What does אָמַץ (ʾāmaṣ) mean in the Bible?
אָמַץ (ʾāmaṣ): Courage manifests as steadfast inner strength to act decisively; God uses this term to fortify human resolve in covenant contexts.
Hebrew · H553
אָמַץ
To be alert , physically (on foot) or mentally (in courage)
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אָמַץH553
Pronunciationʾāmaṣ
What does אָמַץ (ʾāmaṣ) mean in the Bible?
אָמַץ (ʾāmaṣ): Courage manifests as steadfast inner strength to act decisively; God uses this term to fortify human resolve in covenant contexts.
Full entry for אָמַץ (H553) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H553?
The BSB source-word alignment has 41 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and courageous (12), in haste (2), too mighty (2), You have raised up (2), and hardened (1).
Where does אָמַץ (ʾāmaṣ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 25:23. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Chronicles (7), Psalms (7), Deuteronomy (6), Joshua (5).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itand courageous12×Deuteronomy 31:6, Deuteronomy 31:7, Deuteronomy 31:23, Joshua 1:6
in haste2×1 Kings 12:18, 2 Chronicles 10:18
too mighty2×2 Samuel 22:18, Psalms 18:17
You have raised up2×Psalms 80:15, Psalms 80:17
and hardened1×2 Chronicles 36:13
and steady1×Isaiah 35:3
and strengthen him1×Deuteronomy 3:28
and supported1×2 Chronicles 11:17
and they reinforced it1×2 Chronicles 24:13
are strong1×Proverbs 31:17
But I would encourage you1×Job 16:5
courageous1×Joshua 1:7
enhances1×Proverbs 24:5
He lets it grow strong1×Isaiah 44:14
I will strengthen you1×Isaiah 41:10
obstinate1×Deuteronomy 2:30
prevail1×Amos 2:14
prevailed1×2 Chronicles 13:18
Summon1×Nahum 2:1
they are too strong for me1×Psalms 142:6
to harden1×Deuteronomy 15:7
to resist1×2 Chronicles 13:7
was determined1×Ruth 1:18
when He established1×Proverbs 8:28
will be stronger1×Genesis 25:23
will strengthen him1×Psalms 89:21
you have braced1×Job 4:4
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 25:23יֶֽאֱמָ֔ץtowill be strongerVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 2:30וְאִמֵּץ֙toobstinateConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 3:28וְאַמְּצֵ֑הוּtoand strengthen himConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 15:7תְאַמֵּ֣ץtoto hardenVerb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singularDeuteronomy 31:6וְאִמְצ֔וּtoand courageousConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralDeuteronomy 31:7וֶאֱמָץ֒toand courageousConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularDeuteronomy 31:23וֶֽאֱמָץ֒toand courageousConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularJoshua 1:6וֶאֱמָ֑ץtoand courageousConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularJoshua 1:7וֶֽאֱמַ֜ץtocourageousConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularJoshua 1:9וֶאֱמָ֔ץtoand courageousConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 25:23
Aligned rows41
Books represented14
Genesis1Deuteronomy6Joshua5Ruth12 Samuel11 Kings11 Chronicles22 Chronicles7Job2Psalms7Proverbs3Isaiah3Amos1Nahum1
Source forms
וְאִמְצ֔וּ3xwə·’im·ṣūDeuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 10:25, 2 Chronicles 32:7
הִתְאַמֵּץ֙2xhiṯ·’am·mêṣ1 Kings 12:18, 2 Chronicles 10:18
וֶאֱמָ֔ץ2xwe·’ĕ·māṣJoshua 1:9, 1 Chronicles 22:13
וְיַאֲמֵ֣ץ2xwə·ya·’ă·mêṣPsalms 27:14, Psalms 31:24
אֲאַמִּצְכֶ֥ם1x’ă·’am·miṣ·ḵemJob 16:5
אַמֵּ֥ץ1x’am·mêṣNahum 2:1
אָמְצ֖וּ1x’ā·mə·ṣū2 Samuel 22:18
אָמְצ֥וּ1x’ā·mə·ṣūPsalms 18:17
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular8xDeuteronomy 31:7, Deuteronomy 31:23, Joshua 1:6, Joshua 1:7
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural3xDeuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 10:25, 2 Chronicles 32:7
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural3x2 Samuel 22:18, Psalms 18:17, Psalms 142:6
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular2xPsalms 27:14, Psalms 31:24
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular2x2 Chronicles 36:13, Isaiah 44:14
Verb - Hitpael - Perfect - third person masculine singular2x1 Kings 12:18, 2 Chronicles 10:18
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular2xDeuteronomy 15:7, Job 4:4
Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular2xPsalms 80:15, Psalms 80:17
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Courage manifests as steadfast inner strength to act decisively; God uses this term to fortify human resolve in covenant contexts.
Strong'sH553
Lexical occurrences41 versesWord forms3 forms15 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkProverbs 24:5-6Source Gloss
to be alert , physically (on foot) or mentally (in courage)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Courage manifests as steadfast inner strength to act decisively; God uses this term to fortify human resolve in covenant contexts.
to be alert, physically (on foot) or mentally (in courage) BDB: be stout Usage: confirm, be courageous (of good courage, stedfastly minded, strong, stronger), establish, fortify, harden, increase, prevail, strengthen (self), make strong (obstinate, speed).
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups3Aligned forms15
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense4×
Perfect2Sam 22:18 · Ps 18:18 · Ps 142:73×
ImperfectGen 25:231×
Hithpaelreflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others3×
Perfect1Kgs 12:18 · 2Chr 10:182×
Participle activeRuth 1:181×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action8×
ImperfectDeut 15:7 · Job 4:4 · Amos 2:143×
PerfectPs 80:16 · Ps 80:182×
Sequential imperfectIsa 35:3 · Nah 2:22×
Participle activeProv 24:51×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Mental courage and wisdom, describing a person of knowledge as stronger than physical might
Showing 1 selected witness from 41 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
אָמַץ is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.