choose to reject and scorn them. (Sovereign Grace Sermons)
God’s “Amen”
1 Cor 15:17 — If Christ was not raised, their faith had failed to secure its end or aim, namely, salvation. There could be no assurance that he had not died for his own sin. The Resurrection was necessary to demonstrate the perfection of the character of the Redeemer (cf. Acts 2:24) and to demonstrate the acceptance of the Son’s work by the Father (cf. Ro 4:25). As someone has said, the Resurrection is God’s “Amen” to Christ’s “It is finished.” (Jn 19:30-note) We observe the cross and see redemption effected; we see the Resurrection and know the redemption is accepted. (The Wycliffe Bible Commentary)
The “Amen” of Revival (Vance Havner)
It amounts to this: what we need is a revival. If you can’t have one in your church get alone with God and have one yourself. Tell Him you’re slipping, getting over it, getting used to being a Christian, and that you don’t like it. Get back past all the world confusion and church quarrels and differences among the saints and the weaknesses of the brethren, back to Christ, to One you can trust. Come to Him afresh and fall in love with Him again and get such an eye-full and heart-full of Him that you feel like you did when you were converted. If it brings tears to the eyes and a tremor to the voice and an “amen” to the lips, well and good. (Jesus Only: Devotional Meditations)
Amen or So What? (Vance Havner)
For this generation, brought up on movie thrillers and silly comics, I covet a childhood nurtured on the Word of God. It might seem the depth of boredom to a modern youngster fed on trash and jaded from worn-out excitements, but life was happier before the “Amen” age gave way to the era of “So What?”. (The Vance Havner Quotebook)
Amen and Worship (A W Tozer)
First, I do not believe it is necessarily true that we are worshiping God when we are making a lot of racket. But not infrequently worship is audible….Second, I would warn those who are cultured, quiet, self-possessed, poised and sophisticated that if they are embarrassed in church when some happy Christian says “Amen!” they may actually be in need of some spiritual enlightenment. The worshiping saints of God in the Body of Christ have often been a little bit noisy. Lord, may my worship be genuine and heartfelt, whether it be in quiet meditation or in loud exaltation! Amen. (Tozer on the Almighty God: A 366-Day Devotional)
Amen in the NT – 129x in 103v in the NAS – Amen(30), truly(99).
Matthew 5:18-note “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
Comment: When Jesus uses Amen, it points to a solemn declaration that the hearers should note.
Matthew 5:26-note “Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.
Matthew 6:2-note “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
Matthew 6:5-note “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
Matthew 6:13-note ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’
Matthew 6:16-note “Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
Matthew 10:15 “Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.
Matthew 10:23 “But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.
Matthew 10:42 “And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”
Matthew 11:11 “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Matthew 13:17 “For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
Matthew 16:28 “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
Matthew 17:20 And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.
Matthew 18:3 and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:13 “If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray.
Matthew 18:18 “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.
Matthew 19:23 And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 19:28 And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Matthew 21:21 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen.
Matthew 21:31 “Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you.
Matthew 23:36 “Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
Matthew 24:2 And He said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”
Matthew 24:34 “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
Matthew 24:47 “Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
Matthew 25:12 “But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’
Matthew 24:40 “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’
Matthew 24:45 “Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’
Matthew 26:13 “Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”
Matthew 26:21 As they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.”
Matthew 26:34 Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”
Mark 3:28 “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter;
Mark 8:12 Sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, “Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
Mark 9:1 And Jesus was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
Mark 9:41 “For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.
Mark 10:15 “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”
Mark 10:29 Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake,
Mark 11:23 “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.
Mark 12:43 Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury;
Mark 13:30 “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
Mark 14:9 “Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”
Mark 14:18 As they were reclining at the table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me– one who is eating with Me.”
Mark 14:25 “Truly I say to you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
Mark 14:30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times.”
Luke 4:24 And He said, “Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown.
Luke 12:37 “Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them.
Luke 18:17 “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”
Luke 18:29 And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,
Luke 21:32 “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place.
Luke 23:43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”
John 1:51 And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3:11 “Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony.
John 5:19 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.
John 5:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
John 5:25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
John 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
John 6:32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.
John 6:47 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.
John 6:53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves.
John 8:34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.
John 8:51 “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death.”
John 8:58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”
John 10:1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.
John 10:7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
John 12:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
John 13:16 “Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.
John 13:20 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”
John 13:21 When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.”
John 13:38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.
John 14:12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.
John 16:20 “Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy.
John 16:23 “In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.
John 21:18 “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.”
Romans 1:25-note For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Romans 9:5-note whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
Romans 11:36-note For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
Romans 15:33-note Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Romans 16:27-note to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.
1 Corinthians 14:16 Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the “Amen ” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?
Vincent comments that “amen” is: The customary response of the congregation, adopted from the synagogue worship. See Deut. 27:15; Neh. 8:6. The Rabbis have numerous sayings about the Amen. “Greater is he who responds Amen than he who blesses.” “Whoever answers Amen, his name shall be great and blessed, and the decree of his damnation is utterly done away.” “To him who answers Amen the gates of Paradise are open.” An ill-considered Amen was styled “an orphan Amen.” “Whoever says an orphan Amen, his children shall be orphans.” The custom was perpetuated in Christian worship, and this response enters into all the ancient liturgies. Jerome says that the united voice of the people in the Amen sounded like the fall of water or the sound of thunder.
Zodhiates: How can such a layman, inexperienced in spiritual things, possibly say “Amen” to such unintelligible utterances, since he does not understand what you are saying? Again Paul drives home the futility of speaking with tongues without making their meaning known. “Amen” is a transliterated Hebrew word for “truth” or “verity,” and is used in Greek as well as in many other languages to express full and decided assent. One cannot agree or disagree with something unless he understands it. Therefore, we have one more evidence that the speaking with tongues referred to in this passage, as practiced by the Corinthians was not speaking in an understandable language for the purpose of making the counsels of God known to those present at the place of worship, but was ecstatic utterance emotionally induced. (Zodhiates Corinthians Commentary Series)
2 Corinthians 1:20 For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.
Comment: This text reminds us, every promise of God in Christ is “yea and amen,” as strong an affirmation of truth as can be expressed in the Greek language. Through Christ all of God’s promises are “amen” or confirmed.
Robert Hawker commenting on the phrase “For the needy will not always be forgotten” (Ps 9:18) wrote…
This is a sweet promise for a thousand occasions, and when pleaded before the throne in His (Christ’s) name Who comprehends in Himself every promise, and is indeed Himself the great promise of the Bible, it would be found like all others, yea and amen.
Spurgeon: “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen.” These words teach us THE STABILITY OF THE PROMISES. The promises of God are very firm, for, first, they are settled on an everlasting basis, for they are promises in Christ. As I look at the text, I can see two words leaping up out of it; and as I look at it again, I see the same two wards leaping up again: “in him.” “All promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen.” There is a great thought which I cannot fully open up to you now, you must lie awake to-night, and think over it, and pray over it: “All the promises of God in him.” What a great Christ you have, to have “all the promises of God” within himself! The range of the promises seems to be infinite, and yet Christ is great, enough to be the circumference that shuts them all in. I rejoice in this great truth, that “all the promises of God” are in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And in Christ they are said to be “Yea.” That is a Greek word, so this is a message to Gentiles. “And in him Amen.” That is a Hebrew word, and is therefore for the Jews. You may have noticed how whenever the Holy Spirit wishes to impress any truth upon us with more than usual solemnity, he uses two languages, as in the case of “Abba, Father.” In this way, all the saints of God, whether they be Jews or Gentiles, may have their portion of meat in due season.
“All the promises of God in him are “yea.” That is, they are certain. “And in him Amen.” That is, they are accomplished. We may say, after every promise of God, “Yea, so it is. Amen, so let it be,” There is but a slight variation in the meaning of the words, but it is enough to let us see that, there is no tautology here, not even if the words are translated, “All the promises of God are yea,” that is, true; “and they are Amen;” that is, they shall be accomplished in Christ Jesus.
The stability of the promises in Christ is established beyond all hazard, first, because Christ is God’s Witness. If anyone asks, “Did God make this promise?” Christ comes forward, and says, “Yes, I heard him say it.” Christ is “the faithful and true Witness.” He bears witness of God and for God to the sons. of men; and he sets his seal to every divine promise, and certifies it, with his “Yea and Amen.”
Next, the promises are sure in Christ, because he is God’s Representative. He is always doing the Father’s will, even as he has done it in the past. When he came to earth, and died upon the cross, he accomplished the work of redemption upon which God’s heart was set; and he is still doing the Father’s will. What ever Jesus has said, God has said, for he speaks the words of God. The Father sent him into the world as his Representative, and he spoke not merely his own words, but the words of the Father who sent him.
Then, next, Jesus, is the Surety of the covenant. The promise was at first made to Adam. If Adam keeps, the command of God, and does not touch the forbidden fruit, he and those whom he represents shall have all manner of good things. But Adam transgressed the taw of the Lord, so that covenant was made void. The second covenant is on this wise. If Jesus Christ, the second Adam, will do this and that, then all whom he represents shall have the, blessings guaranteed in the covenant. The Lord Jesus has done all that, he agreed to do; he has kept the law, and so has honored it, and he has also died, and borne the sentence of the law. He has thus offered both an active and a passive obedience to, the law of God, and now all the promises of God must be kept to Christ, for they are “Yea, and Amen” in him. Take those great promises in the fifty-third of Isaiah: “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a, portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he, was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” These are promises, first to the Head, and then to us the members of his mystical body; first to the second Adam, and then to all who, by a living faith, are included in his federal headship. So, the promises are “Yea and Amen” in him.
And as long as Jesus Christ lives, they are also, “Yea and Amen” in this sense,—that he is seeing to their being carried out. He is interceding before the throne for us that the promises of God may meet our distresses. O brethren, all the promises must be true in Christ, because God spared not his own Son, but freely delivered him up for us al1; and, having given him, will he not, with him, also freely give us all things? If God had meant, to run back from any promise, he would surely have run back from the promise to give his only-begotten Son; but, having fulfilled that, what promise is there that he will ever breaks. Moreover in the gift of Christ, he has virtually and really given us all things; for if Christ is yours, all things are yours. All things are in Christ; so, having him, you possess all. There is no desire of your spirit, or need of your nature, that shall remain unsatisfied when once you have Christ as yours. You have heaven, and earth, and all things that are or ever shall be, encompassed in that blessed One whose very name is “the Amen, the faithful and true Witness.” O beloved, rejoice with all your heart that every promise of God is sure in Christ Jesus to all his true seed! (Read the full sermon – All the Promises)
MacArthur: All the promises of God are fulfilled in Christ; that is, all God’s promises and unconditional covenants are guaranteed and affirmed by the person and work of Jesus Christ. (MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word)
All of God’s salvation promises—of blessing, peace, joy, goodness, fellowship, forgiveness, strength, and hope of eternal life—are yes, meaning they all come true, in Christ. They are all made possible by His person and work. All God’s OT and NT promises of peace, joy, love, goodness, forgiveness, salvation, sanctification, fellowship, hope, glorification, and heaven are made possible and fulfilled in Jesus Christ (cf. Luke 24:44). Amen. The Hebrew word of affirmation (cf. Mt 5:18; Jn 3:3; Ro 1:25). Paul reminded them that they had said a collective “yes” to the truth of his preaching and teaching….Amen is a solemn affirmation of the truthfulness of a statement.
When Paul, Silas, and Timothy preached the gospel, it was all about Christ, who by His glorious work brings to pass all salvation realities. The Corinthians probably even had joined in saying Amen to the glory of God. The congregation had affirmed that the preachers reliably spoke God’s truth about Christ when they believed the gospel message Paul and his companions preached, and it transformed their lives. How utterly absurd, Paul argued, to accept and experience the gospel message as reliable, but consider those who preached it unreliable. How ridiculous to trust Paul’s word about eternal things, but not about mundane things like travel plans. (MacArthur, J: 2Corinthians. Chicago: Moody Press)
TDNT: The sense in 2Co 1:20 is the same, for God’s Yes in Christ is the firm foundation for the Amen of the community. (Vine, W E: Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. 1996. Nelson)
Vincent: In giving this answer in His person and life, Christ puts the emphatic confirmation upon God’s promises, even as in the congregation the people say, Amen, verily. In Him is in His person: through Him, by His agency. By us. Through our ministration. Christ, in and through whom are the yea and the amen, is so proclaimed by us as to beget assurance of God’s promises, and so to glorify Him.
Galatians 1:5 to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.
Galatians 6:18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
Ephesians 3:21-note to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Philippians 4:20-note Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 6:16 who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
2 Timothy 4:18-note The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:21-note equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Spurgeon’s sermons: (1) The Blood of the Covenant or (2) The God of Peace and Our Sanctification
1 Peter 4:11-note Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 5:11-note To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.
2 Peter 3:18-note but grow (present imperative = command to never stop growing) in the grace and knowledge (don’t reverse it – knowledge without grace puffs up – 1Co 8:1KJV) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Spurgeon’s sermons:
Spurgeon’s devotionals on 2 Peter 3:18:
Jude 1:25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Revelation 1:6-note and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father– to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 1:7-note BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.
NET Bible Note: Greek “Yes, Amen.” The expression “This will certainly come to pass” is an attempt to capture the force of the juxtaposition of the Greek nai (an adverb used to strengthen an affirmation = yea, yes, certainly, assuredly – cp Mt 5:37, Ac 5:8) and the Hebrew amēn. (Ed: Using this “combined ending”, it is almost as if even with the Greek and Hebrew words that convey strong affirmation, he is saying “every eye will see Him”, both Gentiles and Jews.)
Spurgeon sermon: He Comes with Clouds
Revelation 3:14-note “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:
Vincent: The term (Amen) applied to the Lord signifies that He Himself is the fulfilment of all that God has spoken to the churches.
Barri Cae Mallin writes a devotional on the “Amen”…
You are the Beginning and the End,
You are the Amen.
Thank You that whatever my need is—that You are the Amen.
I have a need—God is the Amen.
I have a hurt—God is the Amen.
I have an illness—God is the Amen.
I lack—God is the Amen.
I need no other answer—Your Word is the best one yet!
You said it, I believe it. That settles it. Amen.
Like Your name, O God, Your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is filled with righteousness. Psalm 48:10 (Intimate Moments with the Hebrew Names of God)
Spurgeon’s Sermon: Rev 3:14 – The Amen
Revelation 5:14-note And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.
Revelation 7:12-note saying, “Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
Comment: Note amen rightly sits like a pair bookends for this great passage.
Revelation 19:4-note And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!”
Revelation 22:20-note He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Comment: John says Jesus is returning and when it happens it will be quickly. Then he says “amen” or Let it be so! John has just portrayed the eternal triumph of the eternal God over temporal evil and the soon to be crushed Evil one. And in light of the truth that the our Lord is returning in triumph soon, our heart response should be “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” Is that where your heart is at today beloved? Remember that where your treasure is, there is your heart (Mt 6:21). May the Spirit so work in all of our hearts that all worldly distractions are removed (Mt 6:24, 1Jn 2:15) and we can consistently, expectantly fix our eyes on Jesus (He 12:1) and the things above (Col 3:1, Col 3:2), that our short time here might be radically Godward (1Pe 1:17) for the sake of His glory and kingdom in Christ, the soon Coming One. Amen.
Revelation 22:21-note The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.
Comment: Not all translations have “amen” as explained below. Amen is found in the ASV, BBE (So be it), ESV, KJV, HCSB, NIV, NJB, NKJV, NRSV, YLT.
NET Bible Note: Most mss (א M) read “amen” (amēn) after “all” (pantōn). It is, however, not found in other important mss (A 1006 1841 pc). It is easier to account for its addition than its omission from the text if original. Such a conclusion is routinely added by scribes to NT books because a few of these books originally had such an ending (cf. Ro16:27; Gal 6:18; Jude 25). A majority of Greek witnesses have the concluding amen in every NT book except Acts, James, and 3 John (and even in these books, amen is found in some witnesses). It is thus a predictable variant. (Ed: Or truly inspired!)
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2. (v. i.) To have a firm persuasion, esp. of the truths of religion; to have a persuasion approaching to certainty; to exercise belief or faith.
3. (v. i.) To think; to suppose.
569. apisteo — to disbelieve, be faithless … Word Origin from apistos Definition to disbelieve, be faithless NASB Word Usage believe (3), disbelieve (1), disbelieved (1), faithless (1), refused to believe … //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/569.htm – 8k
4102. pistis — faith, faithfulness … the Heb form of believe, , in a later discussion). … for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (). … //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4102.htm – 18k
4103. pistos — faithful, reliable … Word Origin from peitho Definition faithful, reliable NASB Word Usage believe (2), believer (4), believers (5), believing (1), faithful (44), faithful one (1 … //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4103.htm – 8kmeaning of the word believe in hebrew
4135. plerophoreo — to bring in full measure, to fulfill … I carry out fully, fully convince Definition: (lit: I carry full), (a) I complete, carry out fully, (b) I fully convince, satisfy fully, (c) I fully believe. … //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4135.htm – 8k
544. apeitheo — to disobey … to disbelieve, disobey. From apeithes; to disbelieve (wilfully and perversely) — not believe, disobedient, obey not, unbelieving. see GREEK apeithes. … //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/544.htm – 7k
3982. peitho — to persuade, to have confidence … by other fair means); reflexively or passively, to assent (to evidence or authority), to rely (by inward certainty) — agree, assure, believe, have confidence … //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3982.htm – 10k
540. aman — to trust… believe, faithful, sure. (Aramaic) corresponding to ‘aman — believe, faithful, sure. see HEBREW ‘aman. 539, 540. aman. 541 . Strong’s Numbers. /hebrew/540.htm – 6k
Believe –Love –Obey. … IV Closer Wooing (Chapters xiii.-xvii.) Believe”Love”Obey. The atmosphere clears now. … They did believe in God. They should believe Him just as implicitly. … //christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/believeloveobey.htm
Whether to Believe is Meritorious? … OF THE ACT OF FAITH (TEN ARTICLES) Whether to believe is meritorious? Objection 1: It would seem that to believe in not meritorious. … /…/aquinas/summa theologica/whether to believe is meritorious.htm
What we are to Believe. In Regard to Nature it is not Necessary … … Chapter 9.”What We are to Believe. In Regard to Nature It is Not Necessary for the Christian to Know More Than that the Goodness … //christianbookshelf.org/augustine/the enchiridion/chapter 9 what we are to.htm
Whether it is Necessary for Salvation to Believe Anything Above … … OF THE ACT OF FAITH (TEN ARTICLES) Whether it is necessary for salvation to believe anything above the natural reason? Objection … /…/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is necessary for 2.htm
Whether it is Necessary for Salvation to Believe Explicitly in the … … OF THE ACT OF FAITH (TEN ARTICLES) Whether it is necessary for salvation to believe explicitly in the Trinity? Objection 1: It would … /…/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is necessary for 4.htm
Whether to Believe is to Think with Assent? … OF THE ACT OF FAITH (TEN ARTICLES) Whether to believe is to think with assent? Objection 1: It would seem that to believe is not to think with assent. … //christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether to believe is to.htm
Whether to Believe God, to Believe that There is a God, and to … … Article Two Whether to Believe God, to Believe that there is a God, and to Believe in God are rightly Distinguished as Acts of Faith. … /…/aquinas/nature and grace/article two whether to believe.htm
To Believe is to Think with Assent. … A Treatise on the predestination of the saints, Chapter 5.”To Believe is to Think with Assent. And, therefore, commending that … /…/augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 5 to believe is to.htm
Whether to Believe is Meritorious … Article Nine Whether to Believe is Meritorious. Whether to Believe is Meritorious … 1. It seems that to believe is not meritorious. … /…/aquinas/nature and grace/article nine whether to believe.htm
I Believe in the Holy Ghost; the Holy Christian Church, the … … I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting … //christianbookshelf.org/luther/the large catechism/i believe in the holy.htm
Make-believe (1 Occurrence)Make-believe. Makebates, Make-believe. Maked . … 1. (n.) A feigning to believe, as in the play of children; a mere pretense; a fiction; an invention. …/m/make-believe.htm – 6k
Miracles (65 Occurrences)… (KJV WEY WBS). John 4:48 “Unless you and others see miracles and marvels,” said Jesus, “nothing will induce you to believe.” (WEY). …/m/miracles.htm – 25k
Believers (50 Occurrences)… believing”; in the King James Version of 1 Timothy 4:12 for hoi pistoi, the Revised Version (British and American) “them that believe”): Equivalent phrases …/b/believers.htm – 21k
Believes (34 Occurrences)… Believes (34 Occurrences). Mark 9:23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (WEB WEY DBY NAS RSV NIV). …/b/believes.htm – 15k
Tells (38 Occurrences)… Matthew 24:23 “Then if any man tells you,’Behold, here is the Christ,’ or,’There,’ don’t believe it. … He knows that he tells the truth, that you may believe. …/t/tells.htm – 16k
Disbelieve (4 Occurrences)… Noah Webster’s Dictionary (vt) Not to believe; to refuse belief or credence to; to hold not to be true or actual. Multi-Version Concordance …/d/disbelieve.htm – 7k
Serveth (24 Occurrences)… 1 Corinthians 14:22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe…/s/serveth.htm – 13k
Deeds (309 Occurrences)… John 10:25 “I have told you,” answered Jesus, “and you do not believe. … John 10:37 If the deeds I do are not my Father’s deeds, do not believe me. (WEY). …/d/deeds.htm – 33k
Wrote (74 Occurrences)… NIV). John 5:46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote about me. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). …/w/wrote.htm – 30k
Matthew 8:13Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way. Let it be done for you as you have believed.” His servant was healed in that hour.(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Matthew 9:28When he had come into the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They told him, “Yes, Lord.”(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Matthew 18:6but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should be hung around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)
Matthew 21:22and all — as much as ye may ask in the prayer, believing, ye shall receive.'(See NIV)
Matthew 21:25The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?” They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say,’From heaven,’ he will ask us,’Why then did you not believe him?'(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Matthew 21:32For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. When you saw it, you didn’t even repent afterward, that you might believe him.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Matthew 24:23″Then if any man tells you,’Behold, here is the Christ,’ or,’There,’ don’t believe it.(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Matthew 24:26If therefore they tell you,’Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ don’t go out;’Behold, he is in the inner chambers,’ don’t believe it.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Matthew 27:42″He saved others, but he can’t save himself. If he is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Mark 1:15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.”(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Mark 5:36But Jesus, when he heard the message spoken, immediately said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.”(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)meaning of the word believe in hebrew
Mark 9:23Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Mark 9:24Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “I believe. Help my unbelief!”(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Mark 9:42Whoever will cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if he was thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around his neck.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)
Mark 11:23For most certainly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain,’Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and doesn’t doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is happening; he shall have whatever he says.(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Mark 11:24Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Mark 11:31They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we should say,’From heaven;’ he will say,’Why then did you not believe him?'(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Mark 13:21Then if anyone tells you,’Look, here is the Christ!’ or,’Look, there!’ don’t believe it.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Mark 15:32Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe him. ” Those who were crucified with him insulted him.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Mark 15:44But Pilate could hardly believe that He was already dead. He called, however, for the Centurion and inquired whether He had been long dead;(WEY)
Mark 16:11When they heard that he was alive, and had been seen by her, they disbelieved.(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Mark 16:13They went away and told it to the rest. They didn’t believe them, either.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Mark 16:14Afterward he was revealed to the eleven themselves as they sat at the table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they didn’t believe those who had seen him after he had risen.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Mark 16:16He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned. (Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Mark 16:17These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new languages; (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)
Luke 1:20Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Luke 1:45Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!”(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Luke 8:12Those along the road are those who hear, then the devil comes, and takes away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Luke 8:13Those on the rock are they who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; but these have no root, who believe for a while, then fall away in time of temptation.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Luke 8:50But Jesus hearing it, answered him, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe, and she will be healed.”(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Luke 16:31″‘If they are deaf to Moses and the Prophets,’ replied Abraham, ‘they would not be led to believe even if some one should rise from the dead.'”(WEY)
Luke 20:5They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say,’From heaven,’ he will say,’Why didn’t you believe him?'(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Luke 22:67″If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you won’t believe,(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Luke 24:11These words seemed to them to be nonsense, and they didn’t believe them.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)
Luke 24:25He said to them, “Foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Luke 24:41While they still didn’t believe for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)
John 1:7The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 1:12But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name:(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)
John 1:50Jesus answered him, “Because I told you,’I saw you underneath the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these!”(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 3:12If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 3:18He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.(Root in WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 4:21Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour comes, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, will you worship the Father.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 4:41Many more believed because of his word. (Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 4:42They said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of your speaking; for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 4:48Jesus therefore said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders, you will in no way believe.”(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 5:38You don’t have his word living in you; because you don’t believe him whom he sent. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 5:44How can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and you don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God?(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 5:46For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote about me.(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)
John 5:47But if you don’t believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 6:29Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 6:30They said therefore to him, “What then do you do for a sign, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you do?(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 6:36But I told you that you have seen me, and yet you don’t believe.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 6:64But there are some of you who don’t believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who didn’t believe, and who it was who would betray him.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 6:69We have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 7:5For even his brothers didn’t believe in him. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS RSV NIV)
John 7:31But of the multitude, many believed in him. They said, “When the Christ comes, he won’t do more signs than those which this man has done, will he?”(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)
John 7:39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)(KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)
John 7:48Have any of the rulers believed in him, or of the Pharisees?(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 8:24I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.”(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 8:30As he spoke these things, many believed in him.(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)
John 8:45But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 8:46Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 9:18The Jews therefore did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight,(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 9:35Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and finding him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of God?”(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 9:36He answered, “Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?”(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 9:38He said, “Lord, I believe!” and he worshiped him.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 10:25Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you don’t believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, these testify about me.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 10:26But you don’t believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 10:37If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 10:38But if I do them, though you don’t believe me, believe the works; that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 10:42Many believed in him there. (Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 11:15I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe. Nevertheless, let’s go to him.”(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 11:26Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)
John 11:27She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, God’s Son, he who comes into the world.”(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 11:40Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see God’s glory?”(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 11:42I know that you always listen to me, but because of the multitude that stands around I said this, that they may believe that you sent me.”(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 11:48If we leave him alone like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 12:36While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become children of light.” Jesus said these things, and he departed and hid himself from them.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)
John 12:37But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they didn’t believe in him,(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS RSV NIV)
John 12:39For this cause they couldn’t believe, for Isaiah said again,(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 12:42Nevertheless even of the rulers many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they didn’t confess it, so that they wouldn’t be put out of the synagogue,(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 12:44Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me, but in him who sent me.(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 12:47If anyone listens to my sayings, and doesn’t believe, I don’t judge him. For I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.(WEB KJV WBS YLT)
John 13:19From now on, I tell you before it happens, that when it happens, you may believe that I am he.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 14:1″Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)
John 14:10Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I tell you, I speak not from myself; but the Father who lives in me does his works.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 14:11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; or else believe me for the very works’ sake.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 14:29Now I have told you before it happens so that, when it happens, you may believe.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 16:9about sin, because they don’t believe in me;(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 16:30Now we know that you know all things, and don’t need for anyone to question you. By this we believe that you came forth from God.”(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 16:31Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 17:8for the words which you have given me I have given to them, and they received them, and knew for sure that I came forth from you, and they have believed that you sent me.(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 17:20Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who believe in me through their word,(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)
John 17:21that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 19:35He who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, that you may believe.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 20:8So then the other disciple who came first to the tomb also entered in, and he saw and believed.(Root in WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 20:25The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 20:27Then He said to Thomas, “Bring your finger here and feel my hands; bring you hand and put it into my side; and do not be ready to disbelieve but to believe.”(Root in WEY NIV)
John 20:29Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.”(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
John 20:31but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Believe
Make-believe (1 Occurrence)
Miracles (65 Occurrences)
Believers (50 Occurrences)
Believes (34 Occurrences)
Tells (38 Occurrences)
Disbelieve (4 Occurrences)
Serveth (24 Occurrences)
Deeds (309 Occurrences)
Wrote (74 Occurrences)
Apostles’
Didn’t (734 Occurrences)
Works (379 Occurrences)
Infidel (2 Occurrences)
Feel (58 Occurrences)
Trow (1 Occurrence)
Repent (74 Occurrences)
Reasoned (20 Occurrences)
Ensample (7 Occurrences)
Debated (7 Occurrences)
Argued (20 Occurrences)
Spite (28 Occurrences)
Refused (89 Occurrences)
Example (54 Occurrences)
Miraculous (54 Occurrences)
Afterward (113 Occurrences)
Believing (84 Occurrences)
Trust (201 Occurrences)
Saved (183 Occurrences)
Seeing (442 Occurrences)
Telling (89 Occurrences)
Matter (263 Occurrences)
Sayings (134 Occurrences)
Believed (135 Occurrences)
Anyone (514 Occurrences)
Creed
Sake (241 Occurrences)
Themselves (911 Occurrences)
Though (623 Occurrences)
Speak (855 Occurrences)
Message (222 Occurrences)
Sir (90 Occurrences)
Signs (127 Occurrences)
Takes (380 Occurrences)
Millennium
Alone (232 Occurrences)
Imputed (9 Occurrences)
Intended (38 Occurrences)
Indoors (6 Occurrences)
Faithful (136 Occurrences)
Fancy (1 Occurrence)
Tomb (70 Occurrences)
Teko’a (11 Occurrences)
Think (601 Occurrences)
Reckoned (98 Occurrences)
Rachel’s (5 Occurrences)
Remorse (2 Occurrences)
Raddai (1 Occurrence)
Rate (23 Occurrences)
Exceed (14 Occurrences)
Earthly (39 Occurrences)
Doubt (49 Occurrences)
Depends (14 Occurrences)
Dwelling (340 Occurrences)
Discussed (12 Occurrences)
Demand (34 Occurrences)
Descend (34 Occurrences)
Declares (378 Occurrences)
Despite (18 Occurrences)
Doest (53 Occurrences)
Prophesying (58 Occurrences)
Prophesy (96 Occurrences)
Prostitutes (19 Occurrences)
Believest (8 Occurrences)
Blameless (81 Occurrences)
Bidding (13 Occurrences)
Behavior (20 Occurrences)
Carries (27 Occurrences)
Collectors (16 Occurrences)
by
Alex Heath
·
2019-04-25
Table of Contents
meaning of the word believe in hebrew
The word “believed” is the very same Hebrew verb aman. The picture we have from this is that Abram was firm in his devotion to God. We usually read this to mean that Abram believed God’s promise in verse 5. The problem with this is that the Hebrew verb aman means more than just knowing something to be true.
To believe is לְהַאֲמִין (le-hah-ah-MEEN).
Regret is a feeling of sadness or sorrow over something that was done. Repentance goes beyond regret. Repentance is a 180 degree turn from your sin and toward God. Repentance involves faith in the One who can save you from the sin you’re in bondage to, Jesus Christ.
1a : to become less severe, harsh, or strict usually from reasons of humanity. b : to cease resistance : give in. 2 : let up, slacken. transitive verb. obsolete : soften, mollify.
is that repent is (label) to feel pain, sorrow, or regret for what one has done or omitted to do; the cause for repenting may be indicated with “of” while relent is to become less severe or intense; to become less hard, harsh, or cruel; to soften in temper; to become more mild and tender; to feel compassion.
Some common synonyms of relent are capitulate, defer, submit, succumb, and yield. While all these words mean “to give way to someone or something that one can no longer resist,” relent implies a yielding through pity or mercy by one who holds the upper hand.
noun. a gradation or variety of a color; tint: pale hues. the property of light by which the color of an object is classified as red, blue, green, or yellow in reference to the spectrum. color: all the hues of the rainbow. form or appearance.
April 5, 2015 · Human is deciphered as HUE-man(Hue being a color or complexion) Look at the human race and the word “Hu/hue”. The root of that word ‘Hu/hue,’ means color and “man” means spirit—thinker, spirited thinking. People will say everything is the same under the skin.
Filters. (UK, slang, originally Polari) Disgusting, repulsive. When he eats, he never closes his mouth. It’s so mank.
adjective, rank·er, rank·est. offensively strong, as a smell or taste. utter; absolute: a rank amateur; rank treachery. highly offensive; disgusting: a rank sight of carnage.
slang To criticize, demean, or complain about someone or something in a petty or naggingly critical manner.
Certainly, “Rank Stranger” is a song denoting death or an afterlife journey. As the lyrics of the song go, They’ve all moved away. To a beautiful land by the bright crystal sea. Some beautiful day I’ll meet them in heaven.
rank on (someone or something) slang To criticize or complain about someone or something in a petty and naggingly critical manner.
Opposite of a position within the hierarchy of an organization or society. insignificance. lowliness. unimportance. inferiority.
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by Larry MoyerJun 17, 2016New Believers, Theology, Uncategorized
The word believe occurs numerous times throughout our English Bible translations. In the Gospel of John it appears more than 90 times. In Acts, it occurs about 40 times.
For example, when religious leaders arrested Peter and John for preaching, Scripture says many who heard their message believed (Acts 4:4).
In another account, the Ethiopian Eunuch told Philip “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 8:37).
But what exactly does the word believe mean? Our modern concept of believe can lead to confusion. To some, believe means nothing more than mere hope or speculation. “I believe I can be there by five o’clock.” To others, believe is an intellectual assent to a set of facts. “I believe what he says. He never lies to me.”meaning of the word believe in hebrew
So what does the Bible mean by believe? The New Testament Greek word pisteuo (believe) means to “be convinced of something” or “give credence to.” We must be convinced that it is an historical fact that more than 2,000 years ago Jesus Christ died on a cross and rose the third day.
Being convinced of those facts, however, is not enough. One must accept or personally appropriate them as being true. Note that we are not merely accepting as true that He died and arose. We are acknowledging that He did it for us. In a substitutionary “instead of us” death, Christ died in our place. The punishment we deserve, He suffered for us. Christ saved us by dying for us. The third day He arose, proving that as God He conquered both sin and the death.
The word pisteuo also has a further inherent meaning. Along with “be convinced of something” and “give credence to,” it also means “trust.” If we believe in the biblical sense of the word, then we are trusting Christ to save us—not a good life, church attendance, baptism, taking of the sacraments, or keeping of the commandments.
No better word brings out the meaning of believe to a twenty-first century listener than the word trust. We must be sensitive to the fact that some people believe in Christ in the sense that they accept Him as an historical figure who died and arose; however, they are not trusting Him alone to save them, which is what the biblical word believe conveys.
As we share the gospel, we must explain that God requires the individual to trust in Christ alone plus nothing for salvation. Only when we trust in Christ alone to save us is God satisfied. To believe in the biblical sense of the word is to trust in Christ alone as the only way to obtain eternal life with God.
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Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search.meaning of the word believe in hebrew
Does the word ‘believe’ in John 3:15-16 mean to believe in Jesus as the Son of God, or to believe in the message of Jesus:
15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
16“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. ESV
The Greek text of the passage you mention is as follows:
ΚΑΤΑ ΙΩΑΝΝΗΝ 3:15-16 (SBLGNT)
15 ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων ἐν αὐτῷ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον.
16 Οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλὰ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον.
One possible literal translation of the text:
John 3:15-16 (YLT)
15 that every one who is believing in him may not perish, but may have life age-during,
16 for God did so love the world, that His Son — the only begotten — He gave, that every one who is believing in him may not perish, but may have life age-during.
The Greek word πιστεύω (pisteuō), translated believe in some versions of the Bible, has its roots in the Greek word πίστις (pistis), which means faith, which is derived from another word, πείθω (peithō), persuade.
About the word πιστεύω, the The Essence of the New Testament: A Survey says:
The Greek word pisteuō means to believe, trust, rely upon, and its related noun is pistis (faith). In his Gospel, John never used the words repent, repentance, or faith to describe the way people are saved. Instead, he used believe since the term included all these ideas. John preferred the verb form to emphasize the act that is necessary for someone to be saved-total dependence on the work of another. John did indicate that believing can be superficial when it is merely intellectual without resulting in true salvation (John 2:23- 24; 6:66; 12:42-43; see Jas 2:19). Jesus used a wordplay when He said that people must do “the work of God” for salvation, for His point was that we must not try to work for it at all. We must simply “believe in the One He has sent” (John 6:29). Because this Gospel was written for the clear and simple purpose of persuading everyone who reads it to “believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31), it is no surprise that the Gospel of John is the most frequently distributed portion of the Bible to those curious about the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In another hand, the word πίστις is defined in Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon as:
The actual Greek phrases in question are:
In both cases, the phrase is almost “naked” meaning that we simply “believe” – but is this the real meaning?
According to BDAG, the verb πιστεύω has the following meanings:
That is, the verb πιστεύω means to entrust oneself to another, Jesus in this case. A moment’s thought will reveal this is the only way we could obtain eternal life because we cannot achieve it by ourselves – we must trust someone else to do it!
Thus, Jesus is simply saying the rather obvious – Trust in me for eternal life – you cannot achieve it yourself!
This, I would prefer to translate John 3:15-16 as:
so that all trusting in Him [Jesus] may have life eternal. For thus,
God loved the world that He gave His unique Son to that everyone
trusting in Him should not perish but should have life eternal.
There is no doubt in the verses in question that the object of belief is Jesus Christ. The question seeks to sort out any difference between believing the person of Jesus Christ (i.e. who he is), and believing what the person said (i.e. his teaching and doctrine).
The Greek word is πιστεύω (pisteuō), Young’s Concordance saying that it means “To adhere to; to trust; to rely on.” It lists 7 occurrences of the word in John chapter 3 (two of them speaking of being unpersuaded and believing not on Jesus as the Son of Man, and believing not in the name of Jesus Christ.) All the other 5 occurrences speak of believing in this Son of Man, believing in the name of Jesus Christ.
The matter under consideration, then, is what does it mean to “believe in” this one, according to the context of the scripture? Fortunately, Jesus himself gave a biblical example of belief, showing exactly what he meant by “whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (vs. 15, repeated in vss. 17-18) Anyone wishing to delve into the Greek words will find that they confirm what Jesus himself said about belief in him.
Jesus’ explanation starts in vs. 13 where he makes the staggering claim that he had come down from heaven, to earth. Then he gave the example of how “Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up,” then verse 15, “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” It’s never a good idea to break into one of Jesus’s sentences, halfway through. Those who know what happened in the wilderness, where the murmuring Israelites had to look up to a brass serpent on a pole to be spared a horrible death, instantly know what Jesus meant by believing in him. Here is an explanation:
“Jesus Christ came to save us by healing us, as the children of Israel
that were stung by fiery serpents were cured and lived by looking up
to the brazen serpent – Numbers 26:1-9… In his crucifixion, Christ
was lifted up upon the cross. His death is called his being ‘lifted up
(ch.12:32-33)… It was lifted up by Moses. Christ was made under the
law of Moses, and Moses testified of him. Being thus lifted up, it was
appointed for the cure of those that were bitten by fiery serpents. He
that sent the plague provided the remedy…
As in that wilderness long ago, those dying from the fiery sting of the serpent-bite did not need to know how the command to look, and to believe, could ‘work’. There was no theological explanation by Moses to try to persuade them to ‘try it’. They had to believe the command and do it. So with Christ. We have to believe his command in John 3:14-18 because of who he is – the one who came down from heaven.
We may not understand how that ‘works’ but nobody back then needed a theological debate about what to believe (especially as Christ had not, at the point, been lifted up in crucifixion, and so had not returned to heaven). At that point, they were simply being told by Christ himself that if they believed in him, they would look to him, and be saved.
This means it’s essential to look to the genuine article, and not the pseudo-Christs (the false Christs) Jesus warned would come to deceive. There is only one Christ lifted up in scripture, and only by believing in him as the only cure for the sin that is killing us, can anyone have everlasting life. The looking in faith comes first; depths of understanding follow. Just look to Christ for salvation, believing the Christ of scripture, and the rest will follow.
As the apostle Paul demonstrated when he started writing his epistle to Christians in Rome (who had the benefit of knowing of Christ’s death and resurrection) his first 4 verses detailed who the person of Christ is, before later explaining what the gospel of Christ is all about (from chapter 3).
Conclusion: In order to be saved from our sin, we have to first look believingly to who this man is, who made such astounding claims. We have to behold him high, and lifted up, the crucified one who is now in glory in heaven, interceding on our behalf. Only after we have done that can we begin to understand the gospel of Christ and then share that with others. But to do that the other way around is truly to put the cart before the horse! Despite all theological knowledge about the Bible, and Greek words, that will not save us. Further, it is only after we have looked believingly to the person of Christ that we then get his light to see by and to know exactly what to believe. As Jesus put it:
“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not
is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the
only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is
come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because
their deeds were evil, for every one that doeth evil hateth the light,
neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he
that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made
manifest, that they are wrought in God.” (John 3:18-21)
The answer is that one first has to turn to the light, to see Christ lifted up, and to believe in that one to be saved. Christ is that Light, he is the Way, the Truth and the Life. To believe in him, in his name, by looking to him in faith, is the start of then walking in his light, it is the start of everlasting life with a massive amount to learn along the way.
It strikes me that the phrase might be more important; “believe in him” which is translated from “pisteuwn eis auton.” The same phrase appears two verses later exactly (to begin verse 18), but the ending of verse 18 is “he that does not believe is condemned” from “pepisteuken eis to onoma” (not believed the name).
From this I surmise the issue is belief in the identity of Jesus; failure to do so leads to condemnation.
Greek taken from interlinear here: http://www.scripture4all.org/OnlineInterlinear/Greek_Index.htm
John 1
meaning of the word believe in hebrew
Jesus is referenced here as the Word, God, and Light.
Taken from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/john_1:1
John 1:1 is the first verse in the opening chapter of the Gospel of John. In the Douay–Rheims, King James, New International, and other versions of the Bible, the verse reads:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.[1][2][3]
The phrase “the Word” (a translation of the Greek word “Logos”) is widely interpreted as referring to Jesus, as indicated in other verses later in the same chapter.[4] This verse and others throughout Johannine literature connect the Christian understanding of Jesus to the philosophical idea of the Logos and the Hebrew Wisdom literature. They also set the stage for later understanding development of Trinitarian theology early in the post-biblical era.
According to Matthew Henry (1662–1714) in his commentary, Jesus is called the “Word” in this opening verse because he was the Son of God sent to earth to reveal his Father’s mind to the world. He asserts that a plain reading of the verse written by John the Evangelist should be understood as proof that Jesus is God; that Jesus has the same essence as God and existed with God the Father from the very beginning, the Word was with God, and the Word was God.[5]
Mark 1:14-15 (KJV)
14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
John 3:15-16 (KJV)
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
In John 14:6 the original wording was “I am the way, I am the truth, and I am the light (today the word light has been replaced with life)” The truth is Jesus is both life and light. For he lights the way to the Father, and the Father is the source of all life. He is the light that shines in the darkness of this world. But the world does not comprehend him. Without Jesus, we have no salvation. By reading through the words of Jesus in the Bible, you will see that he preached more about Hell than he did about Heaven, and healed and delivered from devils many people.
Matthew 3:17Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
17 and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 17:5Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
So I would suggest that we are to, based on the above scriptures, believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that we are to believe what He says, and that includes what he says about the Kingdom of Hell, and the Kingdom of Heaven.
I have also been taught by my pastor, Pastor Scott Tones of Christchurch, Cottingham that we must not read one portion of scripture and believe we understand it. We must have at least two portions of scripture that are in agreement. Also, to fully understand scripture, it is also necessary to understand the culture of the peoples in those locations at those time periods. This helps us to avoid mistransaltion, misunderstanding, and helps to bring the scriptures alive.
When you begin to understand Ancient Hebrew (the language, the pictorgrams, and their meanings), you see that Jesus is mentioned in the beginning of Genesis, and that he created the Universe and all that is in it. You will also see that Jesus’ death was prophesied in Genesis through understanding the names and their meanings in the geneology. See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2-o0WI_qz8. The last link reveals Jesus to the the Creator, the Son of God, to be killed by His own hand in Genesis 1:1 using the Ancient Hebrew.
The word ‘believe’ in John 3:15-16
Does the word ‘believe’ in John 3:15-16 mean to believe in Jesus as the Son of God, or to believe in the message of Jesus:
15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16“For God so
loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in
him should not perish but have eternal life. ESV
The Greek verb pi·steuʹo (related to the noun piʹstis, generally rendered “faith”) has the basic meaning “to believe; to have faith, The Scriptures tell us: ” Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”(Heb. 11:1 ESV)
Faith is, therefore, the basis for hope and the evidence for conviction concerning unseen realities. The entire body of truths delivered by Jesus Christ and his inspired disciples constitutes the true Christian “faith.” Christian faith is based on the complete Word of God, including the Hebrew Scriptures, (1 Tim. 2:3-4, Heb. 11:6) to which Jesus and the writers of the Christian Greek Scriptures frequently referred in support of their statements.
1 Timothy 2:3-4 Amplified Bible
3 This [kind of praying] is good and acceptable and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who [a]wishes all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge and recognition of the [divine] truth.
Hebrews 11:6 NIV
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it
upon a pole, and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten,
when he looketh upon it, shall live. – Numbers 21:8
This serpent was of bronze, which speaks both of divine judgment (the brazen altar) and of self-judgment (the laver of bronze). Salvation can commence when these two are in agreement: Yes, that which I perceive is that which rightly brings me death. A man who does not know that he is dying will look upon his salvation with only casual interest but the one who knows that he is dying looks with knowledge. That which is causing death must be clearly seen and in order to be clearly seen it must be lifted up.
And, as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must
the Son of man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should
not perish, but have eternal life. – John 3:14-15
The Holy Spirit lifts up Jesus Christ always as that reproof of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8). When we perceive that we have put the Word of God to death in our hearts, minds, words and deeds we know our sin. When we understand that the Word of God was made into flesh, made to be sin for us, and crucified we know Divine justice. Righteousness demands that we cry out to be crucified with Him so that He may live in us. It is both what we deserve and what He deserves.
This, then, is that righteousness that comes through faith alone, apart from works; that in our agreement with God’s judgment and in our trust in the sacrifice of His Son we might have life, and this life is the living of Christ in us, the hope of glory.
To believe in Jesus is to accept what God the Father says about Jesus, and what Jesus says about The Kingdom of Heaven as true, and then act up on what God has has said of Jesus, and to act upon what Jesus has said about The Kingdom of Heaven. To simply hear and not to act upon is not belief! Jesus said to the Pharisees “Before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:58) If we look to the story of the burning bush, when Moses said “Who shall I say sent me?” God replied “I AM, Who I AM.” (Exodus 3:14) Therefore, we are to both believe in Jesus as the Son of God, and also in the message He preached which is The Kingdom of God. Especially when you consider Matthew 3:16-17, where God declares Jesus to be His Son.
This is where much error has divided the Churches. So I want to give a thorough presentation so that confusion can actually end. The Answer outright can sound unbelievable, so a building of concepts is needed to be able to hold the correct interpretation.
First is to understand that Belief and Faith act as synonyms to the same concept.
John 11:40 [πιστεύσῃς], John 3:15 [πιστεύων], John 3:16 [πιστεύων], Ephesians 2:8 [πίστεως]
Next we need to understand why that teaching gives life.
We can understand faith by understanding the reason why it was needed.
For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:21-22 NKJV)
Since the Cause of Death came from Adam, Understanding How will teach us about Faith.
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17 NKJV)
Notice he did not say if you do evil you will die. It is If you eat the fruits then you die.
…for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:17 NKJV)
Understanding evil is very important to this concept.
I have other sources that take longer to also show evil as error, yet this explains it the simplest, and I don’t have a lot of other things to convince people of.
We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (1 John 4:6 NKJV)
It is Important to understand what the Knowledge of Good and Evil is.
I have other sources that show the knowledge of Good and Evil means Function and Dysfunction, yet since I do not want to have to convince people of that source. I will attempt to do it the bible way.
Good is a Function?
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:17 NKJV)
Error is Dysfunction, Sin is eating the fruit of it.
If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” (Genesis 4:7 NKJV)
The Fruit of Function and Dysfunction is not an actual fruit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV)
For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. (Romans 7:5 NKJV)
So we can see two points here
Comparing the two sets of fruits
You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. (Matthew 7:16-17 NKJV)
Defining The Fruits of Function and Dysfunction
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21 NKJV)
Defining the Fruits of Faith
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22 NKJV)
Seeing the choice through an example
Dysfunction can be defined as when something is supposed to work stops working. Let us place a situation where an air conditioner breaks down in a time of need. When that person “Knows” about the dysfunction. There is “Two Reaction Paths”.
Path One – The Path of Unbelief (The Natural Path)
When seeing that the air Conditioner is broken the man exclaims, “I can’t believe that the Air Conditioner is Broken!” Then follows through with an Outbursts of Wrath which is defined as the Fruits of the Flesh, or as the Fruits of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
Path Two – The Path of Faith (The Path of Jesus)
When seeing that the air Conditioner is broken the man trusts in the word and prays “Can we get a new Air Conditioner?” and much Love, Peace, and Joy are created.
To the Questioner’s Answer! Does the word ‘believe’ in John 3:15-16 mean to believe in Jesus as the Son of God, or to believe in the message of Jesus
The Answer goes like this, Once you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, then you can learn about his message, and then you can apply what he taught. So the word ‘believe’ in John 3:15-16 is used in the application of what the Son of God Taught.
But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? (Luke 6:46 NKJV)
Yet to “Have the Faith” you must know “When to Apply It”
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 NKJV)
So when the Dysfunction is Known: We hope in God, and that is Belief.
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. (Galatians 6:7-8 NKJV)
So either “the Body” fulfills the Law, or the “Spirit” Fulfills the Law.
And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. (Galatians 5:3 NKJV)
By this you can see that the Laws of the Flesh are also of the Laws of the Circumcision. For to truly circumcise the flesh we trust in the “Word” instead of our own Bodies. Therefore by no longer trusting in our bodies to fulfill the law, we are proved righteous through “Graceful Response” upon “Knowledge of the Dysfunctional Situation”.
An Example of an Ungraceful Wife
Upon knowledge that the car bill is soon due, she freaks out and screams at her husband about how careless he is for not paying the bill ahead of time. She continues to berate and smack him until he finally leaves to go make the payment.
An Example of a Graceful Wife
Upon knowledge that the car bill is soon due, she prays “Can you go pay the car bill now?”, then with patient persistence she continues to ask until he pays it.
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’” (Luke 18:1-5 NKJV)
I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. (Luke 11:8 NKJV)
For prayer works because some do not want to be bothered.
On the answer that says
Having the exact right believe about the Trinity is not as important as loving our neighbor and ourselves, without blaspheming the Holy Spirit.
I disagree with that because our words represent who we are.
…for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:… Proverbs 23:7. and
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Matthew 12:34
We usually use statements like: If his word is no good, he’s no good or I gave him a piece of my mind (speaking about the words spoken) everytime and don’t realize it’s this same issue of believe my word = believe me don’t believe my word = don’t believe me.
In direct answer to the question of this post, you cannot believe in Jesus’ message without believing in Jesus.
Think about it.
If you’re scheduled to visit your friend and can’t make it, you send them a message of apology or a message with the content of what you plan to deliver if there physically. If they turn down your message and you find out, won’t you feel you were rejected? Yes you would, because your message represents you. Your friend turned you down, when they turned down your message.
So my friend that says Having the exact right believe about the Trinity is not as important as loving our neighbor and ourselves, without blaspheming the Holy Spirit.
You cannot love your neighbor if you don’t have the exact right believe about the Trinity. How do you even know what love is without understanding the Trinity. Some people call love all manner of things this days e.g.: bombing a church in the name of Allah. Killing a child born deformed, thinking they’re doing them good by not allowing them go through life in a deformed condition. etc. Now where do you draw the line on what loving our neighbor actually is without going back to the person that gave the command. This is where having the exact right believe about the Trinity plays a role. It clarifies the message.
I say clarify because our interpretation of the message may not be right when heard the first time. So we need to believe the messenger and return to him always for clear interpretation of his message.
I have been in Church since the day I was born. Trinity Lutheran Church. I’m 49 years old now and I think I know less about the Trinity now than when I was 4. So having the exact right belief about the Trinity doesn’t seem important at all anymore to me. I’ve come to realize I was brainwashed from the Church my entire life. I was programmed to believe what our Church believed and things were made to be important that aren’t important at all. Lucky I married a Baptist girl and starting stepping outside my box and started seeing how crazy a lot our beliefs are. So did my wife. She started seeing how brainwashed she was and how crazy her beliefs were.
What matters is Love. And we build Love with having a relationship with God.
The question, I guess, is not put correctly, for this is a false dilemma: to believe a) in the Lord Jesus Christ or b) in the message of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Why is it a false dilemma? Because the Lord gives such commandments, such a message that it is impossible to fulfill it without Him working in depths of our hearts, for His commandments necessarily implies synergy of our efforts with His grace or activity in us (Colossians 1:29), as He Himself explicitly states that without Him we are unable to perform His commandments (John 15:5), just like a twig that is cut from the vine is unable to bear fruits, so also we cut from Christ cannot bear any fruit, i.e. will not be able to fulfill His commandments.
Therefore, both are the same: 1. you believe in Christ, means you do His commandments (John 14:15) and 2. you believe in and understand His commandments, you will realize that they are impossible to be fulfilled without Him working in us, without us drinking His very blood and eating His very flesh, for only thus His life can start dwelling and flourishing in us (John 6:53).
Having the exact right belief about the Trinity is not as important as loving our neighbor and ourselves, without blaspheming the Holy Spirit.
Lk 10:27 (NIV) “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Lk 12:10 (NIV) “everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
Mat 7:21 (NIV) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven”.
Consequently, the message is more important than the messenger.
Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is rejection of the Holy Spirit. Just like grieving the Holy Spirit makes God our enemy. Dying in sin without the Holy Spirit is blasphemy.
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