Lexical Summary
emunah: Faithfulness, fidelity, steadfastness, trust, faith
Original Word:אֱמוּנָה
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:emuwnah
Pronunciation:eh-moo-nah
Phonetic Spelling:(em-oo-naw')
KJV: faith(-ful, -ly, -ness, (man)), set office, stability, steady, truly, truth, verily
NASB:faithfulness, faithfully, truth, faithful, trust, faith, honestly
Word Origin:[feminine ofH529 (אֵמוּן - faithful)]
1. literally firmness
2. figuratively security
3. morally fidelity
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
faithful set office, stability, steady, truly, truth, verily
); or (shortened) >emunah {em-oo-naw'} feminine of'emuwn; literally firmness; figuratively security; morally fidelity -- faith(-ful, -ly, -ness, (man)), set office, stability, steady, truly, truth, verily.
see HEBREW'emuwn
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
amanDefinitionfirmness, steadfastness, fidelity
NASB Translationfaith (1), faithful (3), faithfully (8), faithfulness (25), honestly (1), responsibility (1), stability (1), steady (1), trust (2), truth (5).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Exodus 17:12 46t.;
Proverbs 28:20. literally
firmness, steadiness:Exodus 17:12his hands were steadiness (i.e. steady). 2.
stead-fastness,
steadfastness of thy timesIsaiah 33:6. 3.
faithfulness, trust:of human conductPsalm 37:3;
Proverbs 12:22;
Jeremiah 5:3;
Jeremiah 7:28;
Jeremiah 9:2;
2 Kings 12:16; in office
2 Kings 22:7; 2Chronicles 19:9; 31:12; 34:12; ()
in trust (over)
1 Chronicles 9:22,26,31; 2Chronicles 31:15,18;
Psalm 119:30;
man of great faithfulnessProverbs 28:20; associated with in human character
who breatheth out faithfulness sheweth forth righteousnessProverbs 12:17; compare1 Sam
Proverbs 26:23;
Isaiah 59:4;
Jeremiah 5:1;
a righteous man by his faithfulness livethHabakkuk 2:4 (>
faith Luth AV RV). b.
as a divine attributePsalm 88:12;
Psalm 89:2;
Psalm 89:3;
Psalm 89:6;
Psalm 89:9;
Isaiah 25:1;
Hosea 2:22;
Lamentations 3:21;
Deuteronomy 32:4; his faithfulness is shewn in his works
Psalm 33:4; commands
Psalm 119:86; in affliction
Psalm 119:75; in his oath to David
Psalm 89:50. it reacheth unto the skies
Psalm 36:6; unto all Generations
Psalm 100:5;
Psalm 119:90; he will not belie it
Psalm 89:34. It is
Isaiah 25:1; compare
Psalm 119:138. It is closely associated with the divine
mercyPsalm 89:25;
Psalm 92:3;
Psalm 98:3;
Hosea 2:22; with the divine ,
Psalm 96:13;
Psalm 143:1;
Isaiah 11:5; & salvation
Psalm 40:11.
Topical Lexicon
Overviewאֱמוּנָה occurs forty-nine times, gathering under one canopy the ideas of faith, firmness, fidelity and truth. Whether it describes the unchanging character of God or the steadfast response He calls forth from His people, the word always points to a reliability that does not waver.
Divine Faithfulness: the Ground of Human Trust
From the Song of Moses onward, אֱמוּנָה first characterizes God Himself. “A God of faithfulness without injustice” (Deuteronomy 32:4). In the Psalter this note becomes a chorus: “Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds” (Psalm 36:5); “Great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:23). The Lord’s works flow out of that fixed attribute—“all His work is trustworthy” (Psalm 33:4)—so His people can stake their lives upon His promises.
Covenant Fidelity
Because God is faithful, covenant life demands corresponding faithfulness from God’s people. Joshua urges Israel to “serve Him in sincerity and faithfulness” (Joshua 24:14). Kings such as Hezekiah are commended for acts done “faithfully” (2 Chronicles 31:12). Nehemiah searches for men “who were considered trustworthy” (Nehemiah 7:2). In every age covenant loyalty is measured by אֱמוּנָה.
Personal Faith and Righteousness
Habakkuk 2:4 stands as the pivotal text: “the righteous will live by his faith.” Here אֱמוּנָה moves from describing reliability to denoting the believer’s trusting dependence on God. The New Testament will quote this verse three times, demonstrating the organic unity between Hebrew אֱמוּנָה and Greek πίστις.
Stability in Life’s Battles
At Rephidim Moses’ upheld hands were “steady” (Exodus 17:12); the same word shows that faithfulness steadies the believer in conflict. Isaiah pictures the Messianic king clothed with righteousness and “faithfulness the belt around His waist” (Isaiah 11:5). InIsaiah 33:6 אֱמוּנָה is “a store of salvation,” positioning trust as a fortress amid upheaval.
Ethical Integrity in Daily Affairs
Money-handlers in the temple work “faithfully” (2 Kings 12:15; 22:7), craftsmen rebuild the house of God “faithfully” (2 Chronicles 34:12), and merchants who use honest weights delight the Lord (Proverbs 12:22). אֱמוּנָה therefore governs the marketplace as well as the sanctuary; integrity in ordinary transactions is an act of worship.
Link with Truth
In several passages the word is rendered “truth” (for example,Proverbs 12:17). Faithfulness and truth are two sides of the same coin: what is reliable is true, and what is true proves reliable.Psalm 89 intertwines the pair nine times, climaxing with the promise that David’s throne will be “established in faithfulness” (Psalm 89:37).
Corporate Witness
Jerusalem’s future title is “a city of faithfulness” (Isaiah 1:26). When the community walks in אֱמוּנָה, it becomes a living apologetic for the nations. Conversely, when Israel lapses into idolatry the Lord laments that they are “children in whom is no faithfulness” (Deuteronomy 32:20).
Messianic Fulfillment
God’s covenant fidelity culminates in Jesus Christ, in Whom “all the promises of God are Yes and Amen” (compare2 Corinthians 1:20). The prophetic portrait ofIsaiah 11:5 and the saving stability ofIsaiah 33:6 converge in the incarnate Son. New-covenant believers are called to exhibit that same steadfastness, “walking by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7), echoing Habakkuk’s declaration.
Ministry Implications
1. Preaching: Proclaim God’s unbreakable reliability; invite hearers to rest in His covenant.
2. Pastoral Care: Ground counseling not in shifting feelings but in God’s unwavering character (Lamentations 3:22-24).
3. Discipleship: Cultivate habits of integrity—faithful stewardship, truthful speech, perseverance in trials.
4. Missions: Emphasize that gospel faith is the fulfillment, not the abandonment, of Old Testament אֱמוּנָה.
Summary
אֱמוּנָה threads through Scripture as the bass note of covenant history—God is faithful, therefore His people live by faith and practice faithfulness. The word summons believers to a life anchored in God’s steadfast character, displayed in ethical firmness, sustained in adversity, and fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Forms and Transliterations
אֱ֝מֽוּנָתְךָ֗ אֱ֭מוּנָה אֱ֭מוּנוֹת אֱמ֥וּנָה אֱמֻנָת֑וֹ אֱמֽוּנָתֶ֑ךָ אֱמוּנַ֣ת אֱמוּנָ֑ה אֱמוּנָ֖ה אֱמוּנָ֣ה אֱמוּנָ֥ה אֱמוּנָֽה׃ אֱמוּנָה֙ אֱמוּנָתְךָ֣ אֱמוּנָתֶֽךָ׃ אֱמוּנָתֽוֹ׃ אמונה אמונה׃ אמונות אמונת אמונתו׃ אמונתך אמונתך׃ אמנתו בֶּאֱמֻנָתְךָ֥ בֶּאֱמוּנָ֑ה בֶּאֱמוּנָ֕ה בֶּאֱמוּנָ֖ה בֶּאֱמוּנָ֜ה בֶּאֱמוּנָֽה׃ בֶּאֱמוּנָת֥וֹ בֶּאֱמוּנָתִֽי׃ בֶּאֱמוּנָתֶֽךָ׃ בֶּאֱמוּנָתָֽם׃ בֶּאֱמוּנָתֽוֹ׃ בֶאֱמֻנָ֖ה בֶאֱמוּנָ֖ה בֶאֱמוּנָ֞ה בֶאֱמוּנָתָ֖ם באמונה באמונה׃ באמונתו באמונתו׃ באמונתי׃ באמונתך׃ באמונתם באמונתם׃ באמנה באמנתך הָֽאֱמוּנָ֔ה האמונה וְהָאֱמוּנָ֖ה וֶ֝אֱמֽוּנָתְךָ֗ וֶ֝אֱמוּנָ֗ה וֶֽאֱֽמוּנָתוֹ֮ וֶֽאֱמוּנָ֥ה וֶֽאֶֽמוּנָתִ֣י ואמונה ואמונתו ואמונתי ואמונתך והאמונה לֶאֱמוּנָ֖ה לֶאֱמוּנָה֒ לאמונה ’ĕ·mū·nā·ṯe·ḵā ’ĕ·mū·nā·ṯə·ḵā ’ĕ·mu·nā·ṯōw ’ĕ·mū·nā·ṯōw ’ĕ·mū·nāh ’ĕ·mū·naṯ ’ĕ·mū·nō·wṯ ’ĕmūnāh ’ĕmūnaṯ ’ĕmūnāṯeḵā ’ĕmūnāṯəḵā ’ĕmunāṯōw ’ĕmūnāṯōw ’ĕmūnōwṯ be’ĕmūnāh ḇe’ĕmunāh ḇe’ĕmūnāh be’ĕmūnāṯām ḇe’ĕmūnāṯām be’ĕmunāṯəḵā be’ĕmūnāṯeḵā be’ĕmūnāṯî be’ĕmūnāṯōw be·’ĕ·mū·nā·ṯām ḇe·’ĕ·mū·nā·ṯām be·’ĕ·mu·nā·ṯə·ḵā be·’ĕ·mū·nā·ṯe·ḵā be·’ĕ·mū·nā·ṯî be·’ĕ·mū·nā·ṯōw be·’ĕ·mū·nāh ḇe·’ĕ·mu·nāh ḇe·’ĕ·mū·nāh beemuNah beemunaTam beemunaTecha beemunaTi beemunaTo emuNah emuNat emunatecha emunaTo Emunot hā’ĕmūnāh hā·’ĕ·mū·nāh haemuNah le’ĕmūnāh le·’ĕ·mū·nāh leemuNah veemuNah veemunaTam veemunatecha veemunaTi veemunaTo vehaemuNah we’ĕmūnāh we’ĕmūnāṯəḵā we’emūnāṯî we’ĕmūnāṯōw we·’ĕ·mū·nā·ṯə·ḵā we·’e·mū·nā·ṯî we·’ĕ·mū·nā·ṯōw we·’ĕ·mū·nāh wə·hā·’ĕ·mū·nāh wəhā’ĕmūnāh
Links
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Englishman's Greek Concordance •
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