Hebrew word · H551

אׇמְנָם

'amenom

truly

Truly, indeed, certainly. An emphatic agreement, from the 'mn root ('firm, reliable'; compare 'amen').

Appears 9 times in 9 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

verily, truly, surely

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Job 9:2

Range of meaning

Truly, indeed, certainly. An emphatic agreement, from the 'mn root ('firm, reliable'; compare 'amen').

Against the English

Translations render it as plain agreement ('Yes', 'Truly', 'of a truth'). The possible ironic note doesn't show.

Used elsewhere in the period

Job 12:2 and 19:4–5 (where it is clearly ironic or concessive), 34:12, 36:4, Ruth 3:12.

Where it appears

Ruth · 1

  1. Ruth 3:12 אָמְנָ֔ם truly

    Yes, it is true that I am a kinsman-redeemer, but there is a redeemer nearer than I.

2 Kings · 1

  1. 2 Kings 19:17 אָמְנָ֖ם truly

    Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste these nations and their lands.

Job · 6

  1. Job 9:2 אָ֭מְנָם truly

    “Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God?

    Here: An emphatic 'yes, indeed'. It comes from the same root as 'amen'. In Job it often has an edge (12:2: 'Truly you are the people, and wisdom will die with you!'), so it can be a concession said through gritted teeth: 'Oh yes, I know that.'

  2. Job 12:2 אָ֭מְנָם truly

    “Truly then you are the people with whom wisdom itself will die!

  3. Job 19:4 אָמְנָ֥ם truly

    Even if I have truly gone astray, my error concerns me alone.

  4. Job 19:5 אָ֭מְנָם truly

    If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me and use my disgrace against me,

  5. Job 34:12 אָמְנָ֗ם truly

    Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.

  6. Job 36:4 אָ֭מְנָם truly

    For truly my words are free of falsehood; one perfect in knowledge is with you.

Isaiah · 1

  1. Isaiah 37:18 אָמְנָ֖ם truly

    Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all these countries and their lands.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.