This word is familiar to all Christians since it is used at the end of prayers and hymns. It is defined in the OED as “Be it so, really.” Most authorities trace its origin to early Hebrew.

Helena P. BLAVATSKY disagrees that it is derived from Hebrew. She states:

“Aum is the original of Amen. Now, Amen is not a Hebrew term, but like the word Hallelujah, was borrowed by the Jews and Greeks from the Chaldees. The latter word is often found repeated in certain magical inscriptions upon cups and urns among the Babylonian and Ninivean relics. Amen does not mean ‘so be it’ or ‘verily,’ but signified in hoary antiquity almost the same as Aum. The Jewish Tannaim (Initiates) used it for the same reason as the Aryan Adepts use Aum, and with a like success, the numerical value of AMeN in Hebrew letters being 91, the same as the full value of YHVH, 26 and ADoNaY, 65, or 91. Both words mean the affirmation of the being, or existence of the sexless ‘Lord’ within us” (CW XII:534).

P.S.H.

© Copyright by the Theosophical Publishing House, Manila