אֱמוּנָה
𐤀𐤌𐤅𐤍𐤄
ʼĕmûwnâh
H530 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
The quality of firmness, steadfastness, reliability, or faithfulness. In many contexts, denotes trustworthiness or dependability (of a person, action, or statement). In some contexts, especially later or poetic ones, can refer to truth, faithful conduct, or the grounds for confidence. Occasionally, as an attribute attributed to the deity, carries the sense of enduring reliability or trustworthiness.
Semantic Range
steadfastness, reliability, faithfulness, dependability, fidelity, truth, security, steadfast conduct, established position (esp. in offices), the grounds for confidence, trustworthiness
Root / Etymology
From the root אָמַן (אָמַן), meaning 'to be firm, confirm, support'. The noun אֱמוּנָה is a feminine derivative indicating the quality or state of being firm, reliable, or steadfast. While the root primarily means to support or uphold, the noun extends this to denote a dependable character or the characteristic of being worthy of trust.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, אֱמוּנָה frequently describes a person's reliability, such as in administrative or leadership roles (e.g., Exodus 17:12; Isaiah 33:6). It also refers to God's enduring dependability (e.g., Deuteronomy 32:4), not in the later theological sense of 'faith' as personal conviction or assent, but rather as the objectivity of trustworthiness. In later periods, particularly post-exilic and Second Temple literature, the term's semantic range broadens to include aspects of faithfulness and truth. The English 'faith' used in translation often narrows the concept, focusing on inner belief, whereas the biblical term primarily denotes qualities of constancy and reliability. Distinct from related terms such as אֱמֶת (emet, 'truth'), which emphasizes factuality and faithfulness to reality; אֱמוּנָה emphasizes steadfastness in relationship or obligation.
Translation Consistency
Faithfulness best captures the primary semantic range of אֱמוּנָה — trustworthiness, fidelity, reliability and steadfastness — and is the most natural, widely used English noun in biblical contexts (including divine attributes). It fits both personal and institutional senses and will read naturally across the varied occurrences.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or (shortened) אֱמֻנָה; feminine of אֵמוּן; literally firmness; figuratively security; morally fidelity; faith(-ful, -ly, -ness, (man)), set office, stability, steady, truly, truth, verily.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
אמן (ʾ-m-n) — firmness, reliability, steadfastness, trustworthiness
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1968 | הֵימָן | Heman |
| H4191 | מוּת | your reliability |
| H529 | אֵמוּן | steadfast trustworthiness |
| H539 | אָמַן | I will regard as firm |
| H540 | אֲמַן | he made firm |
Word Forms
18 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H530-06 |
אֱמוּנָ֖ה | emunah | HNcfsa |
of faithfulness | steadfast reliability | steadfast reliability | 9 |
H530-01 |
בֶּ/אֱמוּנָ֑ה | beemunah | HR/Ncfsa |
faithfully | in steadfastness | in faithfulness | 8 |
H530-08 |
אֱ֝מֽוּנָתְ/ךָ֗ | emunatekha | HNcfsc/Sp2ms |
Your faithfulness | your steadfastness | your faithfulness | 8 |
H530-13 |
בֶ/אֱמֻנָ֖ה | veemunah | HR/Ncfsa |
and faithfulness | steadfastness | and faithfulness | 5 |
H530-15 |
וֶ֝/אֱמֽוּנָתְ/ךָ֗ | veemunatekha | HC/Ncfsc/Sp2ms |
and your faithfulness | and your steadfastness | and your faithfulness | 2 |
H530-05 |
בֶּ/אֱמוּנָת֥/וֹ | beemunato | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
by his faithfulness | in his steadfastness | in his faithfulness | 2 |
H530-03 |
בֶּ/אֱמוּנָתֶֽ/ךָ | beemunatekha | HR/Ncfsc/Sp2ms |
in your faithfulness | in your steadfastness | in your steadfastness | 2 |
H530-12 |
לֶ/אֱמוּנָה֒ | leemunah | HR/Ncfsa |
to faithfulness | to steadfast reliability | to faithfulness | 2 |
H530-09 |
אֱמֻנָת֑/וֹ | emunato | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
his faithfulness | his steadfastness | his faithfulness | 2 |
H530-07 |
אֱמוּנַ֣ת | emunat | HNcfsc |
stability | steadfastness of | steadfastness of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
49 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H530-06 |
Exodus 17:12 | אֱמוּנָ֖ה | emunah | HNcfsa |
steady | steadfast reliability | steadfast reliability |
H530-06 |
Deuteronomy 32:4 | אֱמוּנָה֙ | emunah | HNcfsa |
faithfulness | steadfast reliability | steadfast reliability |
H530-09 |
1 Samuel 26:23 | אֱמֻנָת֑/וֹ | emunato | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
his faithfulness | his steadfastness | his faithfulness |
H530-13 |
2 Kings 12:16 | בֶ/אֱמֻנָ֖ה | veemunah | HR/Ncfsa |
in-faithfulness | steadfastness | and faithfulness |
H530-13 |
2 Kings 22:7 | בֶ/אֱמוּנָ֖ה | veemunah | HR/Ncfsa |
in faithfulness | steadfastness | in faithfulness |
H530-18 |
Isaiah 11:5 | וְ/הָ/אֱמוּנָ֖ה | vehaemunah | HC/Td/Ncfsa |
and the faithfulness | and the steadfastness | and the steadfastness |
H530-06 |
Isaiah 25:1 | אֱמ֥וּנָה | emunah | HNcfsa |
faithfulness | steadfast reliability | steadfast reliability |
H530-07 |
Isaiah 33:6 | אֱמוּנַ֣ת | emunat | HNcfsc |
stability | steadfastness of | steadfastness of |
H530-01 |
Isaiah 59:4 | בֶּ/אֱמוּנָ֑ה | beemunah | HR/Ncfsa |
in truth | in steadfastness | in faithfulness |
H530-06 |
Jeremiah 5:1 | אֱמוּנָ֑ה | emunah | HNcfsa |
truth | steadfast reliability | steadfast reliability |