The Hebrew verb aman means to be firm, to be reliable, to support, or to be faithful. It is the root from which the liturgical affirmation Amen derives — a word meaning "so be it" or "truly." In various forms, aman carries the sense of confirming, trusting, believing, or being established.
Aman is theologically rich: it underlies the Hebrew concept of faith as trusting in someone utterly reliable. When Abraham "believed" God (Genesis 15:6), the text uses the Hiphil form of aman — he leaned his full weight on God's promise. The word also describes the nursing father (omen), who holds an infant securely — a picture of how God holds His people. Every time Scripture closes a prayer with "Amen," it echoes this deep root of steadfast reliability.