It would be highly unusual to be in a Christian setting and not hear the word, 'amen'. It appears hundreds of times in the Bible, so it would be quite hard to miss there too! But what does amen mean and why do Christians say amen?
When discussing the word, Amen, with my children, one said it meant you agree with the prayer, one thought it meant thank you or hallelujah, and one thought it meant someone had finished their prayer. What do your children think amen means?
The word amen is probably most often heard at the end of a prayer. Sometimes, people use a loud, "Amen!", as a call to order or to get the attention of a group in a Christian setting. Sometimes people use the word amen to request agreement or check the understanding of listeners. For example, someone might say "Amen?", and those being addressed would reply with an affirmative "Amen" if they agree with what has been said.
'Amen' can also be heard being used to express strong agreement with something unrelated to the Christian faith.
All this means that our children will surely come across the word 'amen' in a range of contexts and may be interested to know why we say, "Amen". Below you will find information about what amen means in Christianity, the origin of the word amen and why we say amen. I hope it helps you effectively communicate the meaning to your children.
I have also added some of our favourite prayer books for children.
Amen - Origins and Uses
The English word Amen comes from the Hebrew word āmēn, which means truth, certainty, faithful or verily. In the Old Testament, amen indicates agreement that what has been said is just and true. Those saying 'amen' agree and accept the judgments of God. Similarly, it can be used to accept the terms of an oath.
'Amen' is also used in praise to God in some Old Testament verses like Nehemiah 8:5-6 (NLT) below, or Psalm 106:48. In such instances, "amen" means, "Yes, we praise God just as you have!". It is a wholehearted agreement with the praises that have gone up.
Ezra stood on the platform in full view of all the people. When they saw him open the book, they all rose to their feet. Then Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and all the people chanted, “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
Amen is a Word of Universal Agreement
Amen is an almost universal word. It has barely changed across languages and has not been replaced by another word. This means that amen in the Old Testament is still amen in the New Testament. We might say "goodbye" in English, "Adios" in Spanish "O dabo" in Yoruba, but all these languages and hundreds more would recognise the word Amen even if pronounced slightly differently. This is remarkable for a word related to faithfulness and steadfastness.
The Power of Words and the Power of Agreement
The word amen is not simply a religious thing to say or a custom. Words are important and powerful. God created the world with words (see Genesis 1) and Jesus is called the Word of God (John 1).
Amen reminds us there is power in agreement. Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 18:19-20 (ESV):
Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.
When we say amen in response to something we are saying "so be it" because we believe it to be true and in line with the will of God. We believe that the prayer will be answered not simply because we want it to be or were emotionally uplifted by the prayer, but because we believe that the prayer is in line with the will of God. We respond in faith that God's will as expressed in the prayer will be done.
In Luke 1:38, Mary responds to the angel (messenger of God) in submission, agreement, trust and faith.
And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
This encapsulates the spirit of the word "amen" when used in response to prayers, preaching or the Bible.
Why do we say, Amen? To express our agreement with, submission to, acceptance of and trust in God.
Amen and Understanding
In 1st Corinthians 14:15-16, Paul explains to the church in Corinth that it is important for people to be able to say, "Amen", in response to prayers. This would require them to understand the prayer. "Amen" is not to be something we say as an automatic response to prayer. That makes sense, given that it was used for oaths and agreements. A person cannot truly agree to what they do not understand. This suggests our "Amen" should be considered or inspired.
We can introduce our children to prayer and encourage them to pray by making some of our prayers around them simple, relatable and short.
Simple in language and construct
About topics they can relate to
Short enough to hold their attention
This allows them to say, "Amen", in agreement with our prayer or praise, rather than merely agree that the prayer has ended. It can also make it more likely that they will follow our example and feel confident talking to God about what is on their hearts. I have linked some of the prayer books for children that we own at the end.
In Jesus' Name, Amen
Often, we say or hear, "In Jesus' name, Amen". Why do we say in Jesus' name, Amen?
Jesus says:
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. - John 14:13 ESV
When we do something in the name of someone else it means we do it with the approval of the person whose name we are acting in. It also means we are acting as if we are that person and should be received as such. I have explained to my children that when I pass a message to them through one of their siblings, they should respond as though I was speaking to them directly. The child carrying the message or instruction does so in my name. I also tell the message bearer to say, "Mummy said...", before delivering the message so that the recipient knows where the message has come from and can respond appropriately. I also tell the message bearer not to change the message, but to deliver it as received. In the same way, we parents need to ensure we pass on messages from the Word of God and the Holy Spirit without modifying the message according to what suits us, cultural norms and other influences.
When we communicate with the Father through the Son by praying in Jesus' Name (in content and position) our prayers can be accepted by the Father as if Jesus were praying. We do not always have to say, "In Jesus' Name", when we pray, but doing so can remind us of our position with the Father through Christ Jesus and reinforce it our minds.
God's Promises are Yes and Amen
2 Corinthians 1:20 (NLT) states:
For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.
When we say, "Amen", it means something to God. We can be accepted by God as His children because Jesus fulfilled and is the fulfilment of all the promises of God.
Why Do We Say Amen Today?
Today, Christians primarily use amen at the end of a prayer, to express agreement with what has been prayed, or to signify that they believe and agree with what they have heard or read. It can also be used to join in agreement with praise. In this way, we see that 'amen' expresses faith, confirmation and agreement.
Amen is a small word with a big history and special meaning. It helps us think about God's faithful nature and discussing it can lead to lots of interesting conversations with our children as well as revelation about God's nature and kingdom for all the family.
How Do You Pronouce Amen?
In English, some pronounce amen 'ah-men' and others 'ay-men', but I think we can all agree that however it is pronounced it is an awesome and powerful word.
Prayer Resources for Children
Here is a list of prayer resources for children. As we pray with or for our children, it can be useful to reflect on the little word with a big meaning: Amen.
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