Amen

ā -men ´ (in ritual speech and in singing a-men', a'men) (אמן , 'āmēn ; ἀμήν , amḗn , = "truly," "verily"): Is derived from the reflexive form of a verb meaning "to be firm," or "to prop." It occurs twice as a noun in Isaiah 65:16 , where we have (the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American)) "God of truth." This rendering implies the pointing 'ōmēn or 'ēmūn i.e. "truth," or "faithfulness," a reading actually suggested by Cheyne and adopted by others. "Amen" is generally used as an adverb of assent or confirmation - fiat , "so let it be." In Jeremiah 28:6 the prophet endorses with it the words of Hananiah. Amen is employed when an individual or the whole nation confirms a covenant or oath recited in their presence ( Numbers 5:22; Deuteronomy 27:15; Nehemiah 5:13 , etc.). It also occurs at the close of a psalm or book of psalms, or of a prayer.

That "Amen" was appended to the doxology in the early church is evident both from Paul and Rev, and here again it took the form of a response by the hearers. The ritual of the installation of the Lamb (Revelation 5:6-14 ) concludes with the Amen of the four beasts, and the four and twenty elders. It is also spoken after "Yea: I come quickly" (Revelation 22:20 ). And that Revelation reflects the practice of the church on earth, and not merely of an ideal, ascended community in heaven, may be concluded from 1 Corinthians 14:16 , whence we gather that the lay brethren were expected to say "Amen" to the address. (See Weizsäcker's The Apostolic Age of the Christian Church , English translation, II, 289.)