by‘Amen’—perhaps the most universally recognised word in faith, yet treated by many as little more than a spiritual full stop. A ritual done during or after some spiritual activities. You may have heard the word ‘amen’, if not a variant of it, in your own language. When we hear a hallelujah when we want to end a prayer, a hymn or a scripture reading, we say amen. It has become so much of a cliché. But what does Amen really mean? Why is it important? When do we say it?
What does ‘Amen’ mean?
The word “Amen” is a word of Hebrew origin, explained in the Oxford Dictionary as “an exclamation uttered at the end of a prayer or hymn, meaning ‘so be it.” In Matthew 6:13, when Jesus taught the disciples how to pray, after the prayer, some late manuscripts add “for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen”. Amen is translated to mean “let it be so”, “verily”, “it is true”.
Some conspiracy theorists even claim that “Amen” is the name of an ancient god, but the truth is that “Amen” is an affirmation of the Truth, Jesus. In Revelation 3:14, Jesus is referred to as the “Amen, the faithful and true witness.” For this reason, saying ‘amen’, without a relationship with Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:33), is impotent. Amen isn’t a magic word that causes you to get whatever you pray for. It is God, who by His mercies and grace, gives us what we need each day (2 Peter 1:3). In essence, amen is the physical demonstration of the spiritual acceptance or agreement to the word and will of God; it is a confession of faith.
Why should you say “Amen”?
When we receive a word from the Lord, we must say amen. Why? Because the Word of God is true. When you say amen, you are acknowledging that the word of God that has come to you is true. It is not just about stating mere words; you must agree in your spirit. Also, you acknowledge that it should be so for you in your life. It is a way of claiming the word over your life.
So in Nehemiah 8:6 the Bible says,
“And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.”
The people said amen because the Lord was worthy to be blessed. They said it in order to make it their truth and show their communal affirmation of the same to the Lord. They said Amen in agreement that the LORD be blessed. For that reason, they shared in what Ezra was doing.
You should say amen because by so doing, you affirm the word of God over your life, and you share in the goodness of God declared upon your life by others or by the same word. You say the Word of God should prevail on Earth when you say Amen. You also seal the prayer, praise or worship to God or His word to you when you say amen. Matthew 18:18 tells us, “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Nothing can change it. Say amen if you believe this!
When should you say “Amen”?
As stated earlier, people say amen as a closing remark to prayer. I, for one, used to find myself doing that, but I did not understand why. But let us ask ourselves this question: what time is best to agree on something, like the terms of a contract, a request or a statement of facts? After all the requests or terms are laid down, right? That is why our fathers in Christ said amen after prayers. It is the right time only when you are doing it as an affirmation or agreement to the word of God and not as a routine. However, you should know why you say amen, and you should mean it in your heart.
An “Amen” can also be said after a scripture reading to affirm that the word is true. Not that our omission to do that would mean anything, no. But by so doing, we are telling God we believe His word. We believe that it is true. Rightly so, after a prayer, we ought to say amen, not as in a routine saying of words, but in essence. Every culture has its own way of saying amen. So the essence doesn’t lie in the words but in the understanding and intention behind them. You should not just say the words without meaning them. For this same reason, you must not say amen to a prayer point you do not agree with. It is a way of training your faith in such a way that, when you say amen to anything, you know it will be so.
Finally, during praises or worshipping God, you can say amen. We praise and worship God with scripture, and the hymns we sing are either a form of prayer or from scripture itself. Is it not right to affirm those words? When you receive a word from the Lord, be it through music/hymns, scripture, or the Holy Spirit, you must say amen if you agree with it and share in it.
In conclusion, “Amen” echoes our covenant with our Father. It is not a mere religious punctuation mark; when you say “Amen”, you are affirming that God’s Word is true, and His will be done. During prayer, we are not to rush past “Amen”; it must be a seal of surrender in our hearts, acknowledging God’s will. When you sing hymns or songs of worship declaring God’s nature, say “Amen” as a weapon against doubts. And in life, your greatest Amen isn’t spoken, it is lived.
