Hebrew Word for Faith in the Old Testament
The Old Testament does not have a single, direct Hebrew equivalent for the New Testament concept of pistis (πίστις), often translated as "faith" [7]. Instead, the idea of faith is conveyed through several related Hebrew terms that emphasize different aspects such as trust, faithfulness, and firmness.
One significant root is אָמַן (ʾaman), which conveys the sense of being firm, reliable, or trustworthy. From this root, various forms emerge that express faith or belief. For instance, the verb ʾaman can mean "to trust" or "to believe" [9]. It is used absolutely in passages like Exodus 4:31 and Isaiah 7:9, and frequently with prepositions to indicate trust in a person or in God, as seen in Genesis 15:6 ("Abraham believed the Lord") and Exodus 14:31 [9]. The noun אֱמוּנָה (ʾemunah), derived from ʾaman, often translates to "faithfulness" or "fidelity" [1, 3]. Psalm 37:3, for example, uses ʾemunah in the context of faithfulness [1]. Another related term is אֱמֶת (ʾemet), meaning "truth" or "faithfulness," as found in Psalm 51:6 and Psalm 31:5 [2, 4]. The word "Amen" itself comes from this root, signifying "firm" or "faithful," and is used to confirm words or invoke fulfillment [8].
Another concept related to faith is "trust" or "confidence." The Hebrew word בָּטַח (batach) directly means "to trust" or "to be confident" [5, 6]. For example, Psalm 37:3 instructs, "Trust in the Lord, and do good" [5]. Other less frequent terms also touch upon aspects of hope and trust, such as חִסְלוֹן (chislon), meaning "hope, trust" [10], and the name חָכִילָה (hachilah), meaning "my hope is in her" [11].
While the New Testament defines faith as "assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1) [7], the Old Testament demonstrates faith through the actions and attitudes of individuals who relied on God's promises. Abraham, for instance, was justified by faith, specifically faith in God's promise, not merely general piety [12]. The Old Testament prophets also proclaimed that "the just shall live by faith" [12]. This understanding of faith in the Old Testament is not restricted to a narrow theological definition but encompasses a broader sense of trust, faithfulness, and confident reliance on God and His word [13, 15]. The Babylonian Talmud, interpreting Isaiah 33:6, connects "faith" (ʾemunah) with trusting God in practical matters like planting seeds [14].
Sources
- STEPBible TAHOT “Psa.37.3#08=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): אֱמוּנָֽה\׃ ['e.mu.Nah] "faithfulness"”
- STEPBible TAHOT “Psa.51.6(51.8)#02=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): אֱ֭מֶת ['E.met] "faithfulness"”
- STEPBible TAHOT “Psa.119.30#02=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): אֱמוּנָ֥ה ['e.mu.Nah] "faithfulness"”
- STEPBible TAHOT “Psa.31.5(31.6)#08=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): אֱמֶֽת\׃ ['e.Met] "faithfulness"”
- STEPBible TAHOT “Psa.37.3#01=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): בְּטַ֣ח [be.Tach] "trust"”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Betah — confidence”
- Hebrews “Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen. -- Hebrews 11:1”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Amen — This Hebrew word means firm, and hence also faithful (Rev. 3:14). In Isa. 65:16, the Authorized Version has "the God of truth," which in Hebrew is "the God of Amen." It is frequently used by our Saviour to give emphasis to his words, where it is translated "verily." Sometimes, only, however, in John's Gospel, it is repeated, "Verily, verily." It is used as an epithet of the Lord Jesus Christ (Rev. 3:14). It is found singly and sometimes doubly at the end of prayers (Ps. 41:13; 72:19; 89:52), to confirm the words and invoke the fulfilment of them. It is used in”
- Brown-Driver-Briggs “[BDB H539] aman (part 3/3) — trust, believe: (a) absolute Exod 4:31 (J) Isa 7:9; 28:16; Hab 1:5; Psa 116:10; Job 29:24; (b) with ל of person, trust to, believe Gen 45:26 (E) Exod 4:1, 8 (J) Jer 40:14; 2Chr 32:15; with God Deut 9:23; Isa 43:10; ל of thing Exod 4:8-9, (J) Psa 106:24; 1Kin 10:7; 2Chr 9:6; Isa 53:1; Prov 14:15; (c) with ב of person, trust in, believe in Exod 19:9 (J) 1Sam 27:12; 2Chr 20:20; Job 4:18; 15:15; Prov 26:25; Jer 12:6; Micah 7:5; the usual construction with God Gen 15:6 (E) Exod 14:31; Num 14:11 (J) 20:12 (P) Deut 1:32; 2Kin 17:14; 2Chr 20:20; Psa 78:22; Jonah 3:5; with”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Chislon — hope, trust”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Hachilah — my hope is in her”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 74: argues from the case of Abraham, who, according to the express declaration of the Scriptures, was justified by faith; and he quotes from the old prophets the great principle, true then as now, that the “just shall live by faith.” (2.) In the second place, he proves that the faith intended was faith in a promise and not merely general piety or confidence toward God. Abraham, he says, “staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that what He had promised He wa”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 11 (introduction): DEFINITION OF THE FAITH JUST SPOKEN OF (Heb 10:39): EXAMPLES FROM THE OLD COVENANT FOR OUR PERSEVERANCE IN FAITH. (Heb. 11:1-40) Description of the great things which faith (in its widest sense: not here restricted to faith in the Gospel sense) does for us. Not a full definition of faith in its whole nature, but a description of its great characteristics in relation to the subject of Paul's exhortation here, namely, to perseverance. substance, &c.--It substantiates promises of God which we hope for, as future in fulfilment, making them”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 31a.10: The Gemara continues discussing the conduct of the Sages, citing that Reish Lakish said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “And the faith of your times shall be a strength of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge, the fear of the Lord is his treasure” (Isaiah 33:6)? Faith; that is the order of Zera ’ im , Seeds, in the Mishna, because a person has faith in God and plants his seeds (Jerusalem Talmud). Your times; that is the order of Moed , Festival, which deals with the various occasions and Festivals that occur throughout the year. Strength; that is t”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 76: in a state of sin and condemnation; that from that state no man can be delivered except though the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Saviour of men. It is, therefore, taught that the knowledge of this Redeemer was communicated to our race from the beginning, and in express terms in the promise made to Abraham; that the condition of salvation was then, as it is now, faith in Christ; that the blessings secured for believers were enjoyed before the advent of the Son of God in the flesh, as well as since. The heaven of believers”