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Job 9:4 — Word Study

Depth

WLCחֲכַ֣ם לֵ֭בָב וְאַמִּ֣יץ כֹּ֑חַ מִֽי־ הִקְשָׁ֥ה אֵ֝לָ֗יו וַיִּשְׁלָֽם׃

BSA[God is] wisechâkâm [the supreme Almighty, intelligent, skilled, or prudent] in heartlêbâb [the innermost part of a person, including mind, will, and emotions] and mightyʼammîyts [strong, courageous, or powerful] in strengthkôach [power or might, referring to God's ability] Whomîy [which person] has resistedqâshâh [hardened himself against, or challenged] Himʼêl [the Lord, or God] and prosperedshâlam [been at peace, or had good come of it]

Word
Listen & take awayJob 9
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (vai.yish.Lam) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Job 9:4quick helps
In a sentenceJob affirms God's wisdom and might, questioning who could oppose Him and succeed.
Who is speakingJob, reflecting on God's nature and power.
Where we areIn a discourse on God's sovereignty, Job highlights the futility of resisting Him.
The hard wordהִקְשָׁ֥ה
Take awayGod's wisdom and strength are unmatched; no one can successfully challenge Him.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectאַמִּיץ verbקָשָׁה The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Job 9:4

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — Job's Reflection on God's Powergenerated

3If one wished to contend with God, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.
4God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has resisted Him and prospered?
5He moves mountains without their knowledge and overturns them in His anger.
6He shakes the earth from its place, so that its foundations tremble.

Job 9:4 presents Job's profound acknowledgment of God's wisdom and strength. He poses a rhetorical question about the futility of resisting God, emphasizing that no one has succeeded in opposing Him. This verse is part of a larger reflection on God's sovereignty and the human inability to contend with divine authority, as seen in the surrounding verses that illustrate God's unmatched power over creation.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Job 9:19If it is a matter of strength, He is indeed mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him ?
2Job 36:5Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
3Psalm 104:24How many are Your works, O LORD! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures.
4Psalm 136:5By His insight He made the heavens. His loving devotion endures forever.
5Daniel 2:20and declared: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him.

The Key Word חָכָם, cha.Khamgenerated

The Hebrew word חָכָם (*cha.Kham*) means 'wise' and encompasses various aspects of wisdom, including skillfulness and ethical understanding. It describes someone who is intelligent or prudent, often reflecting a deep insight into life and circumstances.

In this verse, it emphasizes God's supreme intelligence and skill in governing the universe. The parsing as an adjective highlights its role in describing God's character, affirming that He is not just wise, but the embodiment of wisdom itself.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb הִקְשָׁ֥ה, has he shown stubbornness, governs the main clause, which is followed by a prepositional phrase אֵ֝לָ֗יו, to him, and another verb וַיִּשְׁלָֽם, and he has remained unharmed. The structure emphasizes Job's inquiry about resistance to God and the resulting consequences.

The word order places the question about who can resist God at the forefront, highlighting the rhetorical nature of the inquiry and the emphasis on God's unmatched power.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates חָכָם as σοφὸς, which means 'wise.' This choice aligns with the Hebrew meaning but may carry a broader connotation of philosophical wisdom.

For כֹּחַ, the Septuagint does not provide a direct equivalent, suggesting a potential narrowing of the concept of divine might in the Greek context.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Job 9:4 emphasizes God's wisdom and strength, questioning who could possibly resist Him and succeed. Job reflects on the futility of opposing God, recognizing His unmatched power over all creation.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that God is wise in heart?

It means that God's wisdom encompasses not just knowledge but also understanding and skill in all matters, reflecting His perfect nature.

Why does Job question who can resist God?

Job highlights the futility of opposing God, emphasizing that no one can successfully challenge His authority or power.

What is the significance of God's might?

God's might signifies His ability to control and govern all creation, demonstrating that His power is beyond human comprehension.

How does this verse relate to the overall message of Job?

This verse encapsulates Job's struggle with understanding God's justice and power, emphasizing the theme of human limitation in the face of divine sovereignty.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I struggle to acknowledge God's wisdom and power?
  2. How can I better trust in God's plans when I face challenges?
  3. What does it mean for me to resist God, and what are the consequences?
  4. How can I cultivate a deeper understanding of God's character as wise and mighty?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

Gregory the Dialogist reflects on this verse to illustrate God's nature as wise and mighty, emphasizing His role as the Creator.

Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book IX c. 540–604
He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength. What wonder is it, if we call the Maker of the wise, 'wise,' Whom we know to be Wisdom itself? and what wonder is it that he describes Him to be 'mighty,' Whom there is none that doth not know…
Early Church Fathers on Job 9 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Job 9:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

[He is] wise in heart,.... Originally, essentially, truly, really, and perfectly so; he is the only, and the all wise God; his understanding is infinite; he is able to traverse all the schemes of

Read John Gill on Job 9 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered? He is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Hebrew, 'Wise in heart (understanding)!

Read Robert Jamieson on Job 9 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Wise in heart; either, 1. Really and profoundly wise; or, 2. Wise in his mind or understanding, which in Hebrew is oft called the heart, as 6:32 , because the Hebrews make the heart the seat of the understanding, or of the reasonable soul. The sense is, He is infinitely wise, and so knows all things, and searcheth all men’ s hearts and ways, and discovers a multitude of sins which men’ s short-sighted eyes cannot see; and therefore can charge them with innumerable evils where they thought themselves innocent, and sees far more malignity than men could discern in their sins: and men cannot conceal any of their sins from him, nor cheat him, as they may other men, with crafty devices and…

Read Matthew Poole on Job 9 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 9:4 [He is] wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened [himself] against him, and hath prospered?Ver. 4. He is wise in heart and mighty in strength] And must therefore needs be a most just judge, since be neither wanteth wisdom to judge nor power to execute; what then should turn him out of the track of justice? Let God be just and true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome (or be clear) when thou judgest, or when thou art judged, Psalms 51:4 Romans 3:4; for at the same time that God doth judge, or execute judgment upon any, he may also be said to be judged; whilst men pass their censures, either as…

Read John Trapp on Job 9 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 4. He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength] By his infinite knowledge he searches out and sees all things, and by his almighty power he can punish all delinquencies. He that rebels against him must be destroyed.

Read AdamClarke on Job 9 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4. wise in heart] i. e. in mind, corresponding to “mighty in power.” hardened himself] Probably hardened his neck, i. e. braved him, Proverbs 29:1. hath prospered] lit. been safe, or as we say, “with impunity.”

Read Cambridge on Job 9 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

He is wise in heart - Herder renders this, Even the wise and the powerful, Who hath withstood him and prospered? But the more common interpretation is to refer it to God.

Read Albert Barnes on Job 9 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

4. Hardened against — Bidden defiance, or braved him. Prospered — éùׁ ?ìí, remained uninjured; that is, unpunished. (Furst.) All opposition to God is not only futile, but dangerous.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 9 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has resisted Him and prospered?

WEBWorld English Bible2000

God is wise in heart, and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against him and prospered?

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has resisted Him and prospered?

NETBNew English Translation2006

He is wise in heart and mighty in strength – who has resisted him and remained safe?

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?—

RVARevised Version, American1894

He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?

NWBWebster's Bible1833

He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

GNVGeneva Bible1599

He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath bene fierce against him and hath prospered?

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

He is wise in heart and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and had peace?

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Wise in heart and strong in power — Who hath hardened toward Him and is at peace?

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Wise in heart and strong in power—Who has hardened toward Him and is at peace?

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

He is wise of heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and escaped unscathed?

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

God is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has ever hardened himself against him and succeeded?—

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath resisted him, and hath had peace?

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

God is so wise and so powerful that no one could challenge him and win.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

He is wise in heart and great in strength: who ever made his face hard against him, and any good came of it?

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

clauseadjective phrase · predicateadjective phraseחֲכַ֣םwiseלֵ֭בָבof.heartוְandadjective phraseאַמִּ֣יץstrongכֹּ֑חַof.powerclauseclausesubjectמִֽיwho?verbהִקְשָׁ֥הhas.he.shown.stubbornnessprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֵ֝לָ֗יtoוhimוַandclauseverbיִּשְׁלָֽםhe.has.remained.unharmed

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text reads חֲכַ֣ם לֵ֭בָב וְאַמִּ֣יץ כֹּ֑חַ מִֽי־ הִקְשָׁ֥ה אֵ֝לָ֗יו וַיִּשְׁלָֽם׃, which aligns closely with the Septuagint's translation, where 7 of the 8 words match. This indicates a strong consistency in the core message across these texts.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

חֲכַ֣ם לֵ֭בָב וְאַמִּ֣יץ כֹּ֑חַ מִֽי־ הִקְשָׁ֥ה אֵ֝לָ֗יו וַיִּשְׁלָֽם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
חֲכַ֣םσοφὸςלֵ֭בָבδιανοίᾳוְאַמִּ֣יץκραταιόςמִֽי־τίςהִקְשָׁ֥הσκληρὸςאֵ֝לָ֗יוαὐτοῦוַיִּשְׁלָֽם׃ὑπέμεινεν

7 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Job 9:4חָכָםwise ofwise ofחָכָםלֵבָבheartheartלֵבָבאַמִּיץand strong and strong ofאַמִּיץכֹּחַpowerpowerכֹּחַמִיwho?who?מִיקָשָׁהhas he showhas he shown stקָשָׁהאֶלto himto himאֶלשָׁלֵםand he has and he has remaשָׁלֵםחָכַםbe wisebe wiseחָכַםלבבto encourato encourageלבבאָמֵץto strengtto strengthenאָמֵץמָהwhat?what?מָהכְּסִילfoolfoolכְּסִילדַּ֫עַתknowledgeknowledgeדַּ֫עַתשָׁלֵםcompletecompleteשָׁלֵםדָּרַשׁto seekto seekדָּרַשׁכֹּחַreptilereptileכֹּחַהִנֵּהbeholdbeholdהִנֵּהעָצַרto restraito restrainעָצַרזְרוֹעַarmarmזְרוֹעַיָעַדto appointto appointיָעַדכְּמוֹlikelikeכְּמוֹעֹ֫רֶףneckneckעֹ֫רֶףעֹלyokeyokeעֹלפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַליִרְמְיָ֫הJeremiahJeremiahיִרְמְיָ֫ה
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Job 9:4

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

wise of heart and strong of power who? has he shown stubbornness to him and he has remained unharmed
חֲכַ֣םcha.Kham wise of H2450 Adj
138× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means wise or skilled, describing someone intelligent or crafty, like a cunning man or a prudent leader.
Amplified meaning
the supreme Almighty, intelligent, skilled, or prudent
Tyndale gloss
wise
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חָכָם (*chakam*) means 'wise' and encompasses various aspects of wisdom, including skillfulness in technical work, shrewdness, and ethical understanding. It can refer to a class of learned individuals, including those involved in astrology and magic. The word is derived from a related term, חָכַם (*chakam*), which also relates to intelligence and craftiness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָכָם adj. wise

skilful in technical work

wise in the administration of affairs

shrewd, crafty, cunning

pl. class of learned and shrewd men, incl. astrologers, magicians and the like

prudent

wise, ethically and religiously

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2450 חָכָם wise . skilful in technical work

. wise in the administration of affairs

. shrewd, crafty, cunning

. pl. class of learned and shrewd men, incl. astrologers, magicians and the like

. prudent

. wise, ethically and religiously

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2450 chakam khaw-kawm'

from 2449; wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or

artful):--cunning (man), subtil, ((un-)), wise((hearted),

man).

see HEBREW for 02449

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָכָם (cha.kham) — wise.

1) wise, wise (man)

1a) skilful (in technical work)

1b) wise (in administration)

1c) shrewd, crafty, cunning, wily, subtle

1d) learned, shrewd (class of men)

1e) prudent

1f) wise (ethically and religiously)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

wise of heart and strong of power who? has he shown stubbornness to him and he has remained unharmed
לֵ֭בָבle.vo heart H3824 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
252× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The heart is the innermost part of a person, including their mind, will, and emotions. In the book of Psalms, David talks about his heart being heavy with sorrow, while in the book of Proverbs, it discusses the importance of guarding one's heart.
Amplified meaning
the innermost part of a person, including mind, will, and emotions
Tyndale gloss
heart
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֵבָב (lebab) refers to the inner man, encompassing the mind, will, and heart. It highlights aspects like emotions, moral character, and conscience, often contrasting the inner self with the outer. The term is used primarily for humans and can also denote courage and appetites.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֵבָב 251 n.m. inner man, mind, will, heart

seldom of things in the midst of the seas

usu. of men

the inner man in contrast with the outer

the inner man, indef. the soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

specific ref. to mind

spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions, determinations of the will

spec. ref. to conscience

spec. ref. to moral character

= the man himself

spec. as seat of appetites

spec. of seat of the emotions and passions

seat of courage

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3824 לֵבָב inner man, mind, will, heart . seldom of things in the midst of the seas

. usu. of men . the inner man in contrast with the outer

. the inner man, indef. the soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

. specific ref. to mind

. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions, determinations of the will

. spec. ref. to conscience

. spec. ref. to moral character

. = the man himself

. spec. as seat of appetites

. spec. of seat of the emotions and passions

. seat of courage

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3824 lebab lay-bawb'

from 3823; the heart (as the most interior organ); used also

like 3820:--+ bethink themselves, breast, comfortably,

courage, ((faint), (tender-)heart((-ed)), midst, mind, X

unawares, understanding.

see HEBREW for 03823

see HEBREW for 03820

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֵבָב (le.vav) — heart.

1) inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding

1a) inner part, midst

1a1) midst (of things)

1a2) heart (of man)

1a3) soul, heart (of man)

1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory

1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)

1a6) conscience

1a7) heart (of moral character)

1a8) as seat of appetites

1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage

Aramaic equivalent: le.vav (לְבַב "heart" H3825)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hart (lebh, lebhabh; kardia): The different senses in which the word occurs in the Old Testament and the New Testament may be grouped under the following heads:

1. Various Meanings:

It represents in the first place the bodily organ, and by easy transition those experiences which affect or are affected by the body. Fear, love, courage, anger, Joy, sorrow, hatred are always ascribed to the heart--especially in the Old Testament; thus courage for which usually ruach is used (Ps 27:14); joy (Ps 4:7); anger (De 19:6, "while his heart is hot," lebhabh); fear (1Sa 25:37); sorrow (Ps 13:2), etc.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Heart

According to the Bible, the heart is the centre not only of spiritual activity, but of all the operations of human life. “Heart” and “soul” are often used interchangeably (Deut. 6:5; 26:16; comp. Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30, 33), but this is not generally the case.

The heart is the “home of the personal life,” and hence a man is designated, according to his heart, wise (1 Kings 3:12, etc.), pure (Ps. 24:4; Matt. 5:8, etc.), upright and righteous (Gen. 20:5, 6;

wise of heart and strong of power who? has he shown stubbornness to him and he has remained unharmed
וְאַמִּ֣יץve.'a.Mitz and strong of H533 Conjunction
6× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for strong or mighty, used to describe courageous people like King David. It appears in 1 Samuel 31:12, where the men of Jabesh-gilead show strength in rescuing Saul's body. This word emphasizes bravery and power.
Amplified meaning
strong, courageous, or powerful
Tyndale gloss
strong
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַמִּיץ (ammiyts) means 'mighty' or 'strong.' It is derived from the root word for strength and conveys the idea of being courageous or powerful. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning as an adjective describing strength or might.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַמִּיץ, (אַמִּץ) adj. mighty

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H533 אַמִּיץ, (אַמִּץ) mighty

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

533 'ammiyts am-meets'

or (shortened) ammits {am-meets'}; from 553; strong or

(abstractly) strength:--courageous, mighty, strong (one).

see HEBREW for 0553

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַמִּיץ (am.mits) — strong.

strong, mighty

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Adj — Conjunction
HC/Aamsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
wise of heart and strong of power who? has he shown stubbornness to him and he has remained unharmed
כֹּ֑חַKo.ach power H3581 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
126× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Koach means strength or power, referring to human, angelic, or God's might. It can also describe the strength of animals or the produce of soil.
Amplified meaning
power or might, referring to God's ability
Tyndale gloss
reptile
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּחַ (koach) refers to both a small reptile, likely a type of lizard, and the concepts of strength and power. The entries highlight its use in contexts of human and divine strength, as well as its association with wealth and capacity. Notably, it appears in Leviticus 11:30 regarding unclean animals.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּחַ n.[m.] a small reptile, prob. a kind of lizard, in list of unclean creeping things Lv 11:30; chameleon

ref

כֹּחַ and כּוֹחַ n.m. strength, power

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3581a כֹּחַ a small reptile, prob. a kind of lizard, in list of unclean creeping things; chameleon H3581b כֹּחַ and כּוֹחַ strength, power

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3581 koach ko'-akh

or (Dan. 11:6) kowach {ko'-akh}; from an unused root meaning

to be firm; vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense)

or figuratively (capacity, means, produce); also (from its

hardiness) a large lizard: -ability, able, chameleon, force,

fruits, might, power(-ful), strength, substance, wealth.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּחַ (ko.ach) — reptile.

1) a small reptile, probably a kind of lizard, which is unclean

1a) perhaps an extinct animal, exact meaning is unknown

כֹּחַ (ko.ach) — strength.

1) strength, power, might

1a) human strength

1b) strength (of angels)

1c) power (of God)

1d) strength (of animals)

1e) strength, produce, wealth (of soil)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

pou'-er: This word, indicative of might, strength, force, is used in the Old Testament to render very many Hebrew terms, the translation in numerous instances being varied in the Revised Version (British and American) to words like "valor," "rule," "strength," "might," "dominion." The principal words for "power" in the New Testament are dunamis, and exousia. In the latter case the Revised Version (British and American) frequently changes to "authority" (Mr 3:15; 6:7; Eph 1:21, etc.) or "right" (Ro 9:21; 1Co 9:6; 2Th 3:9, etc.). Power is attributed preeminently to God (1Ch…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ OF CHRIST

As the Son of God, is the power of God Joh 5:17-19; 10:28-30

As man, is from the Father Ac 10:38

Described as supreme Eph 1:20,21; 1Pe 3:22

Unlimited Mt 28:18

Over all flesh Joh 17:2

Over all things Joh 3:35; Eph 1:22

Glorious 2Th 1:9

Everlasting 1Ti 6:16

Is able to subdue all things Php 3:21

wise of heart and strong of power who? has he shown stubbornness to him and he has remained unharmed
מִֽי־mi- who? H4310 Pronoun
423× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is used to ask questions like who, whose, or whom. It can also be used to express a wish, like would that or whoever. It appears in many forms throughout the Bible, often in phrases like O that or what.
Amplified meaning
which person
Tyndale gloss
who?
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִי (mi) is an interrogative pronoun primarily used to ask about persons, meaning 'who?' or 'whose?'. It can also appear in rhetorical questions and has some idiomatic uses, such as 'who among...?' or 'whosoever'. The word is rarely applied to things, and its forms can vary in emphasis.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִי 423 pron.interrog. who? of persons

מִי is rarely used of things, and usually where persons are understood or implied

in the gen. whose

in an indirect qu.

מִי ב׳ who among … ?

strengthened and emph. forms of interrog.

various rhetorical uses whose

מִי may sometimes be rendered whosoever, though, as the examples will shew, it does not really mean it

once, following a verb, any one

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4310 מִי who? of persons . מִי is rarely used of things, and usually where persons are understood or implied

. in the gen. whose

. in an indirect qu.

. מִי ב׳ who among … ?

. strengthened and emph. forms of interrog.

. various rhetorical uses whose

. מִי may sometimes be rendered whosoever, though, as the examples will shew, it does not really mean it

. once, following a verb, any one

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4310 miy me

an interrogative pronoun of persons, as 4100 is of things,

who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also

(indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction

with prefix or suffix:--any (man), X he, X him, + O that!

what, which, who(-m, -se, -soever), + would to God.

see HEBREW for 04100

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִי (mi) — who?.

who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Pronoun
HPi
wise of heart and strong of power who? has he shown stubbornness to him and he has remained unharmed
הִקְשָׁ֥הhik.Shah has he shown stubbornness H7185 Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person masculine singular
28× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means to be hard or severe, like when Pharaoh's heart was hardened against the Israelites in Exodus.
Amplified meaning
hardened himself against, or challenged
Tyndale gloss
to harden
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קָשָׁה (qashah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be hard, severe, or fierce. It can describe difficulty or harshness in various contexts, including labor and obstinacy. The word has different forms, such as Qal (to be hard), Niphal (to be ill-treated), and Hiphil (to make difficult or burdensome).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[קָשָׁה] vb. be hard, severe, fierce

Qal

be hard, difficult

be hard, severe

Niph. hardly bestead, hard pressed

Pi. she made hard in her bearing (had severe labour)

Hiph.

make difficult, difficulty

make severe, burdensome, yoke imposed by king

make hard, stiff, stubborn, fig. of obstinacy

shew stubbornness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7185 קָשָׁה be hard, severe, fierce .. be hard, difficult

. be hard, severe

. hardly bestead, hard pressed

. . make difficult, difficulty

. make severe, burdensome, yoke imposed by king

. . make hard, stiff, stubborn, fig. of obstinacy

. shew stubbornness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7185 qashah kaw-shaw'

a primitive root; properly, to be dense, i.e. tough or severe

(in various applications):--be cruel, be fiercer, make

grievous, be ((ask a), be in, have, seem, would) hard(-en,

(labour), -ly, thing), be sore, (be, make) stiff(-en,

(-necked)).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָשָׁה (qa.shah) — to harden.

1) to be hard, be severe, be fierce, be harsh

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be hard, be difficult

1a2) to be hard, be severe

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be ill-treated

1b2) to be hard pressed

1c) (Piel) to have severe labour (of women)

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to make difficult, make difficulty

1d2) to make severe, make burdensome

1d3) to make hard, make stiff, make stubborn

1d3a) of obstinacy (fig)

1d4) to show stubbornness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Perf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person masculine singular
HVhp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ See OBDURACY

wise of heart and strong of power who? has he shown stubbornness to him and he has remained unharmed
אֵ֝לָ֗יו'e.Lav to him H413 Preposition · suffix
5,518× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Amplified meaning
the Lord, or God
Tyndale gloss
to(wards)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),

prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place

Where the limit is actually entered, into

Of direction towards anything

Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

Of rule or standard according to (rare)

Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place

. Where the limit is actually entered, into

. Of direction towards anything

. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

. Of rule or standard according to (rare)

. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

413 'el ale

(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});

a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but

occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or

among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,

against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,

by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,

over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,

with(-in).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶל (el) — to(wards).

1) to, toward, unto (of motion)

2) into (limit is actually entered)

2a) in among

3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)

4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)

5) in addition to, to

6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of

7) according to (rule or standard)

8) at, by, against (of one's presence)

9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp3ms
wise of heart and strong of power who? has he shown stubbornness to him and he has remained unharmed
וַיִּשְׁלָֽם׃vai.yish.Lam and he has remained unharmed H7999 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
116× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to be at peace or to make peace with someone. It is used in the Bible to describe a state of safety or friendship. In the KJV, it is translated as 'make amends' or 'be at peace'.
Amplified meaning
been at peace, or had good come of it
Tyndale gloss
to complete
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁלֵם (shalam) is a Hebrew root meaning to be complete or sound, covering a range of meanings from finishing or restoring to making peace. It can refer to being uninjured, completing a task, or making recompense. The verb also has a denominative form indicating a covenant of peace, suggesting relationships of harmony and safety.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׁלֵם] 103 vb. be complete, sound

Qal

be complete, finished, ended

be sound, uninjured

Pi.

complete, finish, temple

make safe

make whole or good, restore

make good, i.e. pay, vows

requite, recompense, reward

Pu.

be performed, of vow

be repaid, requited

Hiph.

complete, perform

make an end of

base

[שָׁלַם] vb. denom. be in covenant of peace

Qal be at peace

Pu. Pt. one in covt. of peace

Hiph.

make peace with

cause to be at peace

Hoph. live at peace with

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7999a שָׁלֵם be complete, sound .. be complete, finished, ended

. be sound, uninjured

. . complete, finish, temple

. make safe

. make whole or good, restore

. make good, i.e. pay, vows

. requite, recompense, reward

. . be performed, of vow

. be repaid, requited

. . complete, perform

. make an end of

H7999b [שָׁלַם] vb. denom. be in covenant of peace .be at peace

. Pt. one in covt. of peace

. . make peace with

. cause to be at peace

. live at peace with

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7999 shalam shaw-lam'

a primitive root; to be safe (in mind, body or estate);

figuratively, to be (causatively, make) completed; by

implication, to be friendly; by extension, to reciprocate (in

various applications):--make amends, (make an) end, finish,

full, give again, make good, (re-)pay (again), (make) (to) (be

at) peace(-able), that is perfect, perform, (make)

prosper(-ous), recompense, render, requite, make restitution,

restore, reward, X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁלֵם (sa.lem) — to complete.

1) to be complete, be sound

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be complete, be finished, be ended

1a2) to be sound, be uninjured

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to complete, finish

1b2) to make safe

1b3) to make whole or good, restore, make compensation

1b4) to make good, pay

1b5) to requite, recompense, reward

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to be performed

1c2) to be repaid, be requited

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to complete, perform

1d2) to make an end of

Aramaic equivalent: she.lam (שְׁלֵם "be complete" H8000)

שָׁלַם (sha.lam) — to ally.

1) to be in a covenant of peace, be at peace

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be at peace

1a2) peaceful one (participle)

1b) (Pual) one in covenant of peace (participle)

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to make peace with

1c2) to cause to be at peace

1d) (Hophal) to live in peace

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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