Lexical Summary omen: Faithfulness, truth, certainty Original Word: אֹמֶן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance truth From 'aman; verity -- truth. see HEBREW 'aman NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom aman Definition faithfulness NASB Translation perfect faithfulness (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֹ֫מֶן noun [masculine] faithfulness; אֱמוּנָה אֹמֶן perfect faithfulness (faithfulness, faithfulness) Isaiah 25:1. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Conceptual Range אֹמֶן conveys the idea of absolute firmness, reliability, and trustworthiness. It is the settled certainty that makes a promise secure and renders a covenant dependable. Whereas related Hebrew terms of the אָמַן root family express “faith” or “faithfulness” more broadly, אֹמֶן accentuates the proven, unshakable quality of God’s character and works. Biblical Occurrence and Context The word appears once, in Isaiah 25:1. There the prophet praises the LORD who has executed “plans formed long ago in perfect faithfulness”. The context is an eschatological hymn celebrating God’s final victory over every hostile power and His establishment of a redeemed Zion. By selecting אֹמֶן, Isaiah stresses that the marvels just accomplished—and those still awaited—are the inevitable outworking of divine reliability. Faithfulness as a Divine Attribute 1. God’s Covenantal Integrity Place within the Prophetic Literature Isaiah repeatedly contrasts human unreliability (Isaiah 30:1-3; 31:1) with the LORD’s unassailable faithfulness. His choice of אֹמֶן at a climactic point in chapters 24–27 (the “Little Apocalypse”) functions as a literary high-water mark—declaring that every prophetic oracle, judgment and promise will stand because God Himself is the fixed point amid cosmic upheaval. Old Testament Theology of Faithfulness The Testament narrative arcs around two principles: human instability and divine steadfastness. אֹמֶן crystallizes the latter. Whether in patriarchal promises (Genesis 15:6), Sinai covenant stipulations (Exodus 34:6) or royal messianic pledges (2 Samuel 7:16), the LORD’s enduring dependability propels redemptive history. Isaiah 25:1 compresses these threads into praise: the God who planned is the God who performs. Connection to the New Testament 1. Christ the Embodiment of Divine Faithfulness Historical and Cultural Background In Ancient Near Eastern treaty language, an oath’s reliability depended on the guarantor’s character. Israel’s prophets appropriated this legal vocabulary to reveal the LORD as covenant suzerain whose integrity surpasses any human or deity of the nations. Isaiah’s choice of אֹמֶן within a conquest hymn would have resonated with an audience familiar with broken imperial promises; against that backdrop, God’s word alone stands firm. Practical Ministry Implications 1. Worship: Isaiah 25:1 models adoration rooted in remembered fidelity. Corporate gatherings should rehearse God’s verified deeds to foster steadfast hope. Related Concepts • אֱמֶת (truth) – the objective reliability of God’s word The solitary appearance of אֹמֶן thus reverberates across Scripture as a resonant declaration: what God has purposed, He will accomplish—perfectly, unfailingly, eternally. Forms and Transliterations אֹֽמֶן׃ אמן׃ ’ō·men ’ōmen OmenLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 25:1 HEB: מֵֽרָח֖וֹק אֱמ֥וּנָה אֹֽמֶן׃ NAS: [formed] long ago, with perfect faithfulness. KJV: of old [are] faithfulness [and] truth. INT: long faithfulness perfect |
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