The biblical concept of faith can be seen in its earliest form in the Old Testament where a variety of Hebrew
terms provide a rich and complex definition.
As a root word, a word consisting of three consonants, this term conveys the sense of "reliability,
stability" and "firmness."
This root word can be changed to form a verb by changing the vowels or by adding consonants
before the root (prefixes), after the root (suffixes) or within the root (infixes).
The hiphil verb from of ’āman means "to be certain, sure" or "to be assured"
Adding another dimension to the meaning of "faith" is its basis on fact. "Faith" is not blind or a leap into the
unknown, but instead founded on truth certain of a real God and the absolute reality of His words.
Then he believed (’āman-hiphil) in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
When Israel saw the great power which the LORD had used against the Egyptians, the people feared
the LORD, and they believed (’āman-hiphil) in the LORD and in His servant Moses.
The LORD said to Moses, "How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe
(’āman-hiphil) in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst?
But for all this, you did not trust (’āman-hiphil) the LORD your God,
When the LORD sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, 'Go up and possess the land which I have given
you,' then you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God; you neither believed (’āman-hiphil)
Him nor listened to His voice. (Deut 9:23)
Because they did not believe (’āman-hiphil) in God and did not trust in His salvation.
You are My witnesses," declares the LORD, and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know
and believe (’āman-hiphil) Me and understand that I am He before Me there was no God formed, and there
will be none after Me. (Isa 43:10)
Then the people of Nineveh believed (’āman-hiphil) in God; and they called a fast and put
on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them. (Jonah 3:5)
The niphal verb form means "to be true, reliable or faithful" and can be applied
to both God and men (i.e. God: Deut 7:9,
Moses: Num 12:7,
prophets: 1 Sam 3:20,
servants: 1 Sam 22:14,
messenger: Prov 25:13).
When referring to beings, "faith" acquires a meaning of "to be entrusted with."
Deuteronomy 7:9 (God): Know therefore
that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful (’āman-niphal) God, who keeps His covenant and His
lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments;
Numbers 12:7 (Moses): Not so, with My
servant Moses, He is faithful (’āman-niphal) in all My household;
1 Samuel 3:20 (prophet): All Israel
from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed (’āman-niphal) as a prophet of the LORD.
1 Samuel 22:14 (servant): Then
Ahimelech answered the king and said, "And who among all your servants is as faithful (’āman-niphal) as
David, even the king's son-in-law, who is captain over your guard, and is honored in your house?
Proverbs 25:13 (messenger): Like the
cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful (’āman-niphal) messenger to those who send him, for he
refreshes the soul of his masters.
When referring to objects, the emphasis of ’āman is placed on the word of God for its "dependability"
and its confirmation in subsequent action
(i.e. 1 Sam 25:28;
2 Sam 7:16;
1 Kings 8:26;
1 Chron 17:23).
This usage is based on God’s promise of a Davidic dynasty and is referred to "an established house". The fulfillment
of God’s promise is not based on the quality of the members of the dynasty; instead, it is an unconditional covenant
(see the article "Divine Covenants… the King").
Please forgive the transgression of your maidservant; for the LORD will certainly make for my
lord an enduring (’āman-niphal) house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the LORD, and evil will
not be found in you all your days. (1 Sam 25:28)
Your house and your kingdom shall endure (’āman-niphal) before Me forever; your throne
shall be established forever. (2 Sam 7:16)
Now therefore, O God of Israel, let Your word, I pray, be confirmed (’āman-niphal) which
You have spoken to Your servant, my father David. (1 Kings 8:26)
Now, O LORD, let the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house
be established (’āman-niphal) forever, and do as You have spoken.
(1 Chron 17:23)
In addition to changing the meaning of the root word by use of a verb stem, a root word may
morphologically change over time and become a source for derivative words. Regarding the Hebrew understanding of
faith, these derivative terms, sourced originally from ‘āman, provide a nuanced meaning to "faith."
The noun is used to describe God’s counsel
‘ēmūn (faithful, trusting)
When used of nations, it is a standard by which to measure of their righteousness and acceptability
to God (Deut 32:20;
When used of human beings, it is a model that is contrasted to the bad
(Prov 13:17) and the false
‘ĕmûnâ (firmness, fidelity, steadiness)
This term basically applies to God Himself (Deut 32:4)
to express His total dependability. It is frequently listed among the attributes of God
(1 Sam 26:23; Ps 36:5;
Ps 40:10; Lam 3:23)
and is used to describe His works (Ps 33:4) and His words
(Ps 119:86; 143:1).
It is also used to refer to those whose lives God establishes and in whom He expects to see
faithfulness from (Prov 12:22;
2 Chron 19:9). Such faithfulness or a life of faith is characteristic
of those justified in God’s sight (Hab 2:4). God’s word of truth
establishes man’s way of truth or faithfulness (Ps 119:30).
The Believer is entrusted with the duty of being faithful personally and faithfully responsible
to carry out his office (1 Chron 9:22;
2 Chron 31:15).
‘ĕmet (firmness, truth)
This term carries underlying sense of certainty and dependability, and it is used directly or
indirectly of God. It is applied to God as a characteristic of His nature
(Gen 24:27; Ex 34:6;
Ps 25:5; 31:5), and
it is a term applied to God’s words (Ps 119:142, 151, 160).
As a characteristic of God revealed to men, it becomes the means by which men know and serve God
as their Savior (Josh 24:14;
1 Kings 2:4; Ps 26:3;
Ps 86:11), and a characteristic to be found in those who have come
to God (Ex 18:21; Neh 7:2;
Because it is an attribute of God which is manifest in man’s salvation and life of service as
God’s child, the word is often coupled with another attribute of God related to our salvation: mercy or love
(Gen 24:27; Ps 61:7;
Because these attributes of God’s truth and mercy lead to God’s peace toward sinful men, saved
by God’s grace, the word is also often coupled with peace
(Isa 39:8; Jer 33:6).
This Hebrew root means "’to trust, rely upon" or "to put confidence in". "Bāṭaḥ" as a verb, in
its qal or hiphil verb form, expresses the sense of well-being and security which results
from having something or someone in whom to place confidence. It is the action of believing in something so strongly
that a confidence is generated from that trust; God is the true basis of security
(2 Kings 18:30;
nor let Hezekiah make you trust (bāṭaḥ-hiphal) in the LORD, saying, "The LORD will surely
deliver us, and this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria."
(2 Kings 18:30)
For I will certainly rescue you, and you will not fall by the sword; but you will have your own
life as booty, because you have trusted (bāṭaḥ-qal) in Me," declares the LORD.'
Trust (bāṭaḥ-qal) in Him at all times, O people;Pour out your heart before Him; God is a
refuge for us. Selah. (Psalm 62:8)
In its various contexts, the Old Testament introduces the idea that "faith" is based on historical and factual
events and leads to the conclusion that all truth comes from God, and is truth because it is related to God. With
this objective basis, the concept of "faith" requires a human response that entails the subjective nature of trust.
Existing objectively outside of human beings, the reliability of God and His words generate trust subjectively within
By the time Hebrew is translated into Greek, the Hebrew concept of "faith" expands in the New Testament when
describing the relationship between God and human beings.
The Hebrew root ’āman is translated in the LXX (Greek Old Testament) uniformly with the Greek term
"pisteuō", which means "faith" in English.
While the he Hebrew root "bāṭaḥ" is translated in the LXX with the Greek term "elpidzō," which means
"to hope," it is also translated with the Greek term "pepoitha," which means "trust" or "rely upon" in English.
1. Brown C, ed., The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, vol. 3,
Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, (1979).
2. Harris RL, Archer Jr GL, and Waltke BK., Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament,
Chicago: Moody Press, (1980).
3. Brand C, Draper C and England A, eds., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Nashville:
Holman Bible Publishers, (1998).