הֶאֱמִין
He'emin
To believe, to trust, to have faith
He'emin (הֶאֱמִין) is a Hebrew word meaning “to believe, to trust, to have faith,” pronounced “heh-eh-MEEN.” Derived from the root א-מ-ן, he'emin appears 51 times in the Hebrew Bible (Strong's H539).
| Hebrew | הֶאֱמִין |
|---|---|
| Transliteration | He'emin |
| Pronunciation | heh-eh-MEEN |
| Meaning | To believe, to trust, to have faith |
| Root Letters | א-מ-ן |
| Occurrences in Hebrew Bible | 51× |
| Key Verse | Genesis 15:6 |
| Strong's Number | H539 |
| Category | Actions & Verbs |
Genesis 15:6 may be the most theologically important verse in the entire Bible: 'Abraham he'emin (believed) the LORD, and He counted it to him as tzedakah (righteousness).' Paul built the entire doctrine of justification by faith on this single verse (Romans 4:3, Galatians 3:6). But what did Abraham actually do? The Hebrew word he'emin (הֶאֱמִין) comes from the same root as emunah (faithfulness) and Amen — the root א-מ-ן, meaning firmness and reliability. When Abraham he'emin, he did not simply agree intellectually with a proposition. He placed his full weight on God's promise the way you place your full weight on a chair. He'emin is the causative form: he 'made firm' his stance on God's word. This was not a one-time emotional decision but a settled, determined trust that God would do what He said — even when the evidence screamed otherwise. Abraham was old, Sarah was barren, and God promised offspring as numerous as the stars. He'emin means Abraham leaned into that promise with the totality of his being. Understanding he'emin transforms 'believe' from a passive mental state into an active, costly, all-in commitment to the God who speaks.
Key Bible Verse: Genesis 15:6
“And he believed (he'emin) the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.”
What Is the Root of He'emin in Hebrew?
He'emin is the Hiphil (causative) form of the root א-מ-ן (aleph-mem-nun), meaning 'to be firm, reliable.' The causative form means 'to make firm' — to believe is to make your stance firm on God's word. The same root gives us Amen, emunah (faith), and emet (truth).
What Does He'emin Mean in the Bible?
He'emin appears approximately 51 times in the Hebrew Bible. Key instances include Abraham's belief (Genesis 15:6), Israel's belief after the Red Sea crossing (Exodus 14:31), the people's failure to believe at Kadesh-Barnea (Numbers 14:11), and Habakkuk's 'the righteous shall live by his emunah' (Habakkuk 2:4).
How Is He'emin Used in Modern Hebrew?
The word 'Amen' (from the same root) is used in virtually every language on earth. In Jewish liturgy, responding 'Amen' to a blessing is considered as significant as saying the blessing itself. The rabbis taught, 'Greater is the one who answers Amen than the one who recites the blessing.'
How to Use He'emin in Prayer & Worship
Practice he'emin — not just agreeing with God but placing your full weight on His promises. When doubt presses in, choose to 'make firm' your trust. Say 'Amen' to God's word over your life — and mean it.
Frequently Asked Questions About He'emin
How do you say “To believe” in Hebrew?
“To believe” in Hebrew is He'emin (הֶאֱמִין), pronounced “heh-eh-MEEN.” He'emin is the Hiphil (causative) form of the root א-מ-ן (aleph-mem-nun), meaning 'to be firm, reliable.' The causative form means 'to make firm' — to believe is to make your stance firm on God's word. The same root gives us Amen, emunah (faith), and emet (truth).
What does He'emin mean in the Bible?
He'emin (הֶאֱמִין) means “To believe, to trust, to have faith” in Biblical Hebrew. He'emin appears approximately 51 times in the Hebrew Bible. Key instances include Abraham's belief (Genesis 15:6), Israel's belief after the Red Sea crossing (Exodus 14:31), the people's failure to believe at Kadesh-Barnea (Numbers 14:11), and Habakkuk's 'the righteous shall live by his emunah' (Habakkuk 2:4).
How do you pronounce He'emin?
He'emin is pronounced “heh-eh-MEEN.” The word comes from the Hebrew root א-מ-ן.
How is Hebrew 'believe' different from English 'believe'?
English 'believe' often implies intellectual agreement — 'I believe the earth is round.' Hebrew he'emin means to place your full weight on something, to commit your life to it. When Abraham he'emin, he staked his entire future on God's promise. Biblical belief is not mental assent but embodied trust — it changes how you live.
Why was Abraham's belief counted as righteousness?
Genesis 15:6 says Abraham's he'emin was 'counted to him as tzedakah.' God credited Abraham with righteousness not because of works but because of trust. This verse becomes the foundation for Paul's teaching on justification by faith (Romans 4). Abraham's response to God's impossible promise — firm, unwavering trust — is the model for how all people are made right with God.
What does Amen mean and how does it connect to belief?
Amen (אָמֵן) shares the root א-מ-ן with he'emin. When you say 'Amen,' you are saying 'This is firm, reliable, and trustworthy — I place my weight on it.' Every Amen is an act of belief. It connects the prayer just spoken to the firmness of God's character. Saying Amen is the verbal expression of he'emin.
Sources & Further Study
- Blue Letter Bible — H539: He'emin
- Bible Gateway — Genesis 15:6 (ESV)
- Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB) — entry for א-מ-ן
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