emuna · faithfulness, steadiness

What it means

emuna (אֱמוּנָה) is a Hebrew word of the Bible that means “faithfulness, steadiness”.

Steadiness; from there faithfulness, being trustworthy.

How to say it

Approximate pronunciation. Vowels sound as in Spanish (a as in father, e as in bed, i as in machine, o as in note, u as in rule); the syllable in bold is stressed. The voice is your device's.

Its senses in the Bible

1. Being dependable, always keeping one's word, like YHWH.
2. Something firm and secure that can be trusted; also a position of trust.

From Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906)

Word study

Firmness, faithfulness: the quality of one who is steady and trustworthy because he keeps his word. It comes from the root אָמַן, ‘be firm’ (H539), from which also comes אֱמֶת, ‘truth’ (H571).

• The faithfulness of YHWH Deuteronomy 32:4Lamentations 3:23Psalms 36:5
• “The righteous by his faithfulness will live” Habakkuk 2:4
• Acting with faithfulness in a charge 2 Kings 12:152 Chronicles 31:12
• The faithfulness that is sought and not found Jeremiah 5:1Jeremiah 7:28Proverbs 12:22
• Steady hands; an office of trust Exodus 17:121 Chronicles 9:22

Historical and cultural background

While Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed; Aaron and Hur held them up, “so his hands were steady until the setting of the sun” (Exodus 17:12).

How we translate it

“Faithfulness” 44 times, distinct from אֱמֶת, ‘truth’. In Habakkuk 2:4 a note says that Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38 quote it as ‘by faith’, with a Greek word that covers both faith and faithfulness. There are a few explained deviations: “office of trust” in 1 Chronicles 9:22, 26, 31; “steady”, of Moses’ hands (Exodus 17:12); and “steadiness” in Isaiah 33:6.

How it is translated

The words this translation uses for it, most frequent first.

• faithfulness ×44
• office of trust ×3
• steadiness ×1
• steady ×1

Where it appears

• Exodus×1
• Deuteronomy×1
• 1 Samuel×1
• 2 Kings×2
• 1 Chronicles×3
• 2 Chronicles×5
• Psalms×22
• Proverbs×3
• Isaiah×4
• Jeremiah×4
• Lamentations×1
• Hosea×1
• Habakkuk×1

• Exodus 17:12

  But Moses’ hands grew heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side and one on the other side; so his hands were steady until the setting of the sun.

• Deuteronomy 32:4

  The Rock: his work is blameless, for all his ways are justice. An El of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is he.

• 1 Samuel 26:23

  YHWH will repay each man his righteousness and his faithfulness; for YHWH gave you into my hand today, but I was not willing to stretch out my hand against the anointed of YHWH.

• 2 Kings 12:15

  They did not ask an accounting from the men into whose hand they gave the silver to give to those doing the work, for they were acting with faithfulness.

• 2 Kings 22:7

  But no account shall be asked of them for the silver that is given into their hand, for they act with faithfulness.”

• 1 Chronicles 9:22

  All of them who were chosen as gatekeepers at the thresholds were two hundred and twelve. They were enrolled in the genealogy in their villages; David and Samuel the seer established them in their office of trust.

• 1 Chronicles 9:26

  for in an office of trust were they, the four mighty ones of the gatekeepers, who were the Levites; and they were over the chambers and over the treasuries of the house of Elohim.

• 1 Chronicles 9:31

  And Mattithiah, of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the office of trust over the making of what was baked on the griddle.

• 2 Chronicles 19:9

  He commanded them, saying, “Thus you shall do: in the fear of YHWH, with faithfulness and with a whole heart.

• 2 Chronicles 31:12

  They brought in the contribution and the tithe and the holy things with faithfulness. Over them as leader was Conaniah the Levite, and Shimei his brother was second.

• 2 Chronicles 31:15

  Beside him were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, with faithfulness to give to their brothers by divisions, to great and small alike,

• 2 Chronicles 31:18

  and they were enrolled in the genealogy with all their little ones, their wives, their sons and their daughters, for the whole assembly; for in their faithfulness they sanctified themselves in holiness.

• 2 Chronicles 34:12

  The men were working with faithfulness in the work. Over them were appointed Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites of the sons of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to direct; and the Levites, all who understood instruments of song,

• Psalms 33:4

  For upright is the word of YHWH, and all his work is in faithfulness.

• Psalms 36:5

  YHWH, in the heavens is your loyal love, your faithfulness to the clouds.

• Psalms 37:3

  Trust in YHWH and do good; dwell in the land and feed on faithfulness.

• Psalms 40:10

  Your righteousness I have not covered within my heart; your faithfulness and your salvation I have spoken; I have not hidden your loyal love and your truth from the great assembly.

• Psalms 88:11

  Will your loyal love be recounted in the grave, your faithfulness in Abaddon?

• Psalms 89:1

  A maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite. The loyal loves of YHWH forever I will sing; from generation to generation I will make known your faithfulness with my mouth.

• Psalms 89:2

  For I said, “Forever loyal love will be built up; in the very heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”

• Psalms 89:5

  And the heavens will give thanks for your wonder, YHWH, also for your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones.

• Psalms 89:8

  YHWH Elohim Tsevaot, who is like you, strong Yah? And your faithfulness surrounds you.

• Psalms 89:24

  And my faithfulness and my loyal love will be with him, and in my name his horn will be exalted.

• Psalms 89:33

  But my loyal love I will not withdraw from him, nor be false to my faithfulness.

• Psalms 89:49

  Where are your former loyal loves, Adonai, which you swore to David by your faithfulness?

• Psalms 92:2

  to declare in the morning your loyal love, and your faithfulness in the nights,

• Psalms 96:13

  before YHWH, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth; he will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his faithfulness.

• Psalms 98:3

  He has remembered his loyal love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our Elohim.

• Psalms 100:5

  For YHWH is good; forever is his loyal love, and through generation after generation his faithfulness.

• Psalms 119:30

  The way of faithfulness I have chosen; your rules I have set before me.

• Psalms 119:75

  I know, YHWH, that your rules are righteousness, and in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

• Psalms 119:86

  All your commandments are faithfulness; with lies they pursue me; help me!

• Psalms 119:90

  From generation to generation is your faithfulness; you established the earth, and it stands.

• Psalms 119:138

  You have commanded your testimonies in righteousness and in great faithfulness.

• Psalms 143:1

  A psalm of David. YHWH, hear my prayer; listen to my supplications; in your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness.

• Proverbs 12:17

  Whoever utters faithfulness declares righteousness, but a witness of lies, deceit.

• Proverbs 12:22

  An abomination to YHWH are lips of falsehood, but those who practice faithfulness are his pleasure.

• Proverbs 28:20

  A man of faithfulness is rich in blessings, but whoever hurries to get rich will not go unpunished.

• Isaiah 11:5

  And righteousness will be the belt of his loins, and faithfulness the belt of his hips.

• Isaiah 25:1

  YHWH, you are my Elohim; I will exalt you, I will give thanks to your name, for you have done a wonder, plans from long ago, steadfast faithfulness.

And 9 more times.