← H551 H553 →

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').

Translation Consistency

primary "truly" 5 occurrences

Most common natural rendering in the P2 data and in English usage for an adverb of affirmation. "Truly" conveys certainty, assurance, and factual emphasis across the range (and can cover the sense of "indeed" or "in fact"), making it the best consistent choice for all forms of this Strong's entry.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

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 recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

אמן (Heyman) — to support, confirm, be faithful, trust

Root אמן to confirm, support, be reliable, be trustworthy
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1968 הֵימָן Heman
H525 אָמוֹן Ammon (Kin-People)
H529 אֵמוּן steadfast trustworthiness
H530 אֱמוּנָה in steadfastness
H532 אָמִי my people

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H552-01 הַֽ/אֻמְנָ֔ם haumenam HTi/D indeed truly truly 4
H552-02 אֻמְנָ֛ם umenam HD really assuredly truly 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H552-02 Genesis 18:13 אֻמְנָ֛ם umenam HD really assuredly truly
H552-01 Numbers 22:37 הַֽ/אֻמְנָ֔ם haumenam HTi/D indeed truly truly
H552-01 1 Kings 8:27 הַֽ/אֻמְנָ֔ם haumenam HTi/D will God indeed truly truly
H552-01 Psalms 58:2 הַֽ/אֻמְנָ֗ם haumenam HTi/D Indeed truly truly
H552-01 2 Chronicles 6:18 הַֽ/אֻמְנָ֔ם haumenam HTi/D indeed truly truly
← H551 Hebrew Lexicon H553 →