What does אָמַץ (ʾāmaṣ) mean in the Bible?
This Hebrew verb concerns strength, firmness, or determination. Context decides whether that firmness is commended.
Hebrew · H553
אָמַץ
To be alert , physically (on foot) or mentally (in courage)
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אָמַץH553
Pronunciationʾāmaṣ
What does אָמַץ (ʾāmaṣ) mean in the Bible?
This Hebrew verb concerns strength, firmness, or determination. Context decides whether that firmness is commended.
Reader summary
Full entry for אָמַץ (H553) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H553?
The BSB source-word alignment has 41 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and courageous (12), in haste (2), too mighty (2), You have raised up (2), and hardened (1).
Where does אָמַץ (ʾāmaṣ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 25:23. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Chronicles (7), Psalms (7), Deuteronomy (6), Joshua (5).
What This Word Actually Means
This Hebrew verb concerns strength, firmness, or determination. Context decides whether that firmness is commended. Joshua is told to be strong in carrying out his commission, Isaiah calls for weak hands to be strengthened, and Deuteronomy forbids hardening the heart against a poor neighbor. Firmness directed toward obedient courage differs from firmness that shuts out another person's need.
Deuteronomy 15:7 sets a hard heart beside a closed hand, then commands generous help. Isaiah 35:3-4 addresses weakness and fear with a call to strengthen and with the promise of God's saving action. Psalm 27:14 joins courage to waiting for the Lord in a prayer that has named danger and false testimony. These passages do not make fear or bodily weakness proof of moral failure. They direct the hearer toward a particular response and a particular ground of hope, rather than requiring an invulnerable appearance.
source_lexiconPassage contextPastoral application
How the Bible Uses It
The selected uses distinguish prohibited hardness toward the poor, courage within Joshua's commission, strengthening the weak, hopeful waiting, and Ruth's determined choice. Strength needs a direction and cannot be judged by intensity alone.
- Deut.15.7
If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the Lord your God is giving you, then you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother.
The prohibition against a hard heart is paired with a closed hand toward a poor brother. The following open-handed instruction identifies the practical response that firmness must not prevent.
- Josh.1.7
Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper wherever you go.
Strength and courage are joined to careful obedience to the Law within Joshua's particular commission. The passage cannot be transferred into permission for a modern group to seize what it desires.
- Isa.35.3
Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!
Weak hands and unsteady knees are to be strengthened, followed by words to the fearful about God's coming salvation. The appeal addresses weakness with support and hope, not contempt.
- Ps.27.14
Wait patiently for the Lord; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the Lord!
The closing summons joins courage with waiting for the Lord. Earlier petitions about enemies and false witnesses keep that courage situated within real vulnerability.
- Ruth.1.18
When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to persuade her.
Naomi recognizes Ruth's determination to accompany her and stops persuading her otherwise. The narrative describes this particular resolve without making stubbornness in every circumstance a virtue.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itand courageous12×Deuteronomy 31:6, Deuteronomy 31:7, Deuteronomy 31:23, Joshua 1:6
in haste2×1 Kings 12:18, 2 Chronicles 10:18
too mighty2×2 Samuel 22:18, Psalms 18:17
You have raised up2×Psalms 80:15, Psalms 80:17
and hardened1×2 Chronicles 36:13
and steady1×Isaiah 35:3
and strengthen him1×Deuteronomy 3:28
and supported1×2 Chronicles 11:17
and they reinforced it1×2 Chronicles 24:13
are strong1×Proverbs 31:17
But I would encourage you1×Job 16:5
courageous1×Joshua 1:7
enhances1×Proverbs 24:5
He lets it grow strong1×Isaiah 44:14
I will strengthen you1×Isaiah 41:10
obstinate1×Deuteronomy 2:30
prevail1×Amos 2:14
prevailed1×2 Chronicles 13:18
Summon1×Nahum 2:1
they are too strong for me1×Psalms 142:6
to harden1×Deuteronomy 15:7
to resist1×2 Chronicles 13:7
was determined1×Ruth 1:18
when He established1×Proverbs 8:28
will be stronger1×Genesis 25:23
will strengthen him1×Psalms 89:21
you have braced1×Job 4:4
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 25:23יֶֽאֱמָ֔ץtowill be strongerVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 2:30וְאִמֵּץ֙toobstinateConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 3:28וְאַמְּצֵ֑הוּtoand strengthen himConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 15:7תְאַמֵּ֣ץtoto hardenVerb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singularDeuteronomy 31:6וְאִמְצ֔וּtoand courageousConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralDeuteronomy 31:7וֶאֱמָץ֒toand courageousConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularDeuteronomy 31:23וֶֽאֱמָץ֒toand courageousConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularJoshua 1:6וֶאֱמָ֑ץtoand courageousConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularJoshua 1:7וֶֽאֱמַ֜ץtocourageousConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularJoshua 1:9וֶאֱמָ֔ץtoand courageousConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 25:23
Aligned rows41
Books represented14
Genesis1Deuteronomy6Joshua5Ruth12 Samuel11 Kings11 Chronicles22 Chronicles7Job2Psalms7Proverbs3Isaiah3Amos1Nahum1
Source forms
וְאִמְצ֔וּ3xwə·’im·ṣūDeuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 10:25, 2 Chronicles 32:7
הִתְאַמֵּץ֙2xhiṯ·’am·mêṣ1 Kings 12:18, 2 Chronicles 10:18
וֶאֱמָ֔ץ2xwe·’ĕ·māṣJoshua 1:9, 1 Chronicles 22:13
וְיַאֲמֵ֣ץ2xwə·ya·’ă·mêṣPsalms 27:14, Psalms 31:24
אֲאַמִּצְכֶ֥ם1x’ă·’am·miṣ·ḵemJob 16:5
אַמֵּ֥ץ1x’am·mêṣNahum 2:1
אָמְצ֖וּ1x’ā·mə·ṣū2 Samuel 22:18
אָמְצ֥וּ1x’ā·mə·ṣūPsalms 18:17
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular8xDeuteronomy 31:7, Deuteronomy 31:23, Joshua 1:6, Joshua 1:7
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural3xDeuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 10:25, 2 Chronicles 32:7
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural3x2 Samuel 22:18, Psalms 18:17, Psalms 142:6
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular2xPsalms 27:14, Psalms 31:24
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular2x2 Chronicles 36:13, Isaiah 44:14
Verb - Hitpael - Perfect - third person masculine singular2x1 Kings 12:18, 2 Chronicles 10:18
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular2xDeuteronomy 15:7, Job 4:4
Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular2xPsalms 80:15, Psalms 80:17
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Strengthen people through appropriate support without demanding an appearance of invulnerability before they can belong.
- Examine resistance to a neighbor's need without treating every protective boundary as selfish hardness.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that all firmness is faithful courage; Deuteronomy 15:7 forbids a heart hardened against the poor.
- Do not claim that weakness makes someone unfit for God's care; Isaiah expressly calls others to strengthen weak hands and knees.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Courage manifests as steadfast inner strength to act decisively; God uses this term to fortify human resolve in covenant contexts.
Strong'sH553
Lexical occurrences41 versesWord forms3 forms15 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkProverbs 24:5-6Source Gloss
to be alert , physically (on foot) or mentally (in courage)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Courage manifests as steadfast inner strength to act decisively; God uses this term to fortify human resolve in covenant contexts.
to be alert, physically (on foot) or mentally (in courage) BDB: be stout Usage: confirm, be courageous (of good courage, stedfastly minded, strong, stronger), establish, fortify, harden, increase, prevail, strengthen (self), make strong (obstinate, speed).
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups3Aligned forms15
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense4×
Perfect2Sam 22:18 · Ps 18:18 · Ps 142:73×
ImperfectGen 25:231×
Hithpaelreflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others3×
Perfect1Kgs 12:18 · 2Chr 10:182×
Participle activeRuth 1:181×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action8×
ImperfectDeut 15:7 · Job 4:4 · Amos 2:143×
PerfectPs 80:16 · Ps 80:182×
Sequential imperfectIsa 35:3 · Nah 2:22×
Participle activeProv 24:51×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Mental courage and wisdom, describing a person of knowledge as stronger than physical might
Showing 1 selected witness from 41 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
אָמַץ is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Deuteronomy 15:7 does not praise a heart simply because it is firm. It forbids a hard heart and a closed hand when a poor member of the community is in need. The next instruction calls for the hand to open. The issue is therefore not whether a person feels strong, but whether resistance to another's need is shaping the response.
This helps a teacher distinguish steadfastness from defensiveness. A person can be determined to keep a promise or tell the truth while remaining willing to hear a neighbor's need. Conversely, a firm refusal can protect self-interest under the appearance of discipline. The passage calls for generosity within its stated community responsibilities; it does not require denying every practical limit or surrendering safeguards against coercion. Its challenge is to examine whether a closed response comes from wise responsibility or from the hardening it explicitly forbids.
Anchor passage
Deut.15.7
Doctrinal connections
- Deuteronomy 15:7-11 connects the heart's response to the hand's generosity and explicitly rejects begrudging neglect of the poor.
- Joshua 1:7-9 grounds commissioned courage in attention to the Law and the Lord's presence, not unqualified confidence in personal plans.
- Isaiah 35:3-4 calls for the weak to be strengthened and the fearful addressed with hope in God's saving action.
- Psalm 27:12-14 brings courage and waiting into a prayer that acknowledges false witnesses and threatened violence.
- Ruth 1:16-18 ties Ruth's determination to her stated commitment to accompany Naomi, preserving the particular object of her resolve.
- Hebrews 12:12-14 takes up weak hands and knees while directing the community toward straight paths, healing, peace, and holiness.
Firmness can appear as commendable resolve or as a hardness that is forbidden. The verb does not settle that evaluation in advance. Distinguish the action of strengthening someone weak from a refusal to respond, and avoid deriving a moral rule from the English word strong alone.
From Old to New Testament
Hebrews 12:12-14 uses the language of weak hands and knees and directs its hearers toward paths that support healing, along with peace and holiness. This verbal imagery recalls Isaiah 35:3. It should encourage support for the weak rather than authorize a leader to describe inflicted harm as necessary strengthening.
Passage contextPastoral application