עָצוּם (H6099) — Hebrew Lexicon

עָצוּם

𐤏𐤑𐤅𐤌

ʻâtsûwm

H6099 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root עצם to be strong, to be mighty, to be numerous

Definition

Adjective describing something or someone as powerful, mighty, or strong, usually connoting either great physical or metaphorical strength, force, or, in many contexts, numerical greatness or abundance. In poetic or figurative usage, may denote being vast or formidable. The term can refer to both individuals and groups (e.g., a powerful nation, mighty men, or numerous people).

Semantic Range

mighty, powerful, strong (in ability or force), numerous, abounding, vast, formidable

Root / Etymology

Root: עצם. The verb עצם (to be powerful, to be numerous, to grow strong) gives rise to the adjective עָצוּם, which is the passive participle form, originally meaning 'one who is made strong' or 'having strength.' The sense developed to describe both actual physical might and figurative or numerical abundance. The root is also related to the noun עֶצֶם (bone), reflecting the underlying idea of strength or firmness.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, עָצוּם is common in poetic and prophetic language to emphasize either the impressive might of individuals (e.g., warriors, kings) or the formidable strength or multiplicity of groups (hosts, nations, multitudes). It frequently describes Israelite enemies (Deuteronomy 4:38; Amos 6:2), Israelite tribes (Numbers 13:28), or metaphorical forces (locust swarms in Joel 2:2). The word can apply to numerical strength (e.g., 'a people great and numerous,' Deut 26:5) as well as physical or military strength. The participial form marks it as an inherent or defining characteristic. English translations vary; 'mighty,' 'powerful,' or 'numerous' are all legitimate, but the full semantic range goes beyond strength alone. 'Feeble' is not attested for this lemma; such glosses arise from translation ambiguities elsewhere. The word's usage reflects shifting contexts: from statements about nations' might in the conquest traditions to poetic imagery about abundance or greatness in later prophetic and wisdom texts. Related adjectives (e.g., גָּדוֹל 'great') may sometimes overlap in sense but עָצוּם maintains a strong association with might and abundance inherent to its root.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or עָצֻם; passive participle of עָצַם; powerful (specifically, a paw); by implication, numerous; [phrase] feeble, great, mighty, must, strong.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עצם (ʿ-ṣ-m) — to be strong, to be mighty, to be numerous

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H6105	עָצַם	you grew mighty
H6106	עֶצֶם	my bones
H6108	עֹצֶם	my might
H6109	עׇצְמָה	mightiness
H6110	עַצֻּמָה	your weighty matters
H6111	עַצְמוֹן	to Strong-Place
H6684	צוּם	mighty
H684	אֹצֶם	Otsem
H8592	תַּעֲצֻמָה	and mighty forces

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H6099-01`	עָצ֥וּם	atsum	`HAamsa`	mighty	mighty	11
`H6099-05`	וַ/עֲצֻמִ֛ים	vaatsumim	`HC/Aampa`	and mightier	and mighty ones	7
`H6099-02`	עֲצוּמִים֮	atsumim	`HAampa`	the mighty	mighty ones	6
`H6099-06`	וְ/עָצ֑וּם	veatsum	`HC/Aamsa`	and mighty	and mighty	5
`H6099-04`	הָ/עֲצוּמִים֙	haatsumim	`HTd/Aampa`	mighty	the mighty ones	1
`H6099-03`	בַּ֝/עֲצוּמָ֗י/ו	baatsumayv	`HR/Aampc/Sp3ms`	in-his-strong-ones	in his mighty ones	1

Occurrences in Scripture

31 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H6099-06`	Genesis 18:18	וְ/עָצ֑וּם	veatsum	`HC/Aamsa`	and mighty	and mighty
`H6099-06`	Exodus 1:9	וְ/עָצ֖וּם	veatsum	`HC/Aamsa`	and mightier	and mighty
`H6099-06`	Numbers 14:12	וְ/עָצ֖וּם	veatsum	`HC/Aamsa`	and mightier	and mighty
`H6099-01`	Numbers 22:6	עָצ֥וּם	atsum	`HAamsa`	too-mighty	mighty
`H6099-01`	Numbers 32:1	עָצ֣וּם	atsum	`HAamsa`	mighty	mighty
`H6099-05`	Deuteronomy 4:38	וַ/עֲצֻמִ֛ים	vaatsumim	`HC/Aampa`	and mightier	and mighty ones
`H6099-05`	Deuteronomy 7:1	וַ/עֲצוּמִ֖ים	vaatsumim	`HC/Aampa`	and mightier	and mighty ones
`H6099-05`	Deuteronomy 9:1	וַ/עֲצֻמִ֖ים	vaatsumim	`HC/Aampa`	and mightier	and mighty ones
`H6099-01`	Deuteronomy 9:14	עָצ֥וּם	atsum	`HAamsa`	mighty	mighty
`H6099-05`	Deuteronomy 11:23	וַ/עֲצֻמִ֖ים	vaatsumim	`HC/Aampa`	and-stronger	and mighty ones
`H6099-01`	Deuteronomy 26:5	עָצ֥וּם	atsum	`HAamsa`	mighty	mighty
`H6099-05`	Joshua 23:9	וַ/עֲצוּמִ֑ים	vaatsumim	`HC/Aampa`	and strong	and mighty ones
`H6099-04`	Isaiah 8:7	הָ/עֲצוּמִים֙	haatsumim	`HTd/Aampa`	mighty	the mighty ones
`H6099-02`	Isaiah 53:12	עֲצוּמִים֮	atsumim	`HAampa`	the strong	mighty ones
`H6099-01`	Isaiah 60:22	עָצ֑וּם	atsum	`HAamsa`	mighty	mighty
`H6099-01`	Joel 1:6	עָצ֖וּם	atsum	`HAamsa`	mighty	mighty
`H6099-06`	Joel 2:2	וְ/עָצ֔וּם	veatsum	`HC/Aamsa`	and mighty	and mighty
`H6099-01`	Joel 2:5	עָצ֔וּם	atsum	`HAamsa`	mighty	mighty
`H6099-01`	Joel 2:11	עָצ֖וּם	atsum	`HAamsa`	mighty	mighty
`H6099-05`	Amos 5:12	וַ/עֲצֻמִ֖ים	vaatsumim	`HC/Aampa`	and mighty	and mighty ones
`H6099-02`	Micah 4:3	עֲצֻמִ֖ים	atsumim	`HAampa`	strong	mighty ones
`H6099-01`	Micah 4:7	עָצ֑וּם	atsum	`HAamsa`	mighty	mighty
`H6099-02`	Zechariah 8:22	עֲצוּמִ֔ים	atsumim	`HAampa`	mighty	mighty ones
`H6099-03`	Psalms 10:10	בַּ֝/עֲצוּמָ֗י/ו	baatsumayv	`HR/Aampc/Sp3ms`	in-his-strong-ones	in his mighty ones
`H6099-01`	Psalms 35:18	עָצ֣וּם	atsum	`HAamsa`	mighty	mighty
`H6099-02`	Psalms 135:10	עֲצוּמִֽים	atsumim	`HAampa`	mighty	mighty ones
`H6099-05`	Proverbs 7:26	וַ֝/עֲצֻמִ֗ים	vaatsumim	`HC/Aampa`	and strong	and mighty ones
`H6099-02`	Proverbs 18:18	עֲצוּמִ֣ים	atsumim	`HAampa`	the mighty	mighty ones
`H6099-01`	Proverbs 30:26	עָצ֑וּם	atsum	`HAamsa`	mighty	mighty
`H6099-02`	Daniel 8:24	עֲצוּמִ֖ים	atsumim	`HAampa`	the mighty	mighty ones
`H6099-06`	Daniel 11:25	וְ/עָצ֖וּם	veatsum	`HC/Aamsa`	and mighty	and mighty

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