Learn English – Origin of the word “amen”

etymology

I have done research on the word know to many, amen. http://www.todayifoundout.com says that it originated from the Egyptian god Amun, being misspelled as "amen."

I have a hypothesis that this is not correct and there is a deeper origin and understanding of where and when it started.
I have done research of when it originated so I could back track it to how and where it originated.

A friend of mine stated, "I believe it came from a Hebrew word or phrase with a similar meaning."

I wasn't sure about this since he didn't have any evidence of his theory so I did some more research. I found that he was partially correct. There is also a theory that comes and is based off of the Hebrew Language. There is no specific word or phrase that states a relationship but there is still the theory.

In the dictionary the definition of "amen" is:

amen

[ey-men, ah-men]

1.
it is so; so be it (used after a prayer, creed, or other formal statement to express solemn ratification or agreement).

adverb

2.
verily; truly.

noun

3.
an utterance of the interjection “amen.”.

4.
a musical setting for such an utterance.

5.
an expression of concurrence or assent.

If you could give me advise and an accurate answer that would be very helpful for my situation.

Best Answer

The Online Etymological Dictionary has this to say on the matter:

amen

Old English, from Late Latin amen, from Ecclesiastical Greek amen, from Hebrew amen "truth," used adverbially as an expression of agreement (as in Deut. xxvii:26, I Kings i:36; compare Modern English verily, surely, absolutely in the same sense), from Semitic root a-m-n "to be trustworthy, confirm, support." Used in Old English only at the end of Gospels, otherwise translated as Soðlic! or Swa hit ys, or Sy! As an expression of concurrence after prayers, it is recorded from early 13c.

So yes, it does indeed seem to come from a Hebrew word.

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