Hebrew word · H2391
חֵ֫זֶק
chizki
strength
'Strength, firmness, might'. It comes from the root ḥāzaq, which means 'to be firm, be strong, grasp, hold fast', as in 'Be strong and courageous' (Josh 1:6) and in the hardening (strengthening) of Pharaoh's heart. This exact noun occurs nowhere else in the Hebrew Bible.
Appears once in the Hebrew Old Testament. ·
What it means
strength
Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).
In depth
- Range of meaning
'Strength, firmness, might'. It comes from the root ḥāzaq, which means 'to be firm, be strong, grasp, hold fast', as in 'Be strong and courageous' (Josh 1:6) and in the hardening (strengthening) of Pharaoh's heart. This exact noun occurs nowhere else in the Hebrew Bible. Related nouns are ḥōzeq and ḥezqâ/ḥozqâ.
- Against the English
All major versions say 'my strength'. That is accurate. The Hebrew root also carries the idea of firmness and a secure grip, more than raw energy.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Found only here. The Septuagint has hē ischys mou, 'my strength'. The Vulgate has fortitudo mea, 'my fortitude'. The root ḥzq is common across Hebrew and other Semitic languages for strength and seizing hold.
Similar words
Where it appears
Psalms · 1
-
Psalm 18:1 חִזְקִֽי׃ strength my
For the choirmaster. Of David the servant of the LORD, who sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: I love You, O LORD, my strength.
Here: A noun found only here in the Hebrew Bible. It comes from the root 'be firm, be strong, take hold'. It calls God the king's own firmness and power, and it is the first of the string of titles that follows in verse 2 (rock, fortress, deliverer, shield, horn, stronghold).
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.