Post by nina on Mar 13, 2006 9:06:55 GMT -5
We say it often, but I was just wondering exactly what we are saying when we say it...
We find it in many scriptures:
- The Laodicean letter: “Unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen.”
- 2 Corinthians 1:20 “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen…”
- 2 Corinthians 1:20-22 “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. Now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”
In researching, I also found:
- "Amen" first appears in the Torah in Bamidbar, Numbers, in chapter 5, verse 22: "And the woman shall say 'amen, amen'." The context there is that a woman is being administered an oath. Saying amen is her acceptance of the oath as true, and that she accepts the consequences of the oath if she is lying. In this sense, the word amen means "true."
- The letters of amen, "alef mem nun," are also seen as an acrostic hinting to the phrase "(K)el Melech Ne'eman" - "God, the faithful King."
- Perhaps the first place it can be seen as said in a "religious" ritual is at the end of Psalm 41, which ends the first of the five books of Psalms.
There, King David says, "Blessed is the Lord, God of Israel, for ever and ever; amen and amen."
This verse is very similar to what we call a "blessing," and it ends with "amen."
- Sources indicate that amen was said after blessings at least as early as the beginning of the Second Temple period. There's no evidence that this was when it was first introduced, and it very likely goes back much farther.
- Few are cognizant of the origin of this word. Most commentaries are of the opinion that it is an abbreviation of the phrase El Melekh Neaman "God is the truthworthy King" (Sabbath 119a).
Others maintain that it is derived from the word emunah, meaning "faith." In any case, this key word is an expression of trust and faith in Almighty God.
- Because of the central importance and profound significance of the word, whenever Amen is said, it should be repeated with great concentration and fervor.
"He who prolongs the saying of Amen will be granted the gift of long life. He who recites Amen with his entire strength will be granted immortal life."
They go even further by declaring how and when the Amen is to be repeated, and ruling that certain Amens are unacceptable.
- Also, the saying of "amen, yehai shemai rabbah" (Amen, may His great name be praised) is a tremendous virtue.
It nullifies difficult heavenly decrees, it stops accusations against us in heaven, and it prevents evil events which derive from there. At the same time it fills the world with good influence, it brings closer our Redemption and the deliverance of each individual."
Is Amen the name of Jesus in the Laodicean letter? What does it mean to us?
If amen is such a powerful word, should we think twice before we say it?
We find it in many scriptures:
- The Laodicean letter: “Unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen.”
- 2 Corinthians 1:20 “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen…”
- 2 Corinthians 1:20-22 “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. Now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”
In researching, I also found:
- "Amen" first appears in the Torah in Bamidbar, Numbers, in chapter 5, verse 22: "And the woman shall say 'amen, amen'." The context there is that a woman is being administered an oath. Saying amen is her acceptance of the oath as true, and that she accepts the consequences of the oath if she is lying. In this sense, the word amen means "true."
- The letters of amen, "alef mem nun," are also seen as an acrostic hinting to the phrase "(K)el Melech Ne'eman" - "God, the faithful King."
- Perhaps the first place it can be seen as said in a "religious" ritual is at the end of Psalm 41, which ends the first of the five books of Psalms.
There, King David says, "Blessed is the Lord, God of Israel, for ever and ever; amen and amen."
This verse is very similar to what we call a "blessing," and it ends with "amen."
- Sources indicate that amen was said after blessings at least as early as the beginning of the Second Temple period. There's no evidence that this was when it was first introduced, and it very likely goes back much farther.
- Few are cognizant of the origin of this word. Most commentaries are of the opinion that it is an abbreviation of the phrase El Melekh Neaman "God is the truthworthy King" (Sabbath 119a).
Others maintain that it is derived from the word emunah, meaning "faith." In any case, this key word is an expression of trust and faith in Almighty God.
- Because of the central importance and profound significance of the word, whenever Amen is said, it should be repeated with great concentration and fervor.
"He who prolongs the saying of Amen will be granted the gift of long life. He who recites Amen with his entire strength will be granted immortal life."
They go even further by declaring how and when the Amen is to be repeated, and ruling that certain Amens are unacceptable.
- Also, the saying of "amen, yehai shemai rabbah" (Amen, may His great name be praised) is a tremendous virtue.
It nullifies difficult heavenly decrees, it stops accusations against us in heaven, and it prevents evil events which derive from there. At the same time it fills the world with good influence, it brings closer our Redemption and the deliverance of each individual."
Is Amen the name of Jesus in the Laodicean letter? What does it mean to us?
If amen is such a powerful word, should we think twice before we say it?
