אָמַץ
𐤀𐤌𐤑
ʼâmats
H553 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To be or become strong, courageous, or resolute; to strengthen or make firm. In various contexts, אָמַץ describes both physical and inner fortitude—the act of exhibiting or imparting strength, confidence, or steadfastness. The term extends to emotional and psychological ‘strengthening’ (encouragement, assurance), as well as fortifying a position or resolve. It is often used in exhortations to assume courage or resolve in difficult circumstances.
Semantic Range
to be strong, to become or show courage or resolution, to encourage, to instill resolve, to strengthen (another), to fortify, to harden, to make firm, to prevail, to support
Root / Etymology
From the root א-מ-ץ, whose base sense is 'to be strong, to exhibit or instill strength.' The verb אָמַץ (Qal stem) means 'to be strong' or 'to show courage.' In other stems, such as Piel or Hiphil, it can take on causative nuance ('to strengthen, to make strong, to encourage'). The root is securely attested and belongs to a group of Semitic roots connoting strength and firmness; compare Ugaritic ʾms, Akkadian emēṣu 'to be strong.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, אָמַץ is frequent in contexts demanding courage or fortitude, notably in military, leadership, or faith-testing situations (e.g., exhortations to Joshua, leaders, or the people at moments of transition or danger: Deut 31:6, Josh 1:6-9). It can express both self-directed resolve ('take courage') and the act of supporting or reinforcing another person ('strengthen someone'). In post-exilic literature, the term is less prominent but retains its metaphorical connotations of inner fortification. The nuance can overlap with חָזַק (ḥāzaq, 'to be strong, prevail'), but אָמַץ is more frequently used for encouragement and mental fortitude, whereas חָזַק often emphasizes physical strength or victorious power. Some translations render אָמַץ with 'be of good courage' or 'be steadfast,' but these may not capture the breadth of its use in contexts of encouragement, strengthening, and support.
Translation Consistency
Most occurrences and the typical sense in context involve making firm, giving strength or courage (and by extension becoming strong). “Strengthen” naturally covers both transitive uses (to fortify or encourage someone) and intransitive/receptive senses (to be/ become strengthened), and matches common English translations while remaining consistent and natural.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to be alert, physically (on foot) or mentally (in courage); confirm, be courageous (of good courage, stedfastly minded, strong, stronger), establish, fortify, harden, increase, prevail, strengthen (self), make strong (obstinate, speed).
Bantu Hebrew
| Language | Bantu Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bemba | amaka | strength, power | |
| Kaonde | amaka | strength, power | |
| Lenje | amaka | strength, power, ability | |
| Luba-Katanga | umwaka / amaka | strength, power, energy | |
| Tshiluba | amaka | strength, force, power, energy |
Root Family
אَمץ (ʼâmats) — to be strong, to be resolute, to make firm, to support
Word Forms
25 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H553-20 |
וֶ/אֱמָ֔ץ | veemats | HC/Vqv2ms |
and courageous | be strong | and courageous | 8 |
H553-03 |
אָמְצ֖וּ | ametsu | HVqp3cp |
they are stronger | they were strong | they were too strong | 4 |
H553-22 |
וְ/אִמְצ֔וּ | veimetsu | HC/Vqv2mp |
and courageous | and be strong | and strengthen yourselves | 3 |
H553-05 |
הִתְאַמֵּץ֙ | hiteamets | HVtp3ms |
hurried | he strengthened himself | he strengthened himself | 2 |
H553-11 |
תְאַמֵּ֣ץ | teamets | HVpi2ms |
harden | you will strengthen | you harden | 2 |
H553-14 |
וַ/יְאַמֵּ֣ץ | vayeamets | HC/Vpw3ms |
and he hardened | and he strengthened | and he hardened | 2 |
H553-23 |
וְ/יַאֲמֵ֣ץ | veyaamets | HC/Vhi3ms |
and He will strengthen | he will strengthen | and let him strengthen | 2 |
H553-01 |
אֲאַמִּצְ/כֶ֥ם | aamitsekhem | HVpi1cs/Sp2mp |
I would strengthen you | I will strengthen you | I would strengthen you | 1 |
H553-02 |
אַמֵּ֥ץ | amets | HVpv2ms |
marshal | Strengthen! | Strengthen | 1 |
H553-04 |
בְּ/אַמְּצ֣/וֹ | beametso | HR/Vpc/Sp3ms |
when he made firm | in his strengthening | in his making firm | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
41 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H553-25 |
Genesis 25:23 | יֶֽאֱמָ֔ץ | yeemats | HVqi3ms |
shall be stronger | he will be strong | he will be strong |
H553-21 |
Deuteronomy 2:30 | וְ/אִמֵּץ֙ | veimets | HC/Vpp3ms |
and made strong | and he strengthened | and he strengthened |
H553-19 |
Deuteronomy 3:28 | וְ/אַמְּצֵ֑/הוּ | veametsehu | HC/Vpv2ms/Sp3ms |
and strengthen him | strengthen him | and encourage him |
H553-11 |
Deuteronomy 15:7 | תְאַמֵּ֣ץ | teamets | HVpi2ms |
harden | you will strengthen | you harden |
H553-22 |
Deuteronomy 31:6 | וְ/אִמְצ֔וּ | veimetsu | HC/Vqv2mp |
and courageous | and be strong | and strengthen yourselves |
H553-20 |
Deuteronomy 31:7 | וֶ/אֱמָץ֒ | veemats | HC/Vqv2ms |
and courageous | be strong | and courageous |
H553-20 |
Deuteronomy 31:23 | וֶֽ/אֱמָץ֒ | veemats | HC/Vqv2ms |
and-be-courageous | be strong | and be courageous |
H553-20 |
Joshua 1:6 | וֶ/אֱמָ֑ץ | veemats | HC/Vqv2ms |
and courageous | be strong | and courageous |
H553-20 |
Joshua 1:7 | וֶֽ/אֱמַ֜ץ | veemats | HC/Vqv2ms |
and courageous | be strong | and courageous |
H553-20 |
Joshua 1:9 | וֶ/אֱמָ֔ץ | veemats | HC/Vqv2ms |
and courageous | be strong | and courageous |
H553-20 |
Joshua 1:18 | וֶ/אֱמָֽץ | veemats | HC/Vqv2ms |
and courageous | be strong | and courageous |
H553-22 |
Joshua 10:25 | וְ/אִמְצ֔וּ | veimetsu | HC/Vqv2mp |
and-courageous | and be strong | and strengthen yourselves |
H553-03 |
2 Samuel 22:18 | אָמְצ֖וּ | ametsu | HVqp3cp |
they were too strong | they were strong | they were too strong |
H553-05 |
1 Kings 12:18 | הִתְאַמֵּץ֙ | hiteamets | HVtp3ms |
hurried | he strengthened himself | he strengthened himself |
H553-03 |
Isaiah 35:3 | אַמֵּֽצוּ | ametsu | HVpv2mp |
make firm | they were strong | make firm |
H553-08 |
Isaiah 41:10 | אִמַּצְתִּ֨י/ךָ֙ | imatsetikha | HVpp1cs/Sp2ms |
I have strengthened you | I strengthened you | I have strengthened you |
H553-14 |
Isaiah 44:14 | וַ/יְאַמֶּץ | vayeamets | HC/Vpw3ms |
and he strengthens | and he strengthened | and he strengthened |
H553-24 |
Amos 2:14 | יְאַמֵּ֣ץ | yeamets | HVpi3ms |
will strengthen | he will make strong | will strengthen |
H553-02 |
Nahum 2:2 | אַמֵּ֥ץ | amets | HVpv2ms |
marshal | Strengthen! | Strengthen |
H553-03 |
Psalms 18:18 | אָמְצ֥וּ | ametsu | HVqp3cp |
they were strong | they were strong | they strengthened |
H553-23 |
Psalms 27:14 | וְ/יַאֲמֵ֣ץ | veyaamets | HC/Vhi3ms |
and He will strengthen | he will strengthen | and let him strengthen |
H553-23 |
Psalms 31:25 | וְ/יַאֲמֵ֣ץ | veyaamets | HC/Vhi3ms |
and let him strengthen | he will strengthen | and let him strengthen |
H553-07 |
Psalms 80:16 | אִמַּ֥צְתָּה | imatsetah | HVpp2ms |
you-made-strong | you strengthened | you made strong |
H553-06 |
Psalms 80:18 | אִמַּ֥צְתָּ | imatseta | HVpp2ms |
you have strengthened | you strengthened | you have strengthened |
H553-12 |
Psalms 89:22 | תְאַמְּצֶֽ/נּוּ | teametsenu | HVpi3fs/Sp3ms |
shall strengthen him | she will strengthen him | will strengthen him |
H553-03 |
Psalms 142:7 | אָמְצ֣וּ | ametsu | HVqp3cp |
they are stronger | they were strong | they are stronger |
H553-04 |
Proverbs 8:28 | בְּ/אַמְּצ֣/וֹ | beametso | HR/Vpc/Sp3ms |
when he made firm | in his strengthening | in his making firm |
H553-09 |
Proverbs 24:5 | מְאַמֶּץ | meamets | HVprmsa |
increases | one who strengthens | one who strengthens |
H553-13 |
Proverbs 31:17 | וַ֝/תְּאַמֵּ֗ץ | vateamets | HC/Vpw3fs |
and strengthens | and she strengthened | and she strengthened |
H553-11 |
Job 4:4 | תְּאַמֵּֽץ | teamets | HVpi2ms |
you have strengthened | you will strengthen | you have strengthened |
H553-01 |
Job 16:5 | אֲאַמִּצְ/כֶ֥ם | aamitsekhem | HVpi1cs/Sp2mp |
I would strengthen you | I will strengthen you | I would strengthen you |
H553-10 |
Ruth 1:18 | מִתְאַמֶּ֥צֶת | miteametset | HVtrfsa |
she was determined | strengthening herself | she was determined |
H553-20 |
1 Chronicles 22:13 | וֶ/אֱמָ֔ץ | veemats | HC/Vqv2ms |
and be courageous | be strong | and be courageous |
H553-20 |
1 Chronicles 28:20 | וֶ/אֱמַץ֙ | veemats | HC/Vqv2ms |
and be courageous | be strong | and be courageous |
H553-05 |
2 Chronicles 10:18 | הִתְאַמֵּץ֙ | hiteamets | HVtp3ms |
made haste | he strengthened himself | he strengthened himself |
H553-15 |
2 Chronicles 11:17 | וַֽ/יְאַמְּצ֛וּ | vayeametsu | HC/Vpw3mp |
and they supported | and they strengthened | and they supported |
H553-18 |
2 Chronicles 13:7 | וַ/יִּֽתְאַמְּצ֖וּ | vayiteametsu | HC/Vtw3mp |
and strengthened themselves | and they strengthened themselves | and they strengthened themselves |
H553-17 |
2 Chronicles 13:18 | וַ/יֶּֽאֶמְצוּ֙ | vayeemetsu | HC/Vqw3mp |
and prevailed | and they became strong | and they prevailed |
H553-16 |
2 Chronicles 24:13 | וַֽ/יְאַמְּצֻֽ/הוּ | vayeametsuhu | HC/Vpw3mp/Sp3ms |
and strengthened it | and they strengthened him | and they strengthened it |
H553-22 |
2 Chronicles 32:7 | וְ/אִמְצ֔וּ | veimetsu | HC/Vqv2mp |
and courageous | and be strong | and strengthen yourselves |
H553-14 |
2 Chronicles 36:13 | וַ/יְאַמֵּ֣ץ | vayeamets | HC/Vpw3ms |
and he hardened | and he strengthened | and he hardened |