Bible Word Study
חֹזֶק
chôzeq · power
חֹזֶק
power
Definition
חֹזֶק (chôzeq) refers to a strong, firm, or powerful force, often describing physical strength or a powerful grip. In Exodus 13:3, 14, and 16, it specifically denotes the 'mighty hand' of God in delivering Israel from Egypt, emphasizing divine power in action. In Amos 6:13, the word is used ironically for human military 'strength' that is ultimately futile. Haggai 2:22 speaks of God overthrowing the 'strength' of kingdoms, contrasting human power with divine sovereignty.
Biblical Usage
This noun appears only five times in the Old Testament. Its primary usage is in the Exodus narrative (Exodus 13:3, 14, 16), where it is part of the fixed phrase 'by strength of hand' to memorialize God's deliverance. It later appears in prophetic books (Amos 6:13; Haggai 2:22) to critique misplaced confidence in human military or political power, which God can shatter. The usage shifts from celebrating divine power to warning against human arrogance.
Etymology
Derived from the root חָזַק (chāzaq, H2388), meaning 'to be strong, firm, or seize hold.' חֹזֶק is a noun form indicating the state or quality of strength. Related words include the adjective חָזָק (chāzāq, H2389—'strong') and the verb itself. The root conveys ideas of physical strength, firmness, and tenacity.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it highlights the nature of God's saving power. In Exodus, it is exclusively associated with Yahweh's mighty act of redemption, forming a core part of Israel's creed. The prophetic usage underscores a key biblical theme: human strength is fleeting and often prideful, while God's חֹזֶק is ultimate and salvific. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by clarifying the contrast between divine and human power central to the biblical narrative. In its ancient Near Eastern context, 'strength' or 'power' (חֹזֶק) was often associated with military might and the authority of kings or gods. The biblical usage subverts this by attributing true, redemptive strength solely to Yahweh, not to Pharaoh's army or other kingdoms. The phrase 'by strength of hand' would resonate as a direct challenge to Egyptian claims of power. כֹּחַ (kōach, H3581) — general term for strength, capacity, or ability, often more broad. עֹז (ʿōz, H5797) — strength, often with connotations of majesty or refuge. גְּבוּרָה (gᵊbûrâ, H1369) — might, valor, heroic strength.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]