--- title: חָזַק — be firm · The Tanakh dictionary description: חָזַק (2388), a word of Biblical Hebrew, used 290 times: be firm. BDB 1906: vb. be Hiph. Pi. hence. With 2 verses in Hebrew, word for word and JPS 1917. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/w/2388.html) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [Tanakh](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/) / [ח](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/1495-2.md)‎ / חָזַק‎ # חָזַק «חָזַק» in the Tanakh dictionary: **be firm** — how often it is used, MACULA's glosses, its meanings in the printed dictionaries and why they were chosen, and 2 verses in layers. **Used:** 290 times · **Key:** 2388 · **BDB:** חָזַק ### Glosses be.strong (29); he.repaired (27); he.strengthened.himself (12) ### Meaning (OSHB) be firm [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1495/2388/#m1) ### Meaning (BDB 1906) vb. be Hiph. Pi. hence [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1495/2388/#m2) **The whole BDB entry:** vb. be or grow firm, strong, strengthen (NH id.; Aramaic ܚܙܰܩ, חֲזַק bind on or about, gird on, cf. Arabic حَزَقَ bind, squeeze)— Pf. ח׳ Gn 41:57 + 4 times; חָזָק֑ 2 Ch 26:15; sf. חֲזָקוֹ 2 Ch 28:20, etc.; Impf. יֶחֱזַק 2 Ch 28:7 (Baer) + 2 times; וַיֶּחֱזַק Gn 41:56 +; יֶחֶזְקוּ 2 S 10:11 + 2 times; יֶחְזְקוּ Is 28:22; Imv. חֲזַק Dt 12:23 +; חִזְקוּ Dt 31:6 +; Inf. cstr. לְחָזְקָה 2 K 12:13; sf. לְחָזְקָהּ Ez 30:21; Pt. חָזֵק Ex 19:19 2 S 3:1, etc.;— intrans. be or grow strong:— of physical strength of hands Ju 7:11 2 S 2:7; 16:21 Ez 22:14 Zc 8:9, 13 (on Ez 3:14 v. infr.); of arm, sq. inf. Ez 30:21; used of recovery from illness Is 39:1; sq. מִן compar. over-power 1 S 17:50 (c. בְּ instr.), 2 S 13:14. of people, army Dt 11:8 Jos 17:13 (JE), = Ju 1:28, Ezr 9:12; sq. מִן compar. be stronger than, too strong for, prevail against 2 S 10:11(×2) = 1 Ch 19:12(×2) 1 K 20:23, 25; id., sq. acc. 1 K 16:22, cf. of י׳ as prevailing over man Je 20:7 (‖ יָכֹל); sq. על 2 Ch 8:3; 27:5. of royal power וְדָוִד הֹלֵךְ וְחָזֵק 2 S 3:1 (opp. הֹלְכִים וְדַלִּים); cf. 2 Ch 26:15 (‖ חֶזְקָה v 16), Dn 11:5a. prevail over, upon, of word of king 2 S 24:4 (sq. אֶל־) = 1 Ch 21:4 (sq. עַל). of bonds Is 28:22. of sound of trumpet הוֹלֵךְ וְחָזֵק מְאֹד Ex 19:19 (E, cf. חָזָק v 16) it grew much louder and louder. be firm, fast:— lit. be caught fast, of Absalom’s head 2 S 18:9 (sq. בְּ). be firm, secure, of a kingdom 2 K 14:5 (+ בְּיָדוֹ) = 2 Ch 25:3 (+ עָלָיו). Oftener be firm = courageous, confident, especially Imv., usually ‖ אמץ (q.v.), Dt 31:6, 7, 23 Jos 1:6, 7, 9, 18; 10:25; 23:6 (all D), 2 S 10:12; 13:28 1 K 2:2 1 Ch 19:13 (‖ התחזק), 22:13; 28:10, 20 2 Ch 15:7; 19:11; 32:7 Ezr 10:4 ψ 27:14; 31:25 Is 35:4; 41:6 Hg 2:4(×3) Dn 10:19(×2); sq. לַמִּלְחָמָה 2 Ch 25:8. hold firmly to, devote oneself to, sq. בְּ 2 Ch 31:4. sq. Inf. be firm not to eat blood, i.e. firmly refrain from it Dt 12:23, cf. 1 Ch 28:7. press, be urgent, sq. עַל + Inf. Ex 12:33 (E); sq. עַל of hand of י׳ in prophetic ecstasy Ez 3:14 (𝔊 Co read חֲזָקָה, adj., v. חָזָק). in bad sense: grow stout, rigid, hard, with idea of perversity, of Pharaoh’s heart Ex 7:13, 22; 8:15 (all P), 9:35 (R); cf. חזקו עָלַי דבריכם Mal 3:13. be severe, grievous, of battle 2 K 3:26; of famine Gn 41:56, 57 (E), 47:20 (J; sq. על), 2 K 25:3 = Je 52:6. transit. only לֹא חֲזָקוֹ 2 Ch 28:20 strengthened him not, but text very dub. (‖ וַיָּצַר לוֹ). Pf. חִזַּק ψ 147:13 +, etc.; Impf. וַיְחַזֵּק Ex 9:12 + 10 times, etc.; Imv. חַזֵּק Ne 6:9 + 2 times; fs. חַזְּקִי Na 3:14; חַזֵּ֑קִי Is 54:2 etc.; Inf. cstr. חַזֵּק 2 K 12:9 + 12 times; Pt. מְחַזֵּק Ex 14:17; מְחַזְּקִים 2 K 12:9;— make strong (physically): sq. acc. pers. Ju 16:28; sq. על 3:12; sq. מָתְנַיִם Na 2:2 (‖ אַמֵּץ כֹּחַ; of personif. people). = restore to strength Dn 10:18, 19; to health Ez 34:4, 16; c. לְ give strength to 1 Ch 29:12; so, sq. זְרוֹעֹתָם, Ho 7:15 Ez 30:24 (and v 25 Co, v. Hiph.) sq. acc. rei Is 41:7 Je 10:4 (both c. בְּ instr.; of manufacture of idols); of strengthening tent-pegs, in metaph. Is 54:4, cf. 33:23; sq. bars of gates ψ 147:13; often of making strong, fortifying a town, etc. Na 3:14 2 Ch 11:11, 12; 26:9; 32:5; = repair (wall, obj. not expr.) Ne 3:19 v. Hiph.; c. acc. of temple 2 K 12:6, 7, 15; 22:6 2 Ch 24:5, 12; 29:3; 34:8, cf. v 10 (‖ לִבְדּוֹק); sq. לְבית י׳ 1 Ch 26:27; obj. breaches (acc.) 2 K 12:8, 9, 13; 22:5. of establishing kingdom 2 Ch 11:17. strengthen the hands (acc.) of any one, i.e. sustain, encourage (opp. רִפָּה) Ju 9:24 Je 23:14 Ez 13:22 Is 35:3 Jb 4:3 Ezr 6:22 Ne 2:18; 6:9 2 Ch 29:34; וַיְח׳ ידו בֵּאלהים 1 S 23:16; sq. בְּ Ezr 1:6 (+ בְּ instr.) make strong = bold, encourage, c. acc. Dt 1:38; 3:28 2 S 15:5 Is 41:7; c. acc. pers. + לַעֲבֹדַת בֵּית י׳ 2 Ch 35:2. make firm:— c. 2 acc. וְאַבְנֵֽטְךָ אֲחַזְּקֶנּוּ Is 22:21 and with thy sash (of office) will I make him firm, i.e. bind it firmly about him (‖ הלבישׁ). make firm or fixed, = definitely adopt דָּבָר רָע יח׳־לָמוֹ ψ 64:6. make rigid, hard, i.e. perverse, obstinate, harden (the heart of any one) Ex 4:21; 10:20, 27 (all E), 9:12; 11:10; 14:4, 8, 17 (all P), Jos 11:20 (D); v. also ח׳ פניהם מִסֶּלַע Je 5:3†. Pf. הֶחֱזִיק Ju 7:8 +; 3 fs. הֶחֱזִ֫יקָה Je 49:24 +; sf. הֶחֱזִקָ֑תְנִי Je 8:21; הֶחֱזַ֫קְתִּי Ne 5:16 + 3 times; וְהַחֲזַקְתִּ֫י Ez 30:25, etc.; Impf. יַחֲזִיק Jb 8:15 + 2 times; 1 s. וְאַחְזֵק Is 42:6; יַחֲזִיקוּ Je 6:23 + 2 times; יַחֲזִקוּ Dn 11:32, etc.; Imv. הַחֲזֵק 2 S 11:25 + 2 times, etc.; Inf. cstr. הַחֲזִיק 2 K 15:19 Is 64:6; sf. הֶחֱזִיקִי Je 31:32 (הַח׳ Cod. Petrop. v. RS JPh. xvi, 1888, 73); Pt. מַחֲזִיק Ex 9:2 + 9 times; sf. מַחֲזִקָהּ Dn 11:6; fs. מַחֲזֶקֶת Ne 4:11; pl. מַחֲזִיקִים Ne 4:10 + 5 times; cstr. מַחֲזִיקֵי Ez 27:9, 27;— make strong, strengthen Je 51:12. make firm, the kingdom 2 K 15:19 (+ בְּיָדוֹ). display strength (late) 2 Ch 26:8 (‖ וַיֵּלֶךְ שְׁמוֹ עַד וגו׳), Dn 11:32 (‖ וְעָשׂוּ). make severe, of battle 2 S 11:25. sq. יד = support Ez 16:49; sq. זְרוֹעוֹת 30:25 (subj. י׳; but Co reads Pi. as v 24)†. = repair, walls of Jerus., Ne 3:4(×3) + 31 times Ne 3; cf. (in gen.) pt. used substant. מחזיקי בדקך Ez 27:9, 27 of Tyre and her ships (‖ מַלָּחִים, etc.) prevail, abs. Dn 11:7; sq. עַל Jb 18:9; prevail upon to הח׳ בּוֹ לֶאֱכֹל 2 K 4:8. especially take or keep hold of, seize, grasp: take hold of, seize, catch, sq. בְּ Gn 19:4(J), 21:18(E), Ex 4:4 (J; ‖ אחז), Ju 7:20 1 S 15:27 2 S 1:11 1 K 1:50; 2:28 2 K 2:12; 4:27 Is 4:1 Zc 8:23(×2) Pr 7:13; 26:17, cf. also Ju 19:25, 29 2 Ch 28:15; with violence Dt 22:25; 25:11 1 S 17:35 (perhaps pf. consec. freq., v. Dr), 2 S 2:16; 13:11; sq. לְ 2 S 15:5; fig. take hold in order to lead one (subj. י׳) sq. בְּ Je 31:32, c. acc. Is 41:9, 13; cf. Is 51:18 (בְּ; ‖נֵהֵל); sq. acc. Na 3:14 take hold of the brick-mould, Je 6:23 = 50:42, Zc 14:13 (with violence), ψ 35:2 Ne 4:10, 11, seize the kingdom Dn 11:21; in metaph. Mi 4:9 (הֶחֱזִיקֵךְ חִיל), Je 6:24; 8:21; 49:24 (v. Gie), 50:43; of pious laying hold of י׳, sq. בְּ Is 64:6, cf. 27:5; 56:2, 4, 6; of other gods 1 K 9:9 = 2 Ch 7:22; laying hold of wisdom Pr 3:18, cf. 4:13 Jb 2:3, 9; 27:6 Je 8:5. have or keep hold of, sq. בְּ Ju 16:26 2 S 3:29 Je 50:33 Ne 4:15. hold up, sq. בְּ, fig. = sustain, support Lv 25:35; of י׳ holding his servants Is 42:6; 45:1, cf. Jb 8:20; v. also pt. used substantively Dn 11:1 (‖ מָעוֹז), v 6 (‖ מֵבִיא, יֹלֵד); of Ne. holding fast to (בְּ) his work Ne 5:16; cf. of wicked, holding to his house Jb 8:15; cleave or cling to (על) one’s brethren Ne 10:30. hence keep, retain, sq. בְּ Ex 9:2 (J), Ju 7:8; 19:4; so Ez 7:13 Sm Co (MT Hithp.); sq. anger (acc.) Mi 7:18. hence also hold, contain, sq. acc. 2 Ch 4:5. (especially Ch) Pf. הִתְחַזַּק 2 Ch 13:7 + 3 times, etc.; Impf. וַיִּתְחַזֵּק Gn 48:2 + 7 times; וַיִּתְחַזַּק 2 Ch 21:4; 32:5; יִתְחַזָּ֑קוּ Ez 7:13 (but Sm Co read Hiph.), etc.; Imv. הִתְחַזַּק 1 K 20:22; הִתְחַזְּקוּ 1 S 4:9; Inf. cstr. לְהִתְחַזֵּק 2 Ch 13:8; 16:9; Pt. מִתְחַזֵּק 2 S 3:6 Dn 10:21; pl. מִתְחַזְּקִים 1 Ch 11:10;— strengthen oneself 2 S 3:6 1 K 20:22 2 Ch 1:1; 12:13; 13:21; 21:4; 23:1; 25:11; 27:6; sq. עַל against 2 Ch 17:1; gain strength Ezr 7:28 Dn 10:19, cf. הִתְח׳ ביהוה 1 S 30:6; fig. = take courage 2 Ch 15:8. put forth strength, use one’s strength Gn 48:2 (i.e. he exerted himself, he sat up by a great effort), Nu 13:20 Ju 20:22 1 S 4:9 2 S 10:12 1 Ch 19:13 2 Ch 32:5. sq. לִפְנֵי withstand 2 Ch 13:7, 8. sq. עִם hold strongly with 1 Ch 11:10 Dn 10:21, cf. of י׳, להתח׳ עִם לְבָבָם שָׁלֵם אֵלָיו 2 Ch 16:9.—For יִתְחַזָּ֑קוּ Ez 7:13 read Hiph., v. Sm Co Da. Why these entries: BDB: headword, part of speech agrees, 239 of its verses cited, 0 words shared with the glosses, lists its Strong's number (6 candidates); OSHB: headword, part of speech agrees, 1 words shared with the BDB entry, 1 with the glosses (6 candidates) ### Trees and pragmatics [Every English meaning of «חָזַק» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1495/2388/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames. ### In the verses [Job 4:3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/JOB.4.3/) הִ֭נֵּה יִסַּ֣רְתָּ רַבִּ֑ים וְיָדַ֖יִם רָפ֣וֹת תְּחַזֵּֽק׃ *Word for word:* there! you.have.instructed many.\[people\] and hands slack you.strengthened *JPS 1917:* Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. [Isaiah 35:3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/ISA.35.3/) חַזְּק֖וּ יָדַ֣יִם רָפ֑וֹת וּבִרְכַּ֥יִם כֹּשְׁל֖וֹת אַמֵּֽצוּ׃ *Word for word:* strengthen hands slack and knees \[which\].stumble make.firm *JPS 1917:* Strengthen ye the weak hands, and make firm the tottering knees. - ← previous: [חֵזִיר](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/w/2387.md) - next →: [חָזָק](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/w/2389.md) - ↑ back to [ח](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/1495-2.md)