Language Studies

Hebrew Thoughts

’^emûnâh - אֱמוּנָה (Strong's #530)
Faith?

Strictly speaking Biblical Hebrew has no word for "faith" as modern Christians understand the word, hence the question mark. "Faith" as Hebrew understands it is always an active verb, nor does it describe an action, but the characteristic of a person. The closest Hebrew comes to "faith" is אֱמוּן ’^emûn (Strong's #529, x5) and אֱמוּנָה ’^emûnâh (Strong's #530, x49) meaning "faithful, true, steadfast, loyal" and deriving from the Hebrew אָמַן ’âman (Strong's #539, x108) as does אֱמֶת ’^emeth (Strong's #571, x127). אֱמֶת ’^emeth means "true, right" or "faithful" whilst the root verb אָמַן ’âman means "to confirm, support, uphold, establish, be faithful, be certain, believe, trust" or "have faith". Thus they can all signify something (or someone) which is steadfast, stable (e.g., Isaiah 33:6, "And He will be the security/stability of your times"), firm, established and lasting. Possession of "faith" as an object rather than the characteristic of "faithfulness" just does not occur in Old Testament language.

The first use of אֱמוּנָה ’^emûnâh is in Exodus 17:12 and describes the steadiness of Moses' hands lifted high over the Amalekites. Indeed, the idea of strong arms of support is seen in the picture and usage of a parent supporting an infant. Esther 2:7 and 2:20 use the root verb אָמַן ’âman) and a derived noun אָמְנָה ’om'nâh, Strong's #545) of Esther's upbringing, of her being trained and sustained by Mordecai. The rock-like image of certainty, stability and trustworthiness are met with in Deuteronomy 32:4 when we read that even God "is the Rock,... a God of truth (KJV) / faithfulness (JPS) ...", again using אֱמוּנָה ’^emûnâh.

Thus, faith is not some ethereal or emotional vagary but something stable, concrete and lasting. A faith which is persistently rocked by circumstances is no faith at all, but an emotional "belief" during "the good times only" faith. Faith which is built upon the rock is thus stable and firm. As with Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is the substance (hupostasis) of things hoped for", the idea of certainty, is paramount.

In English we speak of people as being "pillars of faith" or "pillars of the establishment". Well, one Hebrew word for "pillar" is אמְנָה ’om'nâh (Strong's #547; 2 Kings 18:16), derived from אָמַן ’âman again.

In Isaiah 7:9 Ahaz is told that unless he is "certain" he will not be "established". Both English translations are from different forms of the Hebrew root verb אָמַן ’âman.

Perhaps the most famous verse concerning faith in the Old Testament is Habakkuk 2:4:

"And/but-a-righteous-one in/by-his-faithfulness will-live"

Habakkuk 2:4 is used by Paul (curiously omitting the Hebrew word "his", Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11ff.; cf. Hebrews 10:37ff.) to substantiate justification by faith, but the verse has a double meaning in the Hebrew. "The just/righteous shall live by His faith/faithfulness". So, is the verse talking about faith or faithfulness? This is an issue that has divided the church into two camps, those of grace and those of works orientated salvation. Habakkuk could be saying that the righteous will live by their faith or because of their faithfulness. In the Dead Sea scrolls text of Habakkuk there is an accompanying pesher or interpretative commentary which reads:

"This refers to all those who obey the Law among the Jews whom God will rescue from among those doomed to judgement, because of their suffering and loyalty/faithfulness to the Teacher of Righteousness"

This Teacher of Righteousness was a mysterious figure, part present and part future, whom some have seen as either John the Baptist, James or Jesus.

In the Jewish Babylonian Talmud (Maccot 24.1) there is a saying that all the laws and precepts of God were reduced to just one by Habakkuk, namely, "the just shall live by his faith/fulness".

The New Testament saying of Jesus, Mark 11:22 can be translated as "hold to the faithfulness of God" or "be having the faith of God/Godlike faith" as well as "have faith [in] God". It is the quality of God's faith in us and to us, not the quantity of our own, and it rests upon God's ability to remain faithful, even when we are not (cf. 2 Timothy 2:13, "He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself"). Yet our faith/faithfulness is the required response to His.

אֱמוּנָה ’^emûnâh is paralleled with "righteousness" (צְדָקָה tsedhâqâh, Strong's #6666) in 1 Samuel 26:23; Isaiah 11:5; 59:4; Jeremiah 5:1,3; 7:28; 9:3, in some cases the words may be translated as justice and truth rather than righteousness and faith/fulness.

God can be full of faith too, i.e., dependable and faithful. Isaiah 25:1 says His counsels are "faithful faithfulness" (אֱמוּנָהאמֶן ’^emûnâh ’ômen). He is full of faith, i.e., faithful to all generations (Psalm 89:1), which is paired with grace/mercy/lovingkindness in vv.2,24,33. Hence we can "feed on His faithfulness" (Psalm 37:3).

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