אָמַץ
to be alert, physically (on foot) or mentally (in courage)
Definition
The Hebrew verb אָמַץ (ʼâmats) fundamentally means to be strong, firm, or courageous. It describes both physical strength, as in being robust or fortified (e.g., the struggle between Jacob and Esau in the womb in Genesis 25:23), and, more prevalently, inner strength of heart and mind—specifically courage, resolve, and steadfastness. This mental and spiritual fortitude is a divine exhortation, most famously in God's command to Joshua: 'Be strong and courageous' (Joshua 1:6). The word can also imply making something or someone strong, such as hardening a heart (Deuteronomy 2:30) or strengthening hands for a task.
Biblical Usage
אָמַץ is used 41 times, predominantly in narrative and exhortatory contexts, especially in Deuteronomy and Joshua where it is a key theme for leadership and covenant faithfulness. It often appears in imperative forms, urging courage and strength in the face of conquest or difficulty (Deuteronomy 31:6-7, 23; Joshua 1:6-9). It describes both human resolve and divinely influenced states, like the hardened heart of Sihon (Deuteronomy 2:30). The usage spans from physical descriptions to core spiritual exhortations.
Etymology
As a primitive root, אָמַץ is the base for related words meaning strength and courage. It is cognate with other Semitic roots indicating firmness and strength. The core idea is of being physically dense, firm, or strong, which extended metaphorically to mental and moral fortitude.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it encapsulates the biblical ideal of courage rooted in trust in God's presence and promises, not mere self-reliance. The command 'be strong and courageous' is directly linked to God's faithfulness (Deuteronomy 31:6) and meditation on His law (Joshua 1:8). It highlights that true strength for God's people is a divine gift and command, essential for fulfilling their covenantal calling and possessing the promised land.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, particularly for Israel facing warfare and settlement, courage was not an abstract virtue but a necessary survival trait. The command to be strong carried the weight of communal survival and success under God's mandate. The concept of a 'hardened heart' (Deuteronomy 2:30) reflects a belief in divine sovereignty over human dispositions, even those of enemies.
חָזַק (ḥāzaq, H2388) — often interchangeable, but can emphasize raw physical force or seizing hold. כּוֹנֵן (kûn, H3559) — focuses on being established, set firm, or prepared. עָמַץ (ʻâmats, H553) — a byform with identical meaning.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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