What is meant by saying “AMEN”

Amen is frequently said by Christian congregations or individuals at the conclusion of prayers, creeds, blessings, hymns or “formal” expressions about God and His Word. Amen is also used to express approval or agreement to what has been said. The primary meaning of Amen is “so let it be” or “so be it.” 

In Matthew 6:9-13 our Lord Jesus concluded His well-loved prayer He taught His disciples (called The Lord’s Prayer) with Amen. “For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.”

Amen has a very significant and deep spiritual meaning for Christians. Christians find great joy and delight in believing and claiming God’s precious promises with the assurance that these promises are always fulfilled by God. 

The Bible says, “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Amen is found in both Old Testament and New Testament Scriptures. When the Levitical priests pronounced blessings or curses on the people of Israel, they were to answer Amen. And this they did after each of the twelve pronouncements (Deuteronomy 27:14-26).

King David said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen” (Psalm 41:13). Note: David uttered not one, but two Amens. 

At the end of his prayer for Solomon, David also said: “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen. The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended” (Psalm 72:18-20). Here again David’s two Amens.

There is a school of thought that when Jesus said, “Truly, Truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death” (John 8:51); it would have been better translated “Amen, Amen, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”

The Christian’s Amen is sincerely acknowledging who God is, and what He does. For example, God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. Therefore, when we pray to God, we are confidently saying Amen. 

The apostle Paul said: ”Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20,21).

Saying Amen at the conclusion of our prayers to God means He will not only answer, but also He is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think. 

John, in the book of The Revelation, gives us a glimpse of the heavenly scene when he wrote: “And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen” (Revelation 7:11,12). 

 Here is another use of Amen in the Scripture. The Lord Jesus said “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation” (Revelation 3:14). The Lord is the Amen! Let all the people say   Amen to that.

William MacDonald gives us an insightful commentary on this text: “The Lord Jesus speaks of Himself as the Amen, the faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God. As the Amen, He is the embodiment of faithfulness and truth, and the One who guarantees and fulfills the promises of God. He is also the originator of the creation of God, both material and spiritual. The expression, “the Beginning of the creation of God” does not mean that He was the first Person to be created; He was never created. Rather, it means He began all creation” (Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 2360 Thomas Nelson Publishers). 

As previously done, Christians will continue to say Amen as an affirmation of God’s holiness, righteousness, and faithfulness to us and our faith, trust, and hope toward Him.