In my travels around the world speaking in churches about creating a new positive path in Jewish-Christian relations, I was initially caught off guard on how free-flowing the word “amen” would be used during a pastor’s message.“Can I get an amen,” was occasionally repeated by the pastor and in return, the congregation would respond with a thundering affirmation – “amen.” While both Judaism and Christianity use amen as an answer to prayers, I just could never imagine my pulpit rabbi asking the congregation to affirm what he was saying during his message.The usage of amen by the early Church went from being part of a blessing/prayer (1 Corinthians 14:16) to an expression of hope and as a worshipful term for Jesus (Revelation 3:14), exalting him as “The amen, the faithful and true witness.”One of the most popular African-American spirituals of the 20th Century is “amen, amen,” affirming the Christian Testament verse in Revelation. Judaism employed amen as a way to fulfill one’s prayer obligations when hearing the leader of the congregation reciting the liturgy, and in fact, gave a higher spiritual status than the one making the blessing.Amen is a powerful word; however, its biblical introduction in the Five Books of Moses would make it an expression least likely to be used in corporate and free-flowing prayer; namely an accused adulterer and curses. In Numbers 5, we encounter the word amen when a husband accuses his wife of adultery. To prove her innocence, she must drink the “bitter water.” Prior to ingesting the potion, the accused must say amen to the priest’s oath. The amen acts as a legal functionary, whereby the oath becomes hers.The second time we confront amen is when Israelites respond to the curses pronounced at Mount Ebal in Deuteronomy 27. This amen functions as one who signs off that he or she read the fine print and is still willing to sign up.With such negative associations related to amen, how did it end up as the most popular word in faith? In 1 Chronicles 16:36, amen was used to praise God and acknowledge His sovereignty in the world when the Ark was placed in the Tabernacle during King David’s time. Amen is also mentioned in the Book of Psalms in praising God’s authority and protection (41:14; 72:19; 89:53 and 106:48).Nevertheless, how are we licensed to use amen outside the Psalm sphere? According to some Jewish commentators, the biblical source for amen after a blessing is Deuteronomy 32:3 – “For when I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe ye greatness unto our God.”
While Moses’ words are indeed poetic throughout his last discourse to the Jewish people, he does make it very clear that a listener’s response is required when invoking God’s name – thus, amen.
Translating amen has been tricky. Some say it is the root word of emunah – faith. Others comment that amen is a three letter acronym – El melekh ne’eman – God, faithful king.
When the Levites consecrated the Second Temple (Nehemiah 9:7-8), it clearly states that God chose Abraham because he was a “ne’eman,” a faithful man. The common quality in all the times ne’eman appears in the Bible is the ability to count on someone’s word. Just like God’s faithfulness in carrying out the consequences in the cases of “alleged adultery” and “curses,” the fidelity of His word is also applied to anything in the positive realm.
The amen response to praises and affirmation of God is based upon the concept of sociality of blessing. Just like two witnesses are required to make any legal proceeding effective, so too when one blesses God and the other responds amen, they are both authenticating it. Even though when one blesses alone, his/her statement is factually accurate; however, it is meaningless in the human community. Amen is the way a society can officially endorse an act of worship, give it status and importance. We need partners to glorify God in the world.
Belief in God is more than knowing He exists. Biblical faith requires knowing God’s trustworthiness. Can I get an amen?
David Nekrutman is the executive director at the Center for Jewish- Christian Understanding and Cooperation in Efrat, Israel. All comments should go to info@cjcuc.com. 