Lexical Summary
emeth: Truth, faithfulness, reliability, firmness
Original Word:אֶמֶת
Part of Speech:noun feminine; adverb
Transliteration:emeth
Pronunciation:eh'-meth
Phonetic Spelling:(eh'-meth)
KJV: assured(-ly), establishment, faithful, right, sure, true (-ly, -th), verity
NASB:truth, true , faithfulness, faithfully, truly, faithful, truthful
Word Origin:[contracted fromH539 (אָמַן - believe)]
1. stability
2. (figuratively) certainty, truth, trustworthiness
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
assuredly, establishment, faithful, right, sure, true, verity
Contracted from'aman; stability; (figuratively) certainty, truth, trustworthiness -- assured(-ly), establishment, faithful, right, sure, true (-ly, -th), verity.
see HEBREW'aman
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
amanDefinitionfirmness, faithfulness, truth
NASB Translationfaith (1), faithful (2), faithfully (6), faithfulness (10), lasting (1), nor* (1), right (1), true (18), truly (4), truth (80), truth that you may correctly (1), truthful (2).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(contracted for from )
Genesis 24:48 106t.; suffix ,
Psalm 91:4 18t.
reliability, sureness:sure wayGenesis 24:48 (J);sure rewardProverbs 11:18;sure tokenJoshua 2:12 (J);Jeremiah 2:21.
stability, con-tinuance:peace and stabilityIsaiah 39:8 (=2 Kings 20:19)Esther 9:30;Jeremiah 33:6;Zechariah 8:19, compareJeremiah 14:13.
faithfulness, reliableness: ()of menfaithful manNehemiah 7:2;Exodus 18:21 (E);walk in faithfulness, faithfully1 Kings 2:4;1 Kings 3:6;2 Kings 20:3;Isaiah 38:3 compare1 Samuel 12:24; of ,Psalm 25:5;Psalm 26:3;Psalm 86:11;Zechariah 8:3; of menPsalm 45:5;Psalm 51:8; 2Chronicles 31:20; 32:1;Proverbs 29:14;Isaiah 10:20;Isaiah 42:3;Isaiah 48:1;Judges 9:16,19;Joshua 24:14;mercy and faithfulnessProverbs 3:3;Proverbs 14:22;Proverbs 16:6;Proverbs 20:28;Hosea 4:1, & the phraseGenesis 24:49;Genesis 47:29;Joshua 2:14 (J)2 Samuel 15:20. (b)an attribute of GodPsalm 54:7;Psalm 71:22;Isaiah 38:18,19;Isaiah 61:8;Micah 7:20;Ezekiel 18:9;Nehemiah 9:33;Genesis 32:11 (J)2 Samuel 2:6;abundant in mercy and faithfulnessExodus 34:6 (J)Psalm 86:15; these attributes are also associatedPsalm 40:11;Psalm 40:12;Psalm 61:8;Psalm 115:1;Psalm 138:2;Isaiah 16:5;Genesis 24:27 (J); they are messengers of God to menPsalm 57:4;Psalm 85:11;Psalm 89:15 comparePsalm 43:3;Psalm 25:10; the faithfulness of God endureth for everPsalm 117:2; he keepeth it for everPsalm 146:6; it reacheth unto the skiesPsalm 57:11;Psalm 108:5; it is shield & bucklerPsalm 91:4; he isPsalm 31:6 = 2Chronicles 15:3; is also associated with the divinePsalm 111:8;Psalm 85:12;Zechariah 8:8;Psalm 111:7;Jeremiah 4:2; & salvationPsalm 69:14.
(a)as spoken:speak truth1 Kings 22:16; 2Chronicles 18:15;Jeremiah 9:4;Zechariah 8:16;Psalm 15:2;Ecclesiastes 12:10;the thing is certainly trueDeuteronomy 13:15;Deuteronomy 17:4; =Proverbs 22:21;Proverbs 8:7;Daniel 11:2,Psalm 30:10;Proverbs 12:19;it is trueIsaiah 43:9;whether truth is with youGenesis 42:16 (E) compareIsaiah 59:14,15. (b)of testimony and judgmenttrue witnessProverbs 14:25;Jeremiah 42:5;Ezekiel 18:8;Zechariah 7:9;Zechariah 8:16. (c)of divine instructionDaniel 10:21;Malachi 2:6 compareNehemiah 9:13;Psalm 119:142;1 Kings 17:24 compare2 Samuel 7:28;Psalm 19:10;Psalm 119:160;Psalm 119:151. (d)truth as a body of ethical or religious knowledgeDaniel 8:12;Daniel 9:13.
in truth, trulyPsalm 132:11;Yahweh is God in truth, trulyJeremiah 10:10; elsewhereJudges 9:15;Psalm 145:18;Jeremiah 26:15;Jeremiah 28:9;Jeremiah 32:41.
Topical Lexicon
Truth (אֶמֶת, Strong’s 571)Overview of Scriptural Usage
The noun אֶמֶת occurs about one-hundred-twenty-seven times across the Old Testament. While the English word “truth” often suggests bare factual accuracy, אֶמֶת embraces reliability, stability, integrity, and faithfulness. It is used for the very character of God, the content of His revelation, the ethical standard for His people, and the hope that guides eschatological expectation.
Truth as an Attribute of Yahweh
Exodus 34:6 places “truth” at the heart of God’s self-revelation: “The LORD passed in front of Moses and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and truth.’” Truth is therefore neither abstract principle nor mere moral ideal; it is personal, rooted in God’s being.Deuteronomy 32:4 echoes, “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He.” Divine truth guarantees the dependability of every promise (Psalm 119:160).
Truth in Covenant Relationship
Human relationships are expected to mirror divine truth. Abraham’s servant praised God for showing “loving devotion and truth” to his master (Genesis 24:27), binding covenant loyalty and truth together. When Jacob sought mercy, he confessed, “I am unworthy of all the loving devotion and faithfulness You have shown Your servant” (Genesis 32:10). Truth guards covenant blessing; violation of truth dissolves covenant security (Hosea 4:1).
Truth in Worship and Liturgical Confession
Worship demands integrity. The Psalmist asks, “LORD, who may dwell in Your tent? … He who walks with integrity and practices righteousness, who speaks truth in his heart” (Psalm 15:1-2).Psalm 26:3 affirms, “Your loving devotion is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth.” Truth thus shapes both vertical devotion and horizontal behavior within the worshiping community.
Truth in Ethical and Judicial Life
In Israel’s courts truth served as the bedrock of justice: “Keep yourself far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent or the righteous” (Exodus 23:7). Kings were expected to rule “in truth, righteousness, and uprightness” (1 Kings 3:6;Proverbs 20:28). Prophets condemned societies where truth collapsed: “Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem… if you can find a man, if there is one who acts in justice, who seeks truth, then I will pardon her” (Jeremiah 5:1).
Truth in Wisdom Literature
Proverbs treats אֶמֶת as a principal virtue that orders life:
• “Through loving devotion and truth sin is atoned for” (Proverbs 16:6).
• “Buy the truth and do not sell it” (Proverbs 23:23).
Wisdom counsels that success without truth is hollow (Proverbs 12:19) and that truthful lips reflect a heart shaped by God (Proverbs 22:21).
Truth in Prophetic Witness
Prophets invoked truth to confront idolatry, false prophecy, and social injustice. Zechariah’s post-exilic exhortation links truth to renewed community life: “Speak truth to one another, render sound judgments… love truth and peace” (Zechariah 8:16-19).Isaiah 59:14 laments national collapse: “Truth has stumbled in the public square.” Prophetic hope, however, rests on God’s unbreakable truth that undergirds the coming salvation (Isaiah 61:8).
Truth in Prayer and Lament
Petitioners appeal to God’s truth as the grounds for deliverance: “Guide me in Your truth and teach me” (Psalm 25:5). In crisis David prays, “Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD, God of truth” (Psalm 31:5). Such prayers assume that God’s character guarantees hearing and help.
Messianic and Eschatological Dimensions
The promised Messiah embodies divine truth: “Righteousness will be the belt around His hips, and faithfulness the sash around His waist” (Isaiah 11:5).Psalm 89:14 links the eternal throne to “loving devotion and truth.” The prophetic vision of the New Covenant (Jeremiah 33:6) anticipates an era when truth secures lasting peace.
Interplay with Loving Devotion and Faithfulness
Repeated pairing of אֶמֶת with חֶסֶד (“loving devotion”) and אֱמוּנָה (“faithfulness”) highlights its relational quality. Truth is not mere accuracy but relational reliability—love that can be trusted. This triad frames God’s gracious dealings (Psalm 85:10) and sets the pattern for human ethics (Zechariah 7:9-10).
Historical Significance in the Post-Exilic Community
Following exile, truth became a rallying cry for restored identity.Nehemiah 9:13 recalls Sinai, noting that God “made known to them Your holy Sabbath, and commanded them precepts, statutes, and laws by the hand of Moses Your servant.” In rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls and society, leaders insisted on truthful oaths (Nehemiah 10:29) and accurate genealogies (Nehemiah 7), recognizing that a community without truth soon unravels.
Theological Summary
1. Truth is intrinsic to God’s nature; therefore, His word and actions are utterly dependable.
2. God requires His people to reflect that truth in worship, speech, commerce, and governance.
3. The prophetic critique of Israel’s failures consistently highlights abandonment of truth.
4. Messianic hope centers on a ruler whose reign is established by truth, ensuring ultimate justice and peace.
5. For later biblical theology, אֶמֶת provides the conceptual background for New Testament affirmations that grace and truth are realized in Jesus Christ (John 1:14-17).
Practical Implications for Ministry
• Preaching must rest on the conviction that Scripture is God’s truthful revelation, free from error and fully reliable.
• Pastoral care should model relational truthfulness, embodying covenant fidelity in word and deed.
• Corporate worship ought to include confession of truth and the shaping of conscience by truth-filled liturgy.
• Christian witness in society must champion truth in public ethics, advocating for just courts, honest commerce, and transparent leadership.
Representative References
Genesis 24:27;Exodus 34:6;Deuteronomy 32:4;Joshua 24:14;1 Kings 3:6;2 Kings 20:3;Nehemiah 9:13;Psalm 15:2;Psalm 25:5;Psalm 31:5;Psalm 43:3;Psalm 85:10;Psalm 119:160;Proverbs 12:19;Proverbs 16:6;Proverbs 23:23;Isaiah 11:5;Isaiah 59:14;Jeremiah 5:1;Jeremiah 33:6;Hosea 4:1;Zechariah 8:16-19.
Forms and Transliterations
אֱ֝מֶ֗ת אֱ֭מֶת אֱמֶ֑ת אֱמֶ֔ת אֱמֶ֖ת אֱמֶ֗ת אֱמֶ֣ת אֱמֶ֥ת אֱמֶ֧ת אֱמֶֽת׃ אֱמֶת֙ אֱמֶת֮ אֲמִתְּךָ֪ אֲמִתֶּ֑ךָ אֲמִתֶּֽךָ׃ אֲמִתּֽוֹ׃ אמת אמת׃ אמתו׃ אמתך אמתך׃ בֶּֽאֱמֶ֣ת בֶּֽאֱמֶת֙ בֶּאֱמֶ֔ת בֶּאֱמֶ֖ת בֶּאֱמֶ֣ת בֶּאֱמֶ֤ת בֶּאֱמֶ֥ת בֶּאֱמֶ֧ת בֶּאֱמֶ֨ת בֶּאֱמֶֽת׃ בֶאֱמֶ֖ת בֶאֱמֶ֗ת בֶאֱמֶֽת׃ בַּ֝אֲמִתְּךָ֗ בַּאֲמִתֶּ֑ךָ בַּאֲמִתֶּֽךָ׃ בַאֲמִתֶּ֨ךָ ׀ באמת באמת׃ באמתך באמתך׃ הַֽאֱמֶ֖ת הָ֣אֱמֶ֔ת הָֽאֱמֶ֔ת הָֽאֱמֶת֙ האמת וְהָ֣אֱמֶ֔ת וְהָאֱמֶ֥ת וְהָאֱמֶת֙ וֶ֝אֱמֶ֗ת וֶ֭אֱמֶת וֶֽאֱמֶ֛ת וֶֽאֱמֶת־ וֶאֱמֶ֑ת וֶאֱמֶ֔ת וֶאֱמֶ֖ת וֶאֱמֶ֗ת וֶאֱמֶ֤ת וֶאֱמֶ֥ת וֶאֱמֶֽת׃ וַ֝אֲמִתְּךָ֗ וַ֭אֲמִתְּךָ וַאֲמִתּ֖וֹ וַאֲמִתּֽוֹ׃ וּבֶֽאֱמֶ֑ת ואמת ואמת־ ואמת׃ ואמתו ואמתו׃ ואמתך ובאמת והאמת לֶאֱמֶ֖ת לאמת ’ă·mit·te·ḵā ’ă·mit·tə·ḵā ’ă·mit·tōw ’ămitteḵā ’ămittəḵā ’ămittōw ’ĕ·meṯ ’ĕmeṯ amitTecha amitTo ba’ămitteḵā ba’ămittəḵā ḇa’ămitteḵā ba·’ă·mit·te·ḵā ba·’ă·mit·tə·ḵā ḇa·’ă·mit·te·ḵā baamitTecha be’ĕmeṯ ḇe’ĕmeṯ be·’ĕ·meṯ ḇe·’ĕ·meṯ beeMet eMet ha’ĕmeṯ hā’ĕmeṯ ha·’ĕ·meṯ hā·’ĕ·meṯ haeMet le’ĕmeṯ le·’ĕ·meṯ leeMet ū·ḇe·’ĕ·meṯ ūḇe’ĕmeṯ uveeMet vaamitTecha vaamitTo veeMet veHaeMet wa’ămittəḵā wa’ămittōw wa·’ă·mit·tə·ḵā wa·’ă·mit·tōw we’ĕmeṯ we’ĕmeṯ- we·’ĕ·meṯ we·’ĕ·meṯ- wə·hā·’ĕ·meṯ wəhā’ĕmeṯ
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
