An in-depth look at the language of Scripture

BIBLE WORDS תמא TRUTH

Jon Kehrer

The Hebrew word ’emet, or “truth,” is used all throughout the Old Testament to refer to something that is reliable. Whether a sign (Joshua 2:12) or a seed (Jeremiah 2:21), something ’emet can be trusted. When it is used of people, it suggests integrity or acting with proper motives (Judges 9:16). This is the service God desires (Joshua 24:14; 1 Samuel 12:24).

However, ’emet is also one of God’s attributes. In fact, the majority of the word’s occurrences in the Old Testament are about God. He is reliable in all things (Psalm 19:9, 91:4).

This word is used frequently with hesed, or “steadfast love,” to refer to keeping a covenant commitment with someone. When God acts with hesed and ’emet, he promises to fulfill every commitment he has made. The characteristics are how God describes himself (Exodus 34:6).

Psalm 89 is the epicenter of the Old Testament’s conversation about God’s steadfast love and truth. It is bursting with words related to both hesed and ’emet. The psalmist declares that in the world and in the Davidic kingdom, God’s truth is on display!

In Psalm 89:38, things take a dramatic turn. Because God has allowed the exile to occur, the psalmist feels betrayed and calls into question God’s covenant commitment. However, he refuses to give up on God’s promises. Instead, he pleads with God to act (Psalm 89:49) and ends the Psalm confidently with a word connected to ’emet: amen!

Praise God that we can see the rest of the story. In the fullness of time (Ephesians 1:10), God sent Jesus to demonstrate God’s ’emet (Romans 15:8), hard proof that God has not abandoned his word. A resurrected Messiah demonstrates once and for all: God’s promises are still true. Jon Kehrer teaches Hebrew, Old Testament, and hermeneutics at OCC.