"Amen" - Ancient Egyptian Roots?

[CDWolfe]

Has anyone considered what the word "amen" actually means? Do you even know? Do you just say it at the end of a prayer because it is tradition? I was asked this recently and I came to realize that I did it out of tradition. So I started digging around...

I was reading an article by Professor Jan Assmann (Germany), that stated the early Egyptian civilization had a substantial impact on what would become Judaism (and eventually Christianity). Without going into a ton of detail, the article linked the word amen to the Egyptian sun god, Amen-Ra (Amon-Ra).

Is it possible that when we say "amen" we are actually acknowledging an ancient Egyptian sun god? The Hebrews were supposedly slaves to the Egyptians for somewhere between 200-400 years. Prof. Assmann explains that the Hebrews would adopt/borrow religious ideas from the Egyptians naturally, given the length of time that they were enslaved. This would carry over into what would become Christianity. He goes on to cite the similarities between ancient Egyptian religious icons/symbols, and those of both Judaism and Christianity.

Not sure if I believe it or not, but it was an interesting read!

 

[Zanuku]

Well it's entirely possible, the English language had some roman roots after all and who knows how many cultural traits have been circulating since homo sapiens moved out of the Africa's.

 

[outhouse]

There is no academic support for any connection to the previous deity.

 

[Falvlun]

Haha. I always thought "amen" literally meant "the end". Thanks for making me look it up.

But my other assumption, that it had Hebrew roots, appears to have been well-founded, where it means something akin to "truly" or "so be it".

The big blow to the Amon-Ra theory is that apparently the Hebrew word starts with an aleph and the Egyptian word starts with a yodh. So basically, different words that just happened to end up sounding similar in English.

All info obtained from the Amen Wiki.

 

[dantech]

In Tracacte Shab. 119b, you can see that the word Amen (אמ&#1503 is an abbreviation for the words El Melekh Ne'eman (אֵל מֶלֶךְ נֶאֱמָ&#1503 which means "God, faithful King".
So basically, after a prayer, people will say Amen to affirm their faith in God.

 

[Levite]

In Tracacte Shab. 119b, you can see that the word Amen (אמ&#1503 is an abbreviation for the words El Melekh Ne'eman (אֵל מֶלֶךְ נֶאֱמָ&#1503 which means "God, faithful King".
So basically, after a prayer, people will say Amen to affirm their faith in God.

Actually, as much as I truly love that drash, it almost certainly is not the actual etymology of the word. אמן (Amen) is a construction of the root א.מ.נ, which has to do with belief, trustworthiness, reliability. It is probably an affirmative interjection, signifying that what has been said is true, or express sentiments the interjector agrees with.

Needless to say, of course, in no way shape or form does it have anything to do with the Egyptian god Amen (also spelled Amon or Amun).

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Has anyone considered what the word "amen" actually means? Do you even know?

<yawn>

silly rerun​

</yawn>

 

[Jainarayan]

It is probably an affirmative interjection, signifying that what has been said is true

As when Jesus said (or as it was translated) "Amen I say to you... ". Other translations have "Truly I say to you... " or "Verily... " in the same verses.

 

[1137]

Has anyone considered what the word "amen" actually means? Do you even know? Do you just say it at the end of a prayer because it is tradition? I was asked this recently and I came to realize that I did it out of tradition. So I started digging around...

I was reading an article by Professor Jan Assmann (Germany), that stated the early Egyptian civilization had a substantial impact on what would become Judaism (and eventually Christianity). Without going into a ton of detail, the article linked the word amen to the Egyptian sun god, Amen-Ra (Amon-Ra).

Is it possible that when we say "amen" we are actually acknowledging an ancient Egyptian sun god? The Hebrews were supposedly slaves to the Egyptians for somewhere between 200-400 years. Prof. Assmann explains that the Hebrews would adopt/borrow religious ideas from the Egyptians naturally, given the length of time that they were enslaved. This would carry over into what would become Christianity. He goes on to cite the similarities between ancient Egyptian religious icons/symbols, and those of both Judaism and Christianity.

Not sure if I believe it or not, but it was an interesting read!

You're not the one who's doing theology / religious studies, right?

 

[CDWolfe]

You're not the one who's doing theology / religious studies, right?

Yes, theology and history. It is because of those that I come across articles and other things of interest. There are things that we take for granted without really thinking about them in detail.

However, if you're going to be like Jay-what's-his-name and do nothing other than try to trash people, I'll just ignore you too.

 

[1137]

Yes, theology and history. It is because of those that I come across articles and other things of interest. There are things that we take for granted without really thinking about them in detail.

However, if you're going to be like Jay-what's-his-name and do nothing other than try to trash people, I'll just ignore you too.

No no, I just caught you believing in Jewish slavery in Egypt and lost all hope in future education. I also caught you calling Amun a sun god when he was actually a hidden god. Atum is the god of the setting sun, Khepri being the rising sun. He only became associated with the sun when blended with Ra later on in ancient Egyptian history after rising in importance. Pretty much they created a super god. On top of this I even remember you relating Jesus to Horus in another thread. You can block me if it comforts you but I'm not trashing, just being highly concerned about modern and future education.

It's doubly concerning that you'll block someone simply for educating you on mistakes in understanding.

 

[CDWolfe]

No no, I just caught you believing in Jewish slavery in Egypt and lost all hope in future education. I also caught you calling Amun a sun god when he was actually a hidden god. Atum is the god of the setting sun, Khepri being the rising sun. He only became associated with the sun when blended with Ra later on in ancient Egyptian history after rising in importance. Pretty much they created a super god. On top of this I even remember you relating Jesus to Horus in another thread. You can block me if it comforts you but I'm not trashing, just being highly concerned about modern and future education.

It's doubly concerning that you'll block someone simply for educating you on mistakes in understanding.

That's all fine and well, but it wasn't me saying those things, it was ideas and talking points from various articles, authors, etc. I even stated I know very little about Egyptology in another thread. Furthermore, if someone has something to actually offer on the thread, I will listen. By the same token, if all they do is pop in, sling an insult or two and leave...that's when I ignore. Don't have time for immaturity.

 

[1137]

That's all fine and well, but it wasn't me saying those things, it was ideas and talking points from various articles, authors, etc. I even stated I know very little about Egyptology in another thread. Furthermore, if someone has something to actually offer on the thread, I will listen. By the same token, if all they do is pop in, sling an insult or two and leave...that's when I ignore. Don't have time for immaturity.

Again, no immaturity just concern. I suggest if one knows "very little" on a topic they do not spread theories who's foundations rest in those topics. It would be like me posting a theory on the sphinx being built in 10,000 BC and being insulted when someone says it's pseudoscientific. I don't know much about dating something like the sphinx and the supporting "evidence" is bogus.

 

[Infinitum]

There is no evidence for Jews having ever been enslaved in Egypt. Some cultural exchange has naturally occurred over the years, but Egypt was generally seen as a threat to the Jews, not as a friend to borrow from. From all I know Levite gave the right (or most widely accepted, if that suits the reader) interpretation of Amen. I usually read it loosely as "it is so" or "let it be so", depending on the context.

 

[Sleeppy]

There isn't evidence for quite a bit that occurred in Egypt. Because they destroyed, rebuilt, plundered and were plundered. Same with the Israelites. The only evidence, which most do not accept, is Moses.

 

[Sleeppy]

There isn't evidence for quite a bit that occurred in Egypt.

There is no complete history anywhere.

 

[danieldemol]

There is no evidence for Jews having ever been enslaved in Egypt. Some cultural exchange has naturally occurred over the years, but Egypt was generally seen as a threat to the Jews, not as a friend to borrow from. From all I know Levite gave the right (or most widely accepted, if that suits the reader) interpretation of Amen. I usually read it loosely as "it is so" or "let it be so", depending on the context.

Is there evidence for Jews having been somewhere else in the alleged time period? It may sound funny, but surely whether or not their is evidence of where the Jews were they surely must have been somewhere?

 

[ConciousSpecies]

There is no evidence for Jews having ever been enslaved in Egypt. Some cultural exchange has naturally occurred over the years, but Egypt was generally seen as a threat to the Jews, not as a friend to borrow from. From all I know Levite gave the right (or most widely accepted, if that suits the reader) interpretation of Amen. I usually read it loosely as "it is so" or "let it be so", depending on the context.

You are right...

The israelites are not suspected to have built the pyramids...the early pyramids of Khofu are attributed to the Hyksos who were NOT slaves

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

That explanation would take me forever lol.

So, instead, you pawn fringe speculation off as fact. I guess it was to be expected in a thread such as this. :yes:

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Do NOT accuse me until you read what I posted. I take it you in fact did not read the link I sent?

Of course I read it, including the rhetorical"

Most Egyptologists are inclined to think that at about 3,400 B.C. a large-scale invasion of Egypt took place the invading dynastic race which was to usher in the pharaohic civilization of Egypt called themselves the followers of Horus...'. Could this be the first Hyksos invasion?

To pretentiously promote rhetorical insinuation at fact is pathetic.