עוּז
to be strong; causatively, to stregthen, i.e. (figuratively) to save (by flight)
Definition
The verb עוּז (ʻûwz) fundamentally means 'to flee for refuge' or 'to take shelter.' It describes a rapid movement away from danger toward a place of safety, often implying a strategic withdrawal rather than mere panic. In its causative form (Hiphil), it means 'to cause to flee' or 'to bring to safety,' as seen when people are warned to gather their livestock to shelter from the hail in Exodus 9:19. Figuratively, the act of fleeing to a stronghold connects to the concept of finding strength and salvation in God.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only four times, always in contexts of urgent warning and imminent danger. It appears in narrative (Exodus 9:19), prophecy (Isaiah 10:31), and prophetic warnings of invasion (Jeremiah 4:6, 6:1). The pattern is consistently one of a commanded, swift movement to a fortified place for safety from a coming calamity. For example, Jeremiah 4:6 cries, 'Flee for safety, O people of Zion!'
Etymology
A primitive root, עוּז is related to the idea of seeking a stronghold or place of strength. It is cognate with nouns like עֹז (ʻôz, H5797), meaning 'strength' or 'might,' and מָעוֹז (māʻôz, H4581), meaning 'fortress' or 'refuge.' The semantic development links the physical action of fleeing to the destination—a place that provides strength and security.
Semantic Range
This word enriches the biblical theme of God as a refuge. While the verb itself describes a human action, it points toward the need for divine shelter. The command to 'flee for safety' (Jeremiah 4:6) is ultimately a call to turn to God, the ultimate stronghold (Psalm 31:2). Understanding this Hebrew root deepens the imagery of finding strength not in oneself but in seeking God's protective presence, a core concept in passages about trust and salvation.
In the ancient Near East, safety from military threats depended on reaching walled cities or fortified strongholds before an enemy arrived. The command to 'flee' (ʻûz) was a practical, life-saving directive, understood as a strategic retreat to a defensible position. This contrasts with a modern individualistic view of 'running away'; it was a communal action toward a shared place of security.
נוּס (nûs, H5127) — a more general term for 'to flee' from danger, without the specific connotation of fleeing to a refuge. בָּרַח (bāraḥ, H1272) — to flee, escape, or run away, often emphasizing the act of departure from a threat. חָסָה (ḥāsâ, H2620) — to seek refuge, trust; focuses more on the state of being in the shelter rather than the motion toward it.
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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