Amen

Amen is perhaps the most universally recognized Hebrew word, spoken by billions of people across Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The word derives from the root aleph-mem-nun (א-מ-נ), meaning 'faithful' or 'trustworthy' — the same root that gives us emunah (faith). To say amen is to affirm: 'This is true, and I stand by it.' In Jewish practice, saying amen is not passive agreement but active participation. The Talmud teaches that answering amen to a bracha is even greater than reciting the bracha itself, because the respondent affirms the blessing with full intention. Specific rules govern how amen should be said — not too quickly, not too slowly, not mumbled — reflecting the seriousness with which this small word is treated. The numerical value (gematria) of amen (91) equals the combined values of two divine names, YHVH and Adonai, symbolizing the unity of God's mercy and justice. Kabbalistic tradition teaches that saying amen with proper intention can open heavenly gates and draw divine blessing into the world. Amen has traveled from ancient Israelite worship into virtually every corner of the globe. It appears in the earliest biblical texts (Numbers 5:22) and continues to be spoken in synagogues, churches, and mosques today. Its persistence across three millennia and three major religions makes it one of the most enduring words in human language.