Bible Dictionaries
Amen

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

is transliterated from Hebrew into both Greek and English. "Its meanings may be seen in such passages as Deuteronomy 7:9 , 'the faithful (the Amen) God,' Isaiah 49:7 , 'Jehovah that is faithful.' Isaiah 65:16 , 'the God of truth,' marg., 'the God of Amen.' And if God is faithful His testimonies and precepts are 'sure (amen),' Psalm 19:7; 111:7 , as are also His warnings, Hosea 5:9 , and promises, Isaiah 33:16; 55:3 . 'Amen' is used of men also, e.g., Proverbs 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, Deuteronomy 27:15 , cp. Nehemiah 5:13 . It is also used to express acquiescence in another's prayer, 1 Kings 1:36 , where it is defined as "(let) God say so too," or in another's thanksgiving, 1 Chronicles 16:36 , whether by an individual, Jeremiah 11:5 , or by the congregation, Psalm 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, Revelation 3:14 , because through Him the purposes of God are established, 2 Corinthians 1:20

"The early Christian churches followed the example of Isreal in associating themselves audibly with the prayers and thanksgivings offered on their behalf, 1 Corinthians 14:16 , where the article 'the' points to a common practice. Moreover this custom conforms to the pattern of things in the Heavens, see Revelation 5:14 , etc.

"The individual also said 'Amen' to express his 'let it be so' in response to the Divine 'thus it shall be,' Revelation 22:20 . Frequently the speaker adds 'Amen' to his own prayers and doxologies, as is the case at Ephesians 3:21 , e.g.

"The Lord Jesus often used 'Amen,' translated 'verily,' to introduce new revelations of the mind of God. In John's Gospel it is always repeated, 'Amen, Amen,' but not elsewhere. Luke does not use it at all, but where Matthew, Matthew 16:28 , and Mark, Mark 9:1 , have 'Amen,' Luke has 'of a truth;' thus by varying the translation of what the Lord said, Luke throws light on His meaning."* [* From Notes on Galatians, by Hogg and Vine, pp. 26,27.] See VERILY.