חָזַק
cha.zaq
to strengthen: strengthen
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
Supported# Analyzing חָזַק (Chazaq): "To Strengthen" The Hebrew word חָזַק appears 201 times throughout the biblical text, indicating it held considerable significance in ancient Israelite thought and expression. The lexicon identifies its core meaning as "to strengthen," a verb describing the action of making something or someone more robust, resilient, or capable. This frequency of use suggests that concepts of strengthening—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual—were central concerns in biblical discourse. The verb's range of application likely extended across multiple contexts, given its high occurrence rate and straightforward definition. The term could apply to strengthening hands for labor or battle, fortifying resolve in difficult circumstances, or reinforcing commitment to a course of action. The lexicon's single definition does not suggest multiple disparate meanings but rather one core concept with varied applications depending on context—a common pattern in biblical Hebrew where a single verb root carries flexible usage across different situations. The prominence of this word in biblical literature underscores the cultural importance placed on strength, endurance, and resilience in ancient Israel. Whether used literally (strengthening physical structures or bodies) or figuratively (strengthening determination or faith), the word's prevalence indicates that the concept of becoming stronger or making others stronger was woven throughout biblical narratives, instruction, and exhortation.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
201 total occurrences across the text — showing 50
Behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of Yahweh; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all the king’s matters. Also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and may Yahweh be with the good.”
2 Chronicles 21:4Now when Jehoram had risen up over the kingdom of his father, and had strengthened himself, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and also some of the princes of Israel.
2 Chronicles 23:1In the seventh year, Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into a covenant with him.
2 Chronicles 24:5He gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather money to repair the house of your God from all Israel from year to year. See that you expedite this matter.” However the Levites didn’t do it right away.
2 Chronicles 24:12The king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of Yahweh’s house. They hired masons and carpenters to restore Yahweh’s house, and also those who worked iron and bronze to repair Yahweh’s house.
2 Chronicles 25:8But if you will go, take action, and be strong for the battle. God will overthrow you before the enemy; for God has power to help, and to overthrow.”
2 Chronicles 25:11Amaziah took courage, and led his people out, and went to the Valley of Salt, and struck ten thousand of the children of Seir.
2 Chronicles 26:8The Ammonites gave tribute to Uzziah. His name spread abroad even to the entrance of Egypt; for he grew exceedingly strong.
2 Chronicles 26:9Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them.
2 Chronicles 26:15In Jerusalem, he made devices, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and on the battlements, with which to shoot arrows and great stones. His name spread far abroad, because he was marvelously helped until he was strong.
2 Chronicles 27:6So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before Yahweh his God.
2 Chronicles 28:20Tilgath Pilneser king of Assyria came to him, and gave him trouble, but didn’t strengthen him.
2 Chronicles 29:3In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of Yahweh’s house, and repaired them.
2 Chronicles 29:34But the priests were too few, so that they could not skin all the burnt offerings. Therefore their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was ended, and until the priests had sanctified themselves; for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.
2 Chronicles 31:4Moreover he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to Yahweh’s law.
2 Chronicles 32:7“Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or dismayed because of the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude who is with him; for there is a greater one with us than with him.
2 Chronicles 34:8Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair Yahweh his God’s house.
2 Chronicles 34:10They delivered it into the hands of the workmen who had the oversight of Yahweh’s house; and the workmen who labored in Yahweh’s house gave it to mend and repair the house.
2 Chronicles 35:2He set the priests in their offices, and encouraged them in the service of Yahweh’s house.
Ezra 1:6All those who were around them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with animals, and with precious things, in addition to all that was willingly offered.
Ezra 6:22and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy; because Yahweh had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of God, the God of Israel’s house.
Ezra 7:28and has extended loving kindness to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. I was strengthened according to Yahweh my God’s hand on me, and I gathered together chief men out of Israel to go up with me.
Job 4:3Behold, you have instructed many, you have strengthened the weak hands.
Ezra 9:12Now therefore don’t give your daughters to their sons. Don’t take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity forever; that you may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.’
Ezra 10:4Arise; for the matter belongs to you, and we are with you. Be courageous, and do it.”
Nehemiah 2:18I told them of the hand of my God which was good on me, as also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. They said, “Let’s rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work.
Nehemiah 3:4Next to them, Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz made repairs. Next to them, Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel made repairs. Next to them, Zadok the son of Baana made repairs.
Nehemiah 3:4Next to them, Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz made repairs. Next to them, Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel made repairs. Next to them, Zadok the son of Baana made repairs.
Nehemiah 3:4Next to them, Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz made repairs. Next to them, Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel made repairs. Next to them, Zadok the son of Baana made repairs.
Nehemiah 3:5Next to them, the Tekoites made repairs; but their nobles didn’t put their necks to the Lord’s work.
Nehemiah 3:6Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the old gate. They laid its beams, and set up its doors, and its bolts, and its bars.
Nehemiah 3:7Next to them, Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, repaired the residence of the governor beyond the River.
Nehemiah 3:8Next to him, Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, made repairs. Next to him, Hananiah, one of the perfumers, made repairs, and they fortified Jerusalem even to the wide wall.
Nehemiah 3:8Next to him, Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, made repairs. Next to him, Hananiah, one of the perfumers, made repairs, and they fortified Jerusalem even to the wide wall.
Nehemiah 3:9Next to them, Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs.
Nehemiah 3:10Next to them, Jedaiah the son of Harumaph made repairs across from his house. Next to him, Hattush the son of Hashabneiah made repairs.
Nehemiah 3:10Next to them, Jedaiah the son of Harumaph made repairs across from his house. Next to him, Hattush the son of Hashabneiah made repairs.
Nehemiah 3:11Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hasshub the son of Pahathmoab, repaired another portion, and the tower of the furnaces.
Nehemiah 3:12Next to him, Shallum the son of Hallohesh, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, he and his daughters, made repairs.
Nehemiah 3:13Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the valley gate. They built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and one thousand cubits of the wall to the dung gate.
Nehemiah 3:14Malchijah the son of Rechab, the ruler of the district of Beth Haccherem repaired the dung gate. He built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
Nehemiah 3:15Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of the district of Mizpah repaired the spring gate. He built it, and covered it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and the wall of the pool of Shelah by the king’s garden, even to the stairs that go down from David’s city.
Nehemiah 3:16After him, Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of half the district of Beth Zur, made repairs to the place opposite the tombs of David, and to the pool that was made, and to the house of the mighty men.
Nehemiah 3:17After him, the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani made repairs. Next to him, Hashabiah, the ruler of half the district of Keilah, made repairs for his district.
Nehemiah 3:17After him, the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani made repairs. Next to him, Hashabiah, the ruler of half the district of Keilah, made repairs for his district.
Nehemiah 3:18After him, their brothers, Bavvai the son of Henadad, the ruler of half the district of Keilah made repairs.
Nehemiah 3:19Next to him, Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, repaired another portion, across from the ascent to the armory at the turning of the wall.
Nehemiah 3:20After him, Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired another portion, from the turning of the wall to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
Nehemiah 3:21After him, Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz repaired another portion, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.
Nehemiah 3:22After him, the priests, the men of the Plain made repairs.