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我哥哥经常在短信的结尾写上“10-4”。几年前，电影里的飞行员常会用“通话结束”来结束他们的双向无线电通讯。

当我们以“阿们”结束祷告时，这仅仅是个结束语吗？不，古希伯来语Amen已经被翻译成各种不同语言，它已经成了一个被广泛采用的词。这个小小的希伯来词语内涵丰富——它意味着“笃定”，“真实”，或“确定”。就像说：“这是真的！”“对极了！”“就这样吧！”或“但愿如此！”

基督徒用“阿们”来肯定一些事情。在祷告的最后，我们宣告神必会垂听和回应我们的祷告。

耶稣对“阿们”的使用标志着这个词的另一个重要用法。在耶稣的教导中，祂经常以“阿们”开始，即“我实实在在地告诉你们……”祂以这种方式来肯定祂所教导的是真理。

所以，当我们在主祷文或其他祷告的最后说“阿们”时，我们是在确信神一定会垂听和回应我们的祷告。

“阿们”与其说是结束，不如说它是一种信心的表达，是确信神听见和回应我们的保证。

My brother often ends his text messages with "10-4." Years ago, airline pilots in movies would signal the end of their two-way radio messages by saying "Over and out."

When we end our prayers with "Amen," are we merely signing off? No, the ancient Hebrew word amen has been translated into so many different languages that it has become a universally used word. This little Hebrew word packs a punch—it means "firm,""true," or "sure." It's like saying, "It is true!""Right on!""Make it so!" or "May it be so!"

Christians use "Amen" to affirm something. At the end of our prayers we assert that God absolutely hears and answers our prayers.

Jesus' use of "Amen" signals another significant use of this word. In his teaching, Jesus often begins with the words "Amen, amen I say to you . . ." or, "Truly, truly I say to you . . ." In this way Jesus affirms that what he is saying is the truth.

So when we say "Amen" at the end of the Lord's Prayer—or any other prayer—we confess that God will certainly hear and answer our prayers.

Rather than being a signoff, "Amen" is a sendoff of trust and assurance that God hears and answers us.