particle
amēn
Strong’sG281
verily, truly, amen, so let it be
stem amēn-128 times in the New Testamentin 17 of 27 booksnever changes form
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
Amen is a word of solemn affirmation, meaning "truly," "verily," or "so let it be" 4. It comes from a Hebrew word built on a root meaning to be firm, so its underlying sense is something firm or trustworthy 12. Used adverbially, it expresses solemn assent to a statement or prayer spoken by someone else, said in response to it 13, and it is likewise used at the end of one's own prayer or ascription of praise, as a closing affirmation 12. In the Gospels it appears distinctively at the start of statements attributed to Jesus, marking them as solemn and true, "truly" or "verily," sometimes doubled for emphasis 1.
Separately, the Amen is used as a title, "ὁ Ἀμήν," in the book of Revelation 1.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
ἀμήν, indecl. (Heb. אָמֵן, verbal adj. fr. אמן, to prop, ni., be firm),
[in LXX: I Ch 16:36, I Es 9:46, Ne 5:13 8:6, To 8:8 14:15, III Mac 7:23, IV Mac 18:24 (elsewhere א״ is rendered ἀληθινός, Is 65:16; ἀληθῶς, Je 35 (28):6; γένοιτο, Nu 5:22, De 27:15ff., III Ki 1:36, Ps 40 (41):13 71 (72):19 105 (106):48, Je 11:5)*.]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G281 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidam-ane'
properly, firm, i.e. (figuratively) trustworthy; adverbially, surely (often as interjection, so be it)
Fromof Hebrew origin ();
King Jamesamen, verily.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
Hebrew adverb verily, of a truth, so be it, LXX; at beginning of sentence, NT
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
128 occurrences, 100 of them printed here — the rest are in the reader
amēn65×
Matthew 5:18amēn gar legamō vi, heōs an parerchateia …For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away …
Matthew 5:26amēn legamō si, ouk mē exerchaseia ekeithen …Truly I tell you, you will not …
Matthew 6:2… rumai, hopōs doxazileia hupo toiu anthrōpoiu; amēn legamō vi, apechalō ton misthon autoiu.… streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have …
Matthew 6:5… stēarēntois proseuchorō, hopōs fanileia toi anthrōpoi; amēn legamō vi, apechalō ton misthon autoiu.… corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have …
Matthew 6:16… autoiu hopōs fanileia toi anthrōpoi nēsteuarōntois; amēn legamō vi, apechalō ton misthon autoiu.… to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have …
Matthew 10:15amēn legamō vi, anektoterem eti gēa Sodomeiu …Truly I tell you, it will be …
Matthew 10:23… pola houta, fugavōr eis tan heteran; amēn gar legamō vi, ouk mē telaveia …… one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not …
Matthew 10:42… potēriem psuchreu monon eis onomem mathētou, amēn legamō vi, ouk mē apolateia ton …… ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never …
Matthew 11:11amēn legamō vi, ouk egerotē en gennētoi …Truly I tell you, among those born …
Matthew 13:17amēn gar legamō vi hoti pollois profētois …For truly I tell you, many prophets and …
Matthew 16:28amēn legamō vi hoti alō tinois toiu …Truly I tell you, some who are …
Matthew 17:20… legatō autoi; Dia tan oligopistian vu; amēn gar legamō vi, ean echaveiō pistian …… so little faith,” He answered. “For truly I tell you, if you have …
Matthew 18:13kai ean geneteia heuriskara autem, amēn legamō vi hoti chairatō epi aute …And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices more …
Matthew 18:18amēn legamō vi, hoseim ean daveia epi …Truly I tell you, whatever you bind …
Matthew 18:19Palin amēn legamō vi hoti ean duo sumfōnaleia …Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on …
Matthew 23:36amēn legamō vi, hēkati houteim panteim epi …Truly I tell you, all these things …
Matthew 24:2… legata autoi; Ouk blepavō houteim panteim? amēn legamō vi, ouk mē afiēkiteia hōde …… see all these things?” He replied. “Truly I tell you, not one stone …
Matthew 24:34amēn legamō vi hoti ouk mē parerchateia …Truly I tell you, this generation will …
Matthew 24:47amēn legamō vi hoti epi pantei tei …Truly I tell you, he will put …
Matthew 26:13amēn legamō vi, hopou ean kērussiteia tem …Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel …
Mark 8:12… Tinem tas geneas houtas zētatō sēmem? amēn legamō vi, ei dōiti ta genea …… does this generation demand a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will …
Mark 9:41… hudeu en onome hoti christou avō, amēn legamō vi hoti ouk mē apolateia …… you bear the name of Christ, truly I tell you, he will never …
Mark 10:15amēn legamō vi, hos an mē decheteia …Truly I tell you, anyone who does …
Mark 11:23amēn legamō vi hoti hos an legateia …“Truly I tell you that if anyone …
Mark 13:30amēn legamō vi hoti ouk mē parerchateia …Truly I tell you, this generation will …
Mark 14:9amēn de legamō vi, hopou ean kērussiteia …And truly I tell you, wherever the gospel …
Mark 14:25amēn legamō vi hoti ouketi ouk mē …Truly I tell you, I will no …
Mark 16:8“amen”… kai afthartem kērugmem tau aiōniau sōtērēau. amēn.So the women left the tomb and ran away, trembling and bewildered. And in their fear they did not say a word to anyone.
Luke 12:37… hoin ercharantos tos kurios heuriskati grēgorarōntoin; amēn legamō vi hoti perizōneti kai anaklinati …… finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress …
Luke 18:17amēn legamō vi, hos an mē decheteia …Truly I tell you, anyone who does …
Luke 21:32amēn legamō vi hoti ouk mē parerchateia …Truly I tell you, this generation will …
John 1:51kai legatō auto; Amēn amēn legamō vi, horevi ton ouranon anoigarēnton …Then He declared, “Truly, truly, I tell you, you will …
John 3:3apokrinita Iēsus kai legata auto; Amēn amēn legamō si, ean mē tinos genniteia …Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one …
John 3:5apokrinita Iēsus; Amēn amēn legamō si, ean mē tinos genniteia …Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can …
John 3:11amēn amēn legamō si hoti hem oidanē …Truly, truly, I tell you, we speak of …
John 3:11amēn amēn legamō si hoti hem oidanē lalanō …Truly, truly, I tell you, we speak …
John 5:19… tos Iēsus kai legate autoi; Amēn amēn legamō vi, ouk dunotō tos huios …So Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, the Son …
John 5:24Amēn amēn legamō vi hoti tos ton logon …Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears …
John 5:25Amēn amēn legamō vi hoti erchotō hōras kai …Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour …
John 6:26… autoi tos Iēsus kai legata; Amēn amēn legamō vi, zētavō min ouk hoti …Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it is …
John 6:32legata oun autoi tos Iēsus; Amēn amēn legamō vi, ouk Mōusos dōatē vi …Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it was not …
John 6:47amēn amēn legamō vi, tos pisteuarōntos echatō …Truly, truly, I tell you, he who believes …
John 6:47amēn amēn legamō vi, tos pisteuarōntos echatō zōan …Truly, truly, I tell you, he who …
John 6:53legata oun autoi tos Iēsus; Amēn amēn legamō vi, ean mē esthiaveia tan …So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, unless you eat …
John 8:34Apokrinita autoi tos Iēsus; Amēn amēn legamō vi hoti pantos tos poiarōntos …Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins …
John 8:51amēn amēn legamō vi, ean tinos ton …Truly, truly, I tell you, if anyone keeps …
John 8:51amēn amēn legamō vi, ean tinos ton ēmon …Truly, truly, I tell you, if anyone …
John 8:58legata autoi Iēsus; Amēn amēn legamō vi, prin Abraam genera mis …“Truly, truly, I tell you,” Jesus declared …
John 10:1Amēn amēn legamō vi, tos mē eiserchorōntos dia …“Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does …
John 10:7… oun palin autoi tos Iēsus; Amēn amēn legamō vi hoti mis amō tas …… He said to them again, “Truly, truly, I tell you, I am the …
John 12:24amēn amēn legamō vi, ean mē tos …Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel …
John 12:24amēn amēn legamō vi, ean mē tos kokkos …Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a …
John 13:16amēn amēn legamō vi, ouk atō doulos …Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is …
John 13:16amēn amēn legamō vi, ouk atō doulos megoteros …Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant …
John 13:20amēn amēn legamō vi, tos labarōntos an …Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever receives the …
John 13:20amēn amēn legamō vi, tos labarōntos an tinon …Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever receives …
John 13:21… pneume kai marturata kai legata; Amēn amēn legamō vi hoti henos ek vu …… troubled in spirit and testified, “Truly, truly, I tell you, one of you …
John 13:38… Tan psuchan su huper mu tithasi? amēn amēn legamō si, ouk mē alektōros …… your life for Me?” Jesus replied. “Truly, truly, I tell you, before the …
John 13:38… psuchan su huper mu tithasi? amēn amēn legamō si, ouk mē alektōros fōnateia …… life for Me?” Jesus replied. “Truly, truly, I tell you, before the rooster …
John 14:12amēn amēn legamō vi, tos pisteuarōntos eis …Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in …
John 14:12amēn amēn legamō vi, tos pisteuarōntos eis min …Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes …
John 16:20amēn amēn legamō vi hoti klaiavi kai …Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep …
John 16:20amēn amēn legamō vi hoti klaiavi kai thrēnavi …Truly, truly, I tell you, you will …
John 16:23… ta hēmera min ouk erōtavi oudenem; amēn amēn legamō vi, an tinem aitaveia …… will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you …
John 16:23… hēmera min ouk erōtavi oudenem; amēn amēn legamō vi, an tinem aitaveia ton …… no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask …
Amēn35×
Matthew 8:10… Iēsus thaumazata kai legata toi akoloutharōntoi; Amēn legamō vi, para oudeno tosoutan pistian …… and said to those following Him, “Truly I tell you, I have not …
Matthew 18:3kai legata; Amēn legamō vi, ean mē strefiveia kai …“Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless …
Matthew 19:23… de Iēsus legata toi mathētoi autou; Amēn legamō vi hoti plousios duskolōs eisercheti …Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard …
Matthew 19:28tos de Iēsus legata autoi; Amēn legamō vi hoti vis tois akoloutharantois …Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal …
Matthew 21:21apokrinirantos de tos Iēsus legata autoi; Amēn legamō vi, ean echaveiō pistian kai …“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “if …
Matthew 21:31… Tos prōtos. legatō autoi tos Iēsus; Amēn legamō vi hoti tois telōnois kai …… they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors …
Matthew 25:12tos de apokrinirantos legata; Amēn legamō vi, ouk oidamē vin.But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not …
Matthew 25:40kai apokrinirantos tos basilevos legati autoi; Amēn legamō vi, epi hosem poiava heno …And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did …
Matthew 25:45tote apokriniti autoi legarōntos; Amēn legamō vi, epi hosem ouk poiava …Then the King will answer, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did …
Matthew 26:21kai esthiarōntoiu autoiu legata; Amēn legamō vi hoti henos ek vu …… were eating, He said to them, “Truly I tell you, one of you …
Matthew 26:34fēate auto tos Iēsus; Amēn legamō si hoti en houta ta …“Truly I tell you,” Jesus declared, “this …
Mark 3:28Amēn legamō vi hoti panteim afiēkiti toi …Truly I tell you, the sons of …
Mark 9:1kai legate autoi; Amēn legamō vi hoti alō tinois toiu …Then Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some …
Mark 10:29fēate tos Iēsus; Amēn legamō vi, oudenos atō hos afiēkata …“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no …
Mark 12:43… proskalerantos toin mathētoin autou legata autoi; Amēn legamō vi hoti tas chēras houtas …… His disciples to Him and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow …
Mark 14:18… autoiu kai esthiarōntoiu tos Iēsus legata; Amēn legamō vi hoti henos ek vu …… were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you …
Mark 14:30kai legatō auto tos Iēsus; Amēn legamō si hoti sis sēmeron houta …“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “this …
Luke 4:24legata de; Amēn legamō vi hoti oudenos profētos dektos …Then He added, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is …
Luke 18:29tos de legata autoi; Amēn legamō vi hoti oudenos atō hos …“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no …
Luke 23:43kai legata auto; Amēn si legamō sēmeron meta mu esi …And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will …
John 1:51kai legatō auto; Amēn amēn legamō vi, horevi ton ouranon …Then He declared, “Truly, truly, I tell you, you will all …
John 3:3apokrinita Iēsus kai legata auto; Amēn amēn legamō si, ean mē tinos …Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can …
John 3:5apokrinita Iēsus; Amēn amēn legamō si, ean mē tinos …Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one …
John 5:19… oun tos Iēsus kai legate autoi; Amēn amēn legamō vi, ouk dunotō tos …So Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, the Son can …
John 5:24Amēn amēn legamō vi hoti tos ton …Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My …
John 5:25Amēn amēn legamō vi hoti erchotō hōras …Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour is …
John 6:26apokrinita autoi tos Iēsus kai legata; Amēn amēn legamō vi, zētavō min ouk …Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it is not …
John 6:32legata oun autoi tos Iēsus; Amēn amēn legamō vi, ouk Mōusos dōatē …Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it was …
John 6:53legata oun autoi tos Iēsus; Amēn amēn legamō vi, ean mē esthiaveia …So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, unless you …
John 8:34Apokrinita autoi tos Iēsus; Amēn amēn legamō vi hoti pantos tos …Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who …
John 8:58legata autoi Iēsus; Amēn amēn legamō vi, prin Abraam genera …“Truly, truly, I tell you,” Jesus declared, “before …
John 10:1Amēn amēn legamō vi, tos mē eiserchorōntos …“Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not …
John 10:7Legata oun palin autoi tos Iēsus; Amēn amēn legamō vi hoti mis amō …So He said to them again, “Truly, truly, I tell you, I am …
John 13:21… te pneume kai marturata kai legata; Amēn amēn legamō vi hoti henos ek …… became troubled in spirit and testified, “Truly, truly, I tell you, one of …
Romans 16:24“amen.”… nu Iēsu Christou meta pantoiu vu. Amēn.