חָזַק (châzaq) — Courage
Hebrew word study: חָזַק (châzaq), Strong's H2388. to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortif— with KJV usage and where it appears on BibleCalcs.
Approximate — computer-generated, not a recording of historical speech.
to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer
KJV translation words: aid, amend, [idiom] calker, catch, cleave, confirm, be constant, constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage(-ous, -ly), encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, play the man, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered, repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengthen (self), be stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong(-er), be sure, take (hold), be urgent, behave self valiantly, withstand.
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About חָזַק (châzaq)
Chāzaq is a physical word at its root — "to fasten upon" or "to seize" — which is part of why it gets translated as both "be strong" and "be courageous" depending on context. In Joshua 1:9, God pairs it with a second word, ’āmats (to be alert, bold), giving the doubled command "be strong and of a good courage." It's not an emotion being requested so much as a posture: hold on firmly, don't let go.
Strong's definitions are drawn from the 1890 Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (public domain). Digitized dictionary data via the openscriptures/strongs project (CC BY-SA).
Frequently asked questions
What does châzaq (H2388) mean?
To fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer.
How is H2388 translated in the KJV?
The KJV translates H2388 as: aid, amend, [idiom] calker, catch, cleave, confirm, be constant, constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage(-ous, -ly), encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, play the man, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered, repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengthen (self), be stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong(-er), be sure, take (hold), be urgent, behave self valiantly, withstand..
Where does H2388 appear in the Bible?
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