What is ‘Amen’? Why is ‘Amen’ important in worship? Although it is a very short word, when the number of times we say ‘Amen’ decreases during worship or when the sound of ‘Amen’ becomes quieter, we must check whether we are using ‘Amen’ habitually. Additionally, we need to check whether our childlike pure heart has disappeared or our love has cooled even though we have lived a long religious life.
‘Amen’ is an adverb derived from the Hebrew word ‘aman’, which means ‘to rely on’ or ‘to be comforted,’ and has the meaning of ‘truly, truly, certainly.’ In other words, Amen is an expression of faith that whenever I hear the word of God, I agree with it with all my heart and hope that it will come true. So, in the Old Testament, this term was generally used at the end of oaths, blessings, curses, prayers, and doxology during worship. In other words, it contains the meaning of agreement with the words ‘Amen’ or an oath to take responsibility for those words.
In the Old Testament, it was used to express agreement with what another person said (1 Kings 1:36 Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, so declare it.) and to promise to be willing to accept the consequences of an oath, blessing, or curse (Deuteronomy 27:15 “Cursed is the man who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”). It was also used at the end of a prayer or praise to mean, “Truly it is so, I hope so” (1 Chronicles 16:36 Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the LORD.”, Psalm 41:13 Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.).
In the New Testament, it was written at the end of Paul’s letters (Romans 1:25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator–who is forever praised. Amen., 16:27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.) and prayers (1 Corinthians 14:16 If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?). Jesus used the term ‘Amen (truly)’ to express his divine authority (John 1:51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”). The original word for ‘truly’ comes from the Old Testament Hebrew word ‘Amen.’
What is unique is that in the Book of Revelation, Amen is also used to refer to Jesus himself, the fulfillment of God’s promise of salvation. (Revelation 3:14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.)
Let us become worshipers who deeply meditate on the meaning of ‘Amen’ and respond vigorously with ‘Amen’, remembering the Lord’s boundless love (Romans 5:8) and grace every time we hear the Word of God.