אֻמְנָם
𐤀𐤌𐤍𐤌
ʼumnâm
H552 adverb
SILEX Entry
Definition
An adverb used to express affirmation, certainty, or assurance, often in the sense of 'truly,' 'indeed,' or 'certainly.' In various contexts, it can emphasize the reality, reliability, or factuality of a statement, sometimes functioning to introduce or confirm a proposition under discussion, occasionally with a concessive or adversative nuance when paired with a contrasting clause.
Semantic Range
truly, certainly, indeed, assuredly, verily, in fact, in (very) deed, as a matter of fact; sometimes, in the context of contrast, 'indeed...but/yet...'
Root / Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew root אמן (ʾ-m-n), which fundamentally means 'to confirm, support, be faithful, be trustworthy.' The form אֻמְנָם (umnâm) is an adverbial construction related to the root meaning, conveying the idea of certainty or affirmation. It is morphologically and semantically close to אׇמְנָם (āmnām), representing a variant spelling or dialectal variation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
אֻמְנָם appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, and its usage is generally focused on marking an affirmation or confirmation of a previous statement, or introducing a question expecting an affirmative answer. In some instances, especially in later biblical or post-biblical Hebrew, the term can convey a concessive force ('indeed...but/yet...'). The English rendering 'verily' or 'indeed' may capture its basic sense but often fails to communicate the specific discourse function in Hebrew, particularly when אֻמְנָם serves to introduce a contrast. The term is not tied to any particular period of Israelite history, but its occurrence is primarily in poetic or wisdom literature, reflecting its specialized rhetorical function. In translation traditions, renderings such as 'surely,' 'truly,' or 'certainly' are common, but context determines the most appropriate equivalent. אֻמְנָם should be distinguished from related forms such as אָמֵן (āmēn), which is used liturgically and in direct response, and from the verb אמן ('to confirm, support').
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
an orthographical variation of אׇמְנָם; {verily}; in (very) deed; of a surety.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אמן (ʾ-m-n) — firmness, reliability, trustworthiness, confirmation
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1968 | הֵימָן | Heman |
| H4191 | מוּת | your reliability |
| H529 | אֵמוּן | steadfast trustworthiness |
| H530 | אֱמוּנָה | in steadfastness |
| H539 | אָמַן | I will regard as firm |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H552-01 |
הַֽ/אֻמְנָ֔ם | haumenam | HTi/D |
indeed | truly | 4 |
H552-02 |
אֻמְנָ֛ם | umenam | HD |
really | assuredly | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H552-02 |
Genesis 18:13 | אֻמְנָ֛ם | umenam | HD |
really | assuredly |
H552-01 |
Numbers 22:37 | הַֽ/אֻמְנָ֔ם | haumenam | HTi/D |
indeed | truly |
H552-01 |
1 Kings 8:27 | הַֽ/אֻמְנָ֔ם | haumenam | HTi/D |
will God indeed | truly |
H552-01 |
Psalms 58:2 | הַֽ/אֻמְנָ֗ם | haumenam | HTi/D |
Indeed | truly |
H552-01 |
2 Chronicles 6:18 | הַֽ/אֻמְנָ֔ם | haumenam | HTi/D |
indeed | truly |