Truth - As viewed from the Tanakh
By Ivan Labombarbe
Truth is the one English word which is most used when it
comes to religions. You hear
statements like. We have the truth and
they dont. I am seeking truth. Even some organization use truth in their
name. With all this focus on truth,
what does the Hebrew words mean that are translated as truth in the Tanakh.
There are 3 words in Hebrew, which are translated in English
as truth. When we think of the word truth
we think of a set of principles or facts that make what we believe as being
true. But is this really what the
Hebrew words mean. Today we will look
at each of these terms and see what their meanings are and whether it matches
our conceptions of the word we use Truth.
The First word is Emeth. (Thav-Mem-Aleph) (571, BDB pg. 54)
which is a noun. It is translated as
Firmness, Faithfulness, Truth. It is the contracted from the next word.
The Second word is Emunath (Thav-Nun-Mem-Aleph) or (Thav-Nun-Nun-Sofit-Mem-Aleph) (530, BDB pg.
53) which is also a noun. It is
translated as Firmness, Steadfastness, Fidelity. Which is from the next word.
The Third word is Amen
(Nun-Sofit-Mem-Aleph) (543, BDB pg. 53) that is an adverb. It is
translated as Verily, Truly.
In examining the first word
Emeth. We see the following
usages for this word in English.
Genesis 24:48
48 And I bowed my head, and prostrated myself before HaShem (Yehovah), and blessed HaShem (Yehovah) , the G-d (Elohim) of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way (Sure Way) to take my master's brother's daughter for his son.
Proverbs 11:18
18 The wicked earneth deceitful
wages; but he that soweth righteousness hath a sure reward.
Joshua 2:12
12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by HaShem (Yehovah), since I have dealt kindly with you, that ye also will deal kindly with my father's house--and give me a true (sure) token--
Jeremiah 2:21
21 Yet I had planted thee a noble vine,
wholly a right (sure, reliable) seed; how then art thou turned into the
degenerate plant of a strange vine unto Me?
Isaiah 39:8
8 Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah: 'Good is the word of HaShem (Yehovah) which thou hast spoken.' He said moreover: 'If but there shall be peace and truth (stability) in my days.'
2 Kings 20:19
19 Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah: 'Good is the word of HaShem (Yehovah) which thou hast spoken.' He said moreover: 'Is it not so, if peace and truth (stability) shall be in my days?'
Nehemiah 7:2
2 that I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the governor of the castle, charge over Jerusalem; for he was a faithful man, and feared G-d (Elohim) above many.
Exodus 18:21
21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear G-d (Elohim), men of truth (Faith or Faithful Men), hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
Walk faithfully, faithfulness
Psalm 25:5
5 Guide me in Thy truth (Faithfulness), and teach me; for Thou art the G-d (Elohim) of my salvation; for Thee do I wait all the day.
Psalm 26:3
3 For Thy mercy is before mine eyes; and I have
walked in Thy truth (Faithfulness).
Psalm 86:11
11 Teach me, O HaShem (Yehovah), Thy way, that I may walk in Thy truth (Faithfulness); make one my heart to fear Thy name.
Mercy and Faithfulness
Proverb 3:3
3 Let not kindness and truth (Faithfulness) forsake thee; bind them about thy neck, write them upon the table of thy heart;
Proverb 14:22
22 Shall they not go astray that
devise evil? But mercy and truth (faithfulness) shall be for them that
devise good.
Proverb 16:6
6 By mercy and truth (faithfulness)
iniquity is expiated; and by the fear of HaShem (Yehovah) men depart from evil.
Isaiah 38:18-19
18 For the nether-world cannot praise Thee, death cannot celebrate Thee; they that go down into the pit cannot hope for Thy truth (faithfulness).
19 The living, the living, he shall praise Thee, as I do this day; the father to the children shall make known Thy truth (faithfulness).
Isaiah 61:8
8 For I HaShem(Yehovah) love justice, I hate robbery with iniquity; and I will give them their recompense in truth (faithfulness), and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
2 Samuel 2:6
6 And now HaShem (Yehovah) show kindness and truth (faithfulness) unto you; and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.
Abundant in mercy and faithfulness
Exodus 34:6
6 And HaShem (Yehovah) passed by before him, and proclaimed: 'The HaShem(Yehovah), HaShem(Yehovah), G-d (Elohim), merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth (faithfulness);
Genesis 24:27 (24:12-26)
27 And he said: 'Blessed be HaShem (Yehovah), the G-d (Elohim) of my master Abraham, who hath not forsaken His mercy and His truth (faithfulness) toward my master; as for me, HaShem (Yehovah) hath led me in the way to the house of my master's brethren.'
Faithfulness of Yehovah endures
forever
Psalm 117:2
2 For His mercy is great toward us; and the truth (faithfulness) of HaShem (Yehovah) endureth for ever. Hallelujah.
He keeps it forever Psalm 146:6
6 Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is; who keepeth truth (faith) for ever;
It reaches unto the sky Psalm
108:5
5 For Thy mercy is great above the heavens, and Thy truth (faithfulness) reacheth unto the skies.
It is a shield and buckler Psalm
91:4
4 He will cover thee with His
pinions, and under His wings shalt thou take refuge; His truth (faithfulness)
is a shield and a buckler.
He is faithfulness Psalm 31:6
6 Into Thy hand I commit my
spirit; Thou hast redeemed me, O HaShem (Yehovah), Thou G-d (Elohim) of truth
(faithfulness).
Salvation Psalm 69:14
14 But as for me, let my prayer be unto Thee, O HaShem (Yehovah), in an acceptable time; O G-d (Elohim), in the abundance of Thy mercy, answer me with the truth (faithfulness) of Thy salvation.
a. as
spoken
Speaks the truth Psalm 15:2
2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh truth in his heart;
The thing is true I Kings 10:6
6 And she said to the king: 'It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom.
The thing is certainly True
Deuteronomy 13:15, 17:14
15 then shalt thou inquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in the midst of thee;
14 and it be told thee, and thou hear it, then shalt thou inquire diligently, and, behold, if it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel;
Whether truth is with you
Genesis 42:16
16 Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be bound, that your words may be proved, whether there be truth in you; or else, as Pharaoh liveth, surely ye are spies.'
Proverb 14:25
25 A true witness delivereth souls; but he that breatheth forth lies is all deceit.
Psalm 119:151, 160
151 Thou art nigh, O HaShem (Yehovah); and all Thy commandments are truth.
160 The beginning of Thy word is truth; and all Thy righteous ordinance endureth for ever.
Dan 8:12, 9:13
12 And the host was given over to it together with the continual burnt-offering through transgression; and it cast down truth to the ground, and it wrought, and prospered.
13 As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us; yet have we not entreated the favour of HaShem (Yehovah) our G-d (Elohim), that we might turn from our iniquities, and have discernment in Thy truth.
Psalm 132:11
11 HaShem (Yehovah) swore unto David in truth; He will not turn back from it: 'Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.
Yehovah is Elohim in truth, truly
Psalm 145:18
18 HaShem is nigh unto all them
that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.
Jeremiah 10:10
10 But HaShem(Yehovah) G-d (Elohim) is the true G-d (Elohim), He is the living G-d (Elohim), and the everlasting King; at His wrath the earth trembleth, and the nations are not able to abide His indignation.
Jeremiah 28:9
9 The prophet that prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that HaShem (Yehovah) hath truly sent him.'
From these verses and the usage of
the word emeth seems to more fit the meaning of faithful, faithfulness but can
also be truth.
Let us look at Emunath which is
translated as firmness, faithfulness, fidelity.
Exodus 17:12
12 But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
Isaiah 33:6
6 And the stability of thy times shall be a hoard of salvation--wisdom and knowledge, and the fear of HaShem (Yehovah) which is His treasurer
Proverb 28:20
20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings; but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be unpunished.
Jeremiah 5:1,3
1 Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that doeth justly, that seeketh truth; and I will pardon her.
3 O HaShem (Yehovah), are not Thine eyes upon truth? Thou hast stricken them, but they were not affected; Thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction; they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.
Jeremiah 7:28
8 Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.
Jeremiah 9:3(2)
2 And they bend their tongue, their bow of falsehood; and they are grown mighty in the land, but not for truth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and Me they know not, saith HaShem (Yehovah).
Psalm 33:4
4 For the word of HaShem is upright; and all His work is done in faithfulness.
Psalm 36:6
6 Thy lovingkindness, O HaShem, is in the heavens; Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the skies.
Psalm 37:3
3 Trust in HaShem, and do good; dwell in the land, and cherish faithfulness.
Psalm 89:50
50 Where are Thy former mercies, O
L-rd, which Thou didst swear unto David in Thy faithfulness?
The third word is Amen, which is
translated verily, truly.
Amen Deuteronomy 27: 15,16, 17,
18, 19, 20, 22, 24, 25, 26
15 Cursed be the man that maketh a graven or molten image, an abomination unto HaShem, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and setteth it up in secret. And all the people shall answer and say: Amen.
16 Cursed be he that dishonoureth his father or his mother. And all the people shall say: Amen.
17 Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. And all the people shall say: Amen.
18 Cursed be he that maketh the blind to go astray in the way. And all the people shall say: Amen.
19 Cursed be he that perverteth the justice due to the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say: Amen.
20 Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he hath uncovered his father's skirt. And all the people shall say: Amen.
21 Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say: Amen.
22 Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say: Amen.
23 Cursed be he that lieth with his mother-in-law. And all the people shall say: Amen.
24 Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour in secret. And all the people shall say: Amen.
25 Cursed be he that taketh a bribe to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say: Amen.
26 Cursed be he that confirmeth not the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say: Amen.
Truly Isaiah 65:16
16 So that he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself by the G-d of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the G-d of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from Mine eyes.
So be it Jeremiah 11:5
5 that I may establish the oath which I swore unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as at this day.' Then answered I, and said: 'Amen, O HaShem.'
FAITHFUL implies unswerving adherence to a
person or thing or to the oath or promise by which a tie was contracted <faithful
to his promise>. LOYAL implies a firm resistance to any
temptation to desert or betray STEADFAST implies a steady and unwavering
course in love, allegiance, or conviction <steadfast in their
support>. RESOLUTE implies firm determination to
adhere to a cause or purpose <a resolute ally>.
3 : in agreement
with fact : TRUTHFULLY
4 : with exactness of construction or operation
5 : in a proper or suitable manner