Abarim Publications' online Biblical Hebrew Dictionary
אמן
The wonderful verb אמן ('aman) reflects certainty in various forms and nuances. It's either used to convey or describe trustworthiness or faithfulness of either a person (1 Samuel 2:35, Isaiah 8:2) or something someone is saying (Genesis 42:20, 1 Kings 8:26), or it describes stability or continuity of various facets of a person's identity, such as his name (1 Chronicles 17:24), his house or dynasty (1 Samuel 2:35), his general position in this world (Isaiah 22:23), or even chronic diseases he might have (Deuteronomy 28:59).
Often our verb occurs in the sense of having faith (Exodus 4:31, Isaiah 7:9), and sometimes this verb is used in the sense of literally upholding, nourishing or carrying a child (Numbers 11:12, Ruth 4:16, 2 Kings 10:1). In 2 Kings 18:16 our verb is used to state how pillars or posts support a door.
Noteworthy wordplay occurs in Isaiah 7:9 (אם לא תאמינו לא תאמנו, literally meaning: if no believing, then no perpetuity) and 2 Chronicles 20:10 (האמינו ביהוה ותאמנו, meaning the faith in YHWH results in perpetuity; also see our article on the Greek word πιστις, pistis, meaning "faith").
Also note the similarity between our verb אמן ('aman), to affirm, and אמם ('amam), to be a mother or a people.
Our verb אמן ('aman) yields the following derivatives:
- The masculine noun אמן ('omen), meaning faithfulness (Isaiah 25:1 only).
- The adverb אמן ('amen), which is probably the best known Hebrew word in the world, as it nowadays is used as the send-button of a prayer; our word Amen, meaning verily or truly. In the Old Testament it occurs sporadically (1 Kings 1:36, 1 Chronicles 16:36, Nehemiah 5:13); the brilliant poet Isaiah even speaks of אלהי אמן (e'lhy 'mn), meaning the God of Amen, or the God of Truth (Isaiah 65:16). In the New Testament this word occurs mostly as assent to a prayer or to verify the truth of a statement (Romans 9:5, 1 Corinthians 14:16, John 3:3, Revelation 1:7).
- The masculine noun אמן ('omman), denoting a skilled or "true" worker; someone who either is well established, has a lot of experience, or can be trusted to do an excellent job (Exodus 28:11 and Song of Solomon 7:1 only).
- The masculine noun אמן ('emun), meaning trusting or faithfulness (Deuteronomy 32:20, Proverbs 13:17).
- The feminine noun אמונה ('emuna) meaning firmness, steadfastness or fidelity (Exodus 17:12, Isaiah 33:6, 2 Kings 22:7).
- The feminine noun אמנה ('omna), meaning a bringing up or nourishment (Esther 2:20 only).
- The identical adverb אמנה ('omna), which appears to be a feminine version of the more familiar 'amen; the adverb of confirmation or verification (Genesis 20:12 and Joshua 7:20 only).
- The feminine noun אמנה ('amana), meaning faith (Nehemiah 10:1), or support (Nehemiah 11:23).
- The adverb אמנם ('umnam), which appears to be a plural version of the more familiar 'amen; the adverb of confirmation or verification. This word is used five times and always in questions: Genesis 18:13, Numbers 22:37, 1 Kings 8:27, 2 Chronicles 6:18, Psalm 58:1.
- The similar adverb אמנם ('omnam), also an adverb of confirmation or verification (2 Kings 19:17, Ruth 3:12, Job 9:2).
- The feminine noun אמת ('emet), meaning firmness, faithfulness or truth. This word is the most frequently occurring derivation of the root אמן ('aman; Genesis 24:48, Isaiah 39:8, Nehemiah 7:2).
- The masculine noun אמון ('amon), which appears to be a word like אמן ('omman), meaning skillful worker. Our noun occurs only in Proverbs 8:20 and Jeremiah 52:15. Some scholars don't think that this word is actually from the root אמן ('aman) but rather from the root המה (hama), and is a variant spelling of the word המון (hamon), meaning people.