What Does Amen mean?

 The word “amen” is from the ancient Hebrew language. Which you can also see in the Hebrew Bible.  Some of us pronounce it Ah-Men, while others say Ay-men.  It is a bit like the Judeo-Christian version of “You say tomato (to-ma-to) I say tomato (to-may-to).   At the end of the day, the pronunciation is not as important as how we apply it.  

Amen in ancient Hebrew is pronounced (aw-mane).   In the original language, we define amen or amen means “so be it” or “So be it, truth, verily, truly“.  We find the Hebrew word amen in the Scriptures many times within both the old and new testament.  One of the first places that we see amen history or amen in the scripture is in Deuteronomy.  Interestingly enough, unlike when we find it in psalms or in the New Testament, amen in the same word in Deuteronomy appears while the curses of the law are being shared.  

God is sharing the repercussions of disobedience. And, why do the people say amen?  Because they understand His Will and are coming into a place of accountability to it. 

Here is an example:

“Cursed is anyone who dishonors their father or mother.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
Duet 16:7

There are 12 times in Deuteronomy where the people hear the laws of God and say “amen”.  As the Israelites set out for the promise land, Moses is speaking to them and laying out a standard.  As you may know, why Moses could not enter the promised land was closely related to the behavior of the God’s people.

God, in essence through Moses, was laying put the expectations moving forward.  He wanted His people to understand what they had to do.  

The Israelites responded with Amen.  The word amen resembles in this context the meaning that they were acknowledging what was being released.  The true meaning of amen symbolized that they grasped the covenant that they were in with the Father.