גְּבוּרָה

From the study of Proverbs 8:14

Range of meaning

Might, strength, power, often in warfare. It is related to gibbôr, 'warrior, hero.' It can also mean God's mighty acts (Ps 106:2; 145:4) and a king's power to rule (1 Kgs 15:23, 'all his might').

Against the English

'Strength' (BSB, KJV) and 'power' (WEB) are accurate. But a modern reader may hear 'strength' as inner or emotional resilience, the 'give me strength' of devotional use. Here it means the power to act and enforce, the kind of power that wins battles and keeps a throne secure.

How it drifted

In devotional English, 'strength' has come to mean mostly personal endurance and coping.

Used elsewhere in the period

2 Kgs 18:20 / Isa 36:5: 'counsel and might for war.' Isa 11:2: 'a spirit of counsel and might (gevûrāh).' Job 12:13: 'With him are wisdom and might.' Eccl 9:16 says 'wisdom is better than might,' which contrasts the two. Proverbs elsewhere folds them together: 'a wise man is in strength' (24:5), and the wise man takes the city of the mighty (21:22). The Septuagint here translates it ischys ('strength').

From the study of Isaiah 11:2

Range of meaning

Strength, might, power, mighty deeds. It is closely tied to gibbor, the warrior or champion. It is used of military power (Isa 3:25; 28:6, 'strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate') and of God's mighty acts (Ps 145:4).

Against the English

'Might' (KJV, WEB) keeps the sense of power. 'Strength' (BSB) is accurate but vaguer and can be heard as inner resilience. Latin fortitudo, which became 'fortitude', moved it toward a moral virtue.

How it drifted

Through the Latin 'fortitude' and the later lists of spiritual gifts, the word came to mean courage under trial. In Isaiah it means a ruler's capacity to defend and act.

Used elsewhere in the period

It is paired with ʿetsah in Isa 36:5. 2 Kings 18:20 and Ps 20:6 use it of saving power. In the Dead Sea Scrolls, the blessing for the 'Prince of the Congregation' (1QSb V 25) asks for 'a spirit of counsel and everlasting might, a spirit of knowledge and the fear of God', which is this verse applied to the expected Davidic leader.

From the study of 1 Chronicles 29:11

Range of meaning

Might, strength, valor, and (in the plural) mighty deeds. It comes from the same root as gibbor, 'warrior, hero.' It is used of human warriors' prowess (Judg 8:21; 1 Kgs 15:23 'all his gevurah'), and of God's power shown in acts: 'they will speak of your gevurah' (Ps 145:11).

Against the English

'Power' (BSB, KJV, ESV, NIV) is accurate but more abstract. 'Might' (YLT) keeps more of the warrior sense.

Used elsewhere in the period

Judg 8:21; Ps 145:4, 11–12; Isa 11:2 ('spirit of counsel and gevurah'). In Chronicles the 'acts of gevurah' of kings are a recurring summary formula (e.g., 2 Chr 20:34? no; compare 1 Kgs 15:23 for the source formula). The pair 'greatness ... might' recurs in v. 12.