Hebrew word · H5810

עָזַז

vata'oz

be strong

To be strong, prevail, show oneself strong, defy. Related to ʿōz, 'strength, might'. Some interpreters read the form here from ʿwz, 'to take refuge', which gives 'he took refuge in…'.

Appears 11 times in 11 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) to be strong

1a) (Qal) to be strong, prevail

1b) (Hiphil) to make firm, strengthen

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

From the study of Psalm 52:7

Range of meaning

To be strong, prevail, show oneself strong, defy. Related to ʿōz, 'strength, might'. Some interpreters read the form here from ʿwz, 'to take refuge', which gives 'he took refuge in…'.

Against the English

BSB 'strengthened himself', KJV 'strengthened himself', NASB 'was strong', NIV 'grew strong'. ESV takes the refuge sense: 'sought refuge in his own destruction', which keeps the wordplay with 'refuge' but rests on a disputed derivation.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ps 9:19 ('let not man prevail', yāʿōz ʾĕnôsh); Prov 8:28; Judg 3:10; 6:2 (a hand 'prevailing').

From the study of Psalm 9:19

Range of meaning

To be strong, prove strong, prevail, or behave with bold, defiant strength. Related words: 'oz (strength, might) and 'az (fierce, strong, insolent). The verb can carry a note of brazenness (Proverbs 7:13; 21:29, a hardened, bold face).

Against the English

"Prevail" (BSB, KJV, ESV, WEB) captures winning out. "Triumph" (NIV) is close. NLT's "defy you" picks up the note of defiance but adds "you," which the Hebrew does not have. YLT's "be strong" is the most literal.

Used elsewhere in the period

Judges 3:10; 6:2 ("the hand of Midian prevailed"); Psalm 52:7 (the man who "grew strong in his destruction"); Psalm 89:13 (God's arm is strong). Septuagint: mē krataiousthō anthrōpos ("let not man grow mighty").

From the study of Daniel 11:12

Range of meaning

Be strong, prevail, stand firm, gain the upper hand. Related to 'oz, 'strength' or 'stronghold'.

Against the English

'Prevail' (WEB, ESV, NASB) and 'triumph' (BSB) can sound as if he loses the battle, which he does not. KJV's 'he shall not be strengthened [by it]' and NIV/NLT, which say his success does not last, show more clearly that the battle is won and the lasting gain is missing.

Used elsewhere in the period

Judg 3:10 and 6:2 ('the hand of X prevailed over Y'); Ps 9:20 ('let not man prevail'); Eccl 7:19. Theodotion translates it 'he will not grow strong' (κατισχύσει).

Where it appears

Judges · 2

  1. Judges 3:10 וַתָּ֣עָז and it prevailed

    The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge and went out to war. And the LORD delivered Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram into the hand of Othniel, who prevailed against him.

    Here: The verb is feminine to agree with 'hand'. Othniel's hand 'grew strong over' the king, meaning it overpowered him. The phrasing is the same as the one used elsewhere for an oppressor's hand prevailing over Israel.

  2. Judges 6:2 וַתָּ֥עָז and it prevailed

    and the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of the Midianites, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds.

Psalms · 4

  1. Psalm 9:19 יָעֹ֣ז it prevail

    Rise up, O LORD, do not let man prevail; let the nations be judged in Your presence.

    Here: To be or act strong, to get the upper hand, often with a sense of brazen, defiant strength. The plea is that mere humans should not win out and swagger in their power.

  2. Psalm 52:7 יָ֝עֹ֗ז he was strong

    “Look at the man who did not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his wealth and strengthened himself by destruction.”

    Here: 'He grew strong / made himself strong / held his ground.' It echoes māʿûzzô: he would not make God his ma'oz, so he tried to be 'oz, strong, on his own terms.

  3. Psalm 68:28 עוּזָּ֥ה be strong !

    Summon Your power, O God; show Your strength, O God, which You have exerted on our behalf.

    Here: A command with an added emphatic ending: 'Be strong! Show yourself mighty!' It comes from the same root as the word before it, so the sounds echo: ʿuzzekā ʿûzzāh, roughly 'your-might, be-mighty.'

  4. Psalm 89:13 תָּעֹ֥ז it is strong

    Mighty is Your arm; strong is Your hand. Your right hand is exalted.

    Here: "It is strong." The verb is used of strength that wins out over opposition. Its form describes ongoing, habitual strength: this hand keeps on prevailing.

Proverbs · 3

  1. Proverbs 7:13 הֵעֵ֥זָה she has made firm

    She seizes him and kisses him; she brazenly says to him:

  2. Proverbs 8:28 בַּ֝עֲז֗וֹז when became strong

    when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,

  3. Proverbs 21:29 הֵעֵ֬ז he makes strong

    A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure.

Ecclesiastes · 1

  1. Ecclesiastes 7:19 תָּעֹ֣ז it gives strength

    Wisdom makes the wise man stronger than ten rulers in a city.

    Here: 'Is strong / proves strong.' The form states a general truth: this is what wisdom keeps doing. With the next word ('for the wise') it means wisdom is a source of strength on the wise person's behalf. The root carries ideas of firmness and defense, like a stronghold.

Daniel · 1

  1. Daniel 11:12 יָעֽוֹז׃ he will prevail

    When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be proud in heart and will cast down tens of thousands, but he will not triumph.

    Here: 'He will not be/become strong.' Winning the battle does not become lasting strength or control. The victory produces no lasting advantage.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.