Words · Hebrew Words · Lesson 2, word 2 of 5
אֱמוּנָהemunah
Firmness, fidelity, steadfastness.
Why this word is here. The word behind 'the righteous shall live by his faith' (Habakkuk 2:4), quoted three times in the New Testament; Greek pistis usually translates it.
What it means
The lexicon gives a tight range: firmness, fidelity, steadfastness, steadiness. Emunah is the quality of being firm and so trustworthy. Said of God, it is his faithfulness; said of people, it is the steadfast trustworthiness that faith in God produces, and translations often render it 'faith'.
Habakkuk 2:4 is the crux. The Hebrew reads most naturally 'the righteous one will live by his faithfulness (emunah)'. Paul, quoting the Greek version, preaches 'the righteous will live by faith'. The two are not enemies: in Hebrew thought, trusting faithfulness and faithful trusting are one posture.
Where you meet it
Look at the proud one; his soul is not upright — but the righteous will live by faith —
Habakkuk 2:4 (BSB)
Anchor verse 'The righteous will live by his faith (emunah).' Written for a prophet told to wait while Babylon rises; living by emunah means holding firm when the evidence is against you.
Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
Genesis 15:6 (BSB)
The verb of the same root: 'Abram believed (he'emin) the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.' Paul builds Romans 4 on this verse.
He said: “I will hide My face from them; I will see what will be their end. For they are a perverse generation— children of unfaithfulness.”
Deuteronomy 32:20 (BSB)
Moses' song calls Israel 'children of unfaithfulness' (Deuteronomy 32:20): a generation with no emunah in it. The word names what covenant people are meant to have.
Why it matters
Emunah explains why 'faith' in the Bible is never mere opinion about God. Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38 all quote Habakkuk 2:4, and the Hebrew underneath keeps the New Testament's faith muscular: trust that stands firm and proves itself over time.
Watch out
Where lexicons and translations differ, say so: this is one. Some read Habakkuk 2:4 as 'by his faith', others 'by his faithfulness', and the Greek version Paul quotes supports 'faith'. Preachers who announce that the Hebrew 'really only means faithfulness, not faith' overstate; the root family (believe, faithfulness, amen) holds trust and trustworthiness together, and the honest entry keeps both.
In this lesson
- emet (אֱמֶת): Truth that is firm, reliable and faithful.
- teshuvah (from the verb shuv) (תְּשׁוּבָה): Return, turning back to God (the verb shuv carries this).
- kavod (כָּבוֹד): Glory, honour and splendour, God's visible majesty.
- berakhah (בְּרָכָה): Blessing: a gift of good, spoken or given.
Sources
- Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906)
- Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible / STEP Hebrew data
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