Amen: how it is used in Scripture

By David Bailey. Supporting article for the book Talking with God.

Following is a list of where Amen occurs in both the Old and New Testaments. I have categorised them into how Amen is used.

Amen in the OT

Amen occurs in the Old Testament 30 times. We categorise these as follows.

Blessings and oaths in the God of amen: Isa. 65:16.

Assent to God’s curse: Num. 5:22; Deut. 27:15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,25,26; Neh. 5:13.

Assent to fulfilment of Yahweh’s covenant: Jer. 11:5.

Agreement with a man along with desire that God also assent: 1 Kgs 1:36; Jer. 28:6. In both cases, God is indirectly the one to whom the assent is being made.

Assent to Blessing of God: 1Chr. 16:36; Neh. 8:6 (2x); Psa. 41:13 (2x); Psa. 72:19 (2x); Psa. 89:52 (2x); Psa. 106:48

Amen in the NT

The use of Amen in the New Testament follows the main thrust found in the Old Testament.

After giving thanks: 1Cor. 14:16. This fits the OT practice of blessing God or thanking Him.

Benediction/Blessing/praise of God: Matt. 6:13; Rom. 1:25; Rom. 9:5; Rom. 11:36; Rom. 16:27; Gal. 1:5; Eph. 3:21; Phil. 4:20; 1Tim. 1:17; 1Tim. 6:16; 2Tim. 4:18; Heb. 13:21; 1Pet. 4:11; 1Pet. 5:11; 2Pet. 3:18; Jude 25; Rev. 1:6; Rev. 5:13–14 (2x); Rev. 7:12 (2x); Rev. 19:4. Used this way 21 times in total.

Calling for the benediction (blessing) of love, grace or peace upon others: Rom. 15:33; Rom. 16:20; Rom. 16:24; 1Cor. 16:24; 2Cor. 13:14; Gal. 6:18; Eph. 6:24; Phil. 4:23; Col. 4:18; 1Th. 5:28; 2Th. 3:18; 1Tim. 6:21; 2Tim. 4:22; Titus 3:15; Philem. 25; Heb. 13:25; Rev. 22:21. Used 17 times in this manner. 14 times use grace; 1 time uses God of Peace; 2 times using love (1 time in combination with grace and fellowship)

End of Gospel: Matt. 28:20; Mark 16:20; Luke 24:53; John 21:25. All gospels end with Amen. It’s almost as if it is saying the words are a testimony of God’s grace and close with an emphatic Amen endorsement.

End of Epistles: Rom. 16:27; 1Cor. 16:24; 2Cor. 13:14; Gal. 6:18; Eph. 6:24; Phil. 4:23; Col. 4:18; 1Th. 5:28; 2Th. 3:18; 1Tim. 6:21; 2Tim. 4:22; Titus 3:15; Philem. 25; Heb. 13:25; 1John 5:21; 2John 13; Rev. 22:21.

See also above under calling for a benediction of grace upon the readers of the epistles. Many of these are used to conclude epistles along with Amen. Romans ends with a blessing and Amen.

Attestation of a statement of Christ’s coming: Rev. 1:7; Rev. 1:18; Rev. 3:14; Rev. 22:20.

Amen in Christ: 2Cor. 1:20.

Christ is the Amen: Rev. 3:14.

Verily (101x total; 50 in John): Matt. 5:18, 26; 6:2,5,16; 8:10; 10:15,23,42; 11:11; 13:17; 16:28; 17:20; 18:3,13,18; 19:23, 28; 21:21, 31; 23:36; 24:2, 34, 47; 25:12, 40, 45; 26:13, 21, 34; Mark 3:28; 6:11; 8:12; 9:1, 41; 10:15, 29; 11:23; 12:43; 13:30; 14:9, 18, 25, 30; Luke 4:24; 12:37; 13:35; 18:17, 29; 21:32; 23:43; John 1:51 (2x); 3:3 (2x),5 (2x),11 (2x); 5:19 (2x), 24 (2x), 25 (2x); 6:26 (2x), 32 (2x), 47 (2x), 53 (2x); 8:34 (2x), 51 (2x), 58 (2x); 10:1 (2x), 7 (2x); 12:24 (2x); 13:16 (2x), 20 (2x), 38 (2x); 14:12 (2x); 16:20 (2x), 23 (2x); 21:18 (2x). Every statement Christ prefaced with “Verily” is related to God, the kingdom, and particularly eternal life (positively or negatively).