Amen!

The word “amen” actually comes from Hebrew, and other Semitic languages. It was transliterated into Greek for use during the early church period, and from there became used in a multitude of other languages as the standard ending to prayers and hymns. The meaning for it as it is used in English liturgy and worship is, “So be it,” and it is often translated as “verily” or “truly” in Scripture. But there is a fullness to “amen” that is missed if we just stop at these words.

The word “amen”, as we use it today, is an adverb, the verb form, aman can mean confirm, support, nourish (as a foster mother/father), faithful, made firm, sure, lasting, established, reliable, trustworthy, trust, believe, stand firm in its various forms. So when we utter our “amen” at the end of our prayer times, worship, or singing, we are not just saying, “so be it”, we are saying that we affirm God and all his ways, believe Him, trust Him, and will stand firm in Him.

I feel sometimes that we use “amen” in much the same way that we do, “good bye”: it marks the end of a conversation. But it shouldn’t be this way! Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Therefore, when we say “amen,” we are proclaiming our joy in our salvation, and our faith in God to work through all our circumstances to grow us to be more like Jesus, and that our hope and trust is firmly rooted God. “Amen” is not just a good way to end prayer, it is a proclamation about the God to whom we pray, and that He is worthy of all our prayers, worship, praise, singing, and time.

Amen and amen!