Lexical Summary omnah: actually, truly Original Word: אָמְנָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance indeed Feminine form of 'omen (in its usual sense); adverb, surely -- indeed. see HEBREW 'omen NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom aman Definition verily, truly, indeed NASB Translation actually (1), truly (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אָמְנָה adverb (from אֹמֶן by affix ָ ה) verily, truly, indeed Genesis 20:12 (E) Joshua 7:20 (JE). Topical Lexicon Semantic and Rhetorical Function אָמְנָה serves as an intensive adverb conveying an emphatic “indeed,” “truly,” or “surely.” It signals that what follows is being presented without equivocation and demands to be received as fact. In narrative discourse it heightens the sincerity of a speaker’s claim; in judicial or confessional settings it underlines full admission of guilt or truth. Closely related conceptually to “amen,” the term functions as a verbal seal placed on a statement, calling hearers to recognize its reliability. Occurrences 1. Genesis 20:12 Genesis 20:12 – Truth Amid Half-Truths “And besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father—though not the daughter of my mother—and she became my wife.” (Genesis 20:12) Abraham employs אָמְנָה when clarifying the complex familial relationship he and Sarah share. The adverb underscores a factual component in his previously misleading statement to Abimelech. While Abraham’s earlier silence about his marriage had endangered the Philistine king, he now stresses that the sister-relation was “indeed” genuine. The placement of the word highlights the moral tension between technical accuracy and ethical transparency. Within the patriarchal narratives, the term therefore spotlights the importance God places on full disclosure even when partial truths exist, anticipating later legal standards that forbid false witness (Exodus 20:16). Joshua 7:20 – Unvarnished Confession “Achan answered Joshua, ‘It is true; I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I did.’” (Joshua 7:20) Achan’s first word in reply to Joshua is אָמְנָה, acknowledging the certainty of his guilt. After Israel’s defeat at Ai, the nation stands under covenant sanction; the emphatic “indeed” marks the pivot from hidden transgression to open confession. The confession ushers in judicial procedure leading to Achan’s judgment, illustrating that acknowledgment of truth is indispensable to the restoration of communal holiness. The episode also prefigures later prophetic calls for heartfelt repentance (Psalm 51:4; Hosea 14:1). Theological Significance 1. Truthfulness before God – Both texts show that Yahweh’s covenant dealings rest on undisguised truth. Whether God’s servant is clarifying a relationship or a sinner is admitting wrongdoing, אָמְנָה signals alignment with divine reality. Literary Parallels and Development In later Hebrew, derivatives of the same root undergird the noun אֱמֶת (“truth”) and the liturgical interjection אָמֵן (“so be it”). The Old Testament trajectory from אָמְנָה as emphatic adverb to אָמֵן as congregational response illustrates the continuity of the biblical theme: God’s people are called both to speak and to affirm truth. The New Testament echo—Jesus’ repeated “Truly, truly, I tell you” (for example, John 3:3)—extends the semantic field, locating perfect truthfulness in the incarnate Word. Ministry Implications • Preaching: Emphasize that gospel proclamation carries the same “indeed” weight; every declaration about Christ’s atonement should be delivered—and received—with unreserved certainty. In personal devotion and corporate worship alike, אָמְנָה invites believers to anchor their speech and lives in unalloyed truth, reflecting the character of the God “who cannot lie” (Titus 1:2). Forms and Transliterations אָמְנָ֗ה אמנה ’ā·mə·nāh ’āmənāh ameNahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 20:12 HEB: וְגַם־ אָמְנָ֗ה אֲחֹתִ֤י בַת־ NAS: Besides, she actually is my sister, KJV: And yet indeed [she is] my sister; INT: Besides actually is my sister the daughter Joshua 7:20 2 Occurrences |
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