The biblical concept of faith can be seen in its earliest form in the Old Testament where a variety of Hebrew terms provide a rich and complex definition. As a language of action, Hebrew primitive verbs are "root" verbs.

'Ᾱman

As a root verb, a word consisting of three consonants, this term conveys the sense of "reliability, stability" and "firmness." The meaning of the root verb can be modified by changing the vowels or by adding consonants before the root (prefixes), after the root (suffixes) or within the root (infixes).

The form of the root verb indicates: a) the person (first - I, second - you, third - he /she), b) gender (m / f), and c) number (singular / plural).

The stem of the root verb indicates: a) the voice (active, passive, reflexive) and b) the action (simple, intensive, causative).

The conjugation of the verb indicates whether the action was completed, whether it was volitional, whether it functions as a noun or, as a noun, intensifies a verb, or functions as a verbal adjective.

Of the several verbal stems used in Hebrew, two are of interest in the study of faith.

The hiphil stem of 'āman conveys the meaning "to confirm, be certain, sure" or "to be assured" (Gen 15:6; Ex 14:31; Num 14:11; Deut 1:32; 9:23; Ps 78:22; Isa 43:10; Jonah 3:5). When used in the Old Testament, the context indicates that faith has a basis in historical events; faith has an objective basis in fact. "Faith" is not blind belief or a leap into the unknown, but instead founded on a truth certain of a real God and the absolute reality of His words.

The niphal stem conveys the meaning "to be true, reliable or faithful" and can be applied to both God and men (i.e. God: Deut 7:9, Moses: Num 12:7, prophets: 1 Sam 3:20, servants: 1 Sam 22:14, messenger: Prov 25:13). When referring to beings, "faith" acquires a meaning of "to be entrusted with."

When referring to objects, the emphasis of 'āman is placed on the word of God for its "dependability" and its confirmation in subsequent action (i.e. 1 Sam 25:28; 2 Sam 7:16; 1 Kings 8:26; 1 Chron 17:23). This usage is based on God's promise of a Davidic dynasty and is referred to "an established house". The fulfillment of God's promise is not based on the quality of the members of the dynasty; instead, it is an unconditional covenant (see the article "Divine Covenants… the King").

Over time, a root verb may morphologically change over time and become a source for derivative words. Arising from the root verb ’āman, several derivative nouns provide a nuanced conceptual meaning to "faith."

'ōmen (faithfulness)

The noun is used to describe God's counsel (Isa 25:11).

'ēmūn (faithful, trusting)

When used of nations, it is a standard by which to measure of their righteousness and acceptability to God (Deut 32:20; Isa 26:2).

When used of human beings, it is a model that is contrasted to the bad (Prov 13:17) and the false (Prov 14:5).

'ĕmûnâ (firmness, fidelity, steadiness)

This term basically applies to God Himself (Deut 32:4) to express His total dependability. It is frequently listed among the attributes of God (1 Sam 26:23; Ps 36:5; Ps 40:10; Lam 3:23) and is used to describe His works (Ps 33:4) and His words (Ps 119:86; 143:1).

It is also used to refer to those whose lives God establishes and in whom He expects to see faithfulness from (Prov 12:22; 2 Chron 19:9). Such faithfulness or a life of faith is characteristic of those justified in God's sight (Hab 2:4). God's word of truth establishes man's way of truth or faithfulness (Ps 119:30).

The Believer is entrusted with the duty of being faithful personally and faithfully responsible to carry out his office (1 Chron 9:22; 2 Chron 31:15).

'ĕmet (firmness, truth)

This term carries underlying sense of certainty and dependability, and it is used directly or indirectly of God. It is applied to God as a characteristic of His nature (Gen 24:27; Ex 34:6; Ps 25:5; 31:5), and it is a term applied to God's words (Ps 119:142, 151, 160).

As a characteristic of God revealed to men, it becomes the means by which men know and serve God as their Savior (Josh 24:14; 1 Kings 2:4; Ps 26:3; Ps 86:11), and a characteristic to be found in those who have come to God (Ex 18:21; Neh 7:2; Ps 15:2).

Because it is an attribute of God which is manifest in man's salvation and life of service as God's child, the word is often coupled with another attribute of God related to our salvation: mercy or love (Gen 24:27; Ps 61:7; Prov 14:22).

Because these attributes of God's truth and mercy lead to God's peace toward sinful men, saved by God's grace, the word is also often coupled with peace (Isa 39:8; Jer 33:6).

Bāṭaḥ

Another Hebrew root verb figuring prominently in the concept of "faith," bāṭaḥ means "'to trust, rely upon" or "to put confidence in." With a qal or hiphil verbal stem, bāṭaḥ expresses the sense of well-being and security which results from having a certain trust in something or someone. It is the act of believing in something so strongly that a confidence is generated from that trust; for example, God is the true basis of security (2 Kings 18:30; Jer 39:18; Ps 62:8).

In its various contexts, the Old Testament introduces the concept that "faith" is a belief in historical and factual events and leads to the conclusion that all truth comes from God, and is truth because it is related to God. With this objective basis, the concept of "faith" includes a human response that entails the subjective nature of trust. Genuine faith recognizes the historical reality of God and the reliability of His words and engenders a subjective trust within human beings.

By the time Hebrew is translated into Greek, the Hebrew concept of "faith" expands in the New Testament when describing the relationship between God and human beings.

The Hebrew root 'āman is translated in the LXX (Greek Old Testament) uniformly with the Greek term "pisteuō", which means "faith" in English.

While the he Hebrew root "bāṭaḥ" is translated in the LXX with the Greek term "elpidzō," which means "to hope," it is also translated with the Greek term "pepoitha," which means "trust" or "rely upon" in English.