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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אָמַץ H553
Pronunciation ʾāmaṣ
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 It and courageous 12× Deuteronomy 31:6, Deuteronomy 31:7, Deuteronomy 31:23, Joshua 1:6
in haste 2× 1 Kings 12:18, 2 Chronicles 10:18
too mighty 2× 2 Samuel 22:18, Psalms 18:17
You have raised up 2× Psalms 80:15, Psalms 80:17
and hardened 1× 2 Chronicles 36:13
and steady 1× Isaiah 35:3
and strengthen him 1× Deuteronomy 3:28
and supported 1× 2 Chronicles 11:17
and they reinforced it 1× 2 Chronicles 24:13
are strong 1× Proverbs 31:17
But I would encourage you 1× Job 16:5
courageous 1× Joshua 1:7
enhances 1× Proverbs 24:5
He lets it grow strong 1× Isaiah 44:14
I will strengthen you 1× Isaiah 41:10
obstinate 1× Deuteronomy 2:30
prevail 1× Amos 2:14
prevailed 1× 2 Chronicles 13:18
Summon 1× Nahum 2:1
they are too strong for me 1× Psalms 142:6
to harden 1× Deuteronomy 15:7
to resist 1× 2 Chronicles 13:7
was determined 1× Ruth 1:18
when He established 1× Proverbs 8:28
will be stronger 1× Genesis 25:23
will strengthen him 1× Psalms 89:21
you have braced 1× Job 4:4
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 25:23 יֶֽאֱמָ֔ץ to will be stronger Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Deuteronomy 2:30 וְאִמֵּץ֙ to obstinate Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Deuteronomy 3:28 וְאַמְּצֵ֑הוּ to and strengthen him Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine singular Deuteronomy 15:7 תְאַמֵּ֣ץ to to harden Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Deuteronomy 31:6 וְאִמְצ֔וּ to and courageous Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Deuteronomy 31:7 וֶאֱמָץ֒ to and courageous Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Deuteronomy 31:23 וֶֽאֱמָץ֒ to and courageous Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Joshua 1:6 וֶאֱמָ֑ץ to and courageous Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Joshua 1:7 וֶֽאֱמַ֜ץ to courageous Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Joshua 1:9 וֶאֱמָ֔ץ to and courageous Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 25:23
Aligned rows 41
Books represented 14
Genesis 1 Deuteronomy 6 Joshua 5 Ruth 1 2 Samuel 1 1 Kings 1 1 Chronicles 2 2 Chronicles 7 Job 2 Psalms 7 Proverbs 3 Isaiah 3 Amos 1 Nahum 1
Source forms
וְאִמְצ֔וּ 3x wə·’im·ṣū Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 10:25, 2 Chronicles 32:7
הִתְאַמֵּץ֙ 2x hiṯ·’am·mêṣ 1 Kings 12:18, 2 Chronicles 10:18
וֶאֱמָ֔ץ 2x we·’ĕ·māṣ Joshua 1:9, 1 Chronicles 22:13
וְיַאֲמֵ֣ץ 2x wə·ya·’ă·mêṣ Psalms 27:14, Psalms 31:24
אֲאַמִּצְכֶ֥ם 1x ’ă·’am·miṣ·ḵem Job 16:5
אַמֵּ֥ץ 1x ’am·mêṣ Nahum 2:1
אָמְצ֖וּ 1x ’ā·mə·ṣū 2 Samuel 22:18
אָמְצ֥וּ 1x ’ā·mə·ṣū Psalms 18:17
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular 8x Deuteronomy 31:7, Deuteronomy 31:23, Joshua 1:6, Joshua 1:7
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural 3x Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 10:25, 2 Chronicles 32:7
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural 3x 2 Samuel 22:18, Psalms 18:17, Psalms 142:6
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular 2x Psalms 27:14, Psalms 31:24
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 2x 2 Chronicles 36:13, Isaiah 44:14
Verb - Hitpael - Perfect - third person masculine singular 2x 1 Kings 12:18, 2 Chronicles 10:18
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular 2x Deuteronomy 15:7, Job 4:4
Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular 2x Psalms 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's H553
Lexical occurrences 41 verses Word forms 3 forms 15 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Proverbs 24:5-6 Source Gloss
to be alert , physically (on foot) or mentally (in courage)
Extended definition Source: 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 groups 3 Aligned forms 15
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 4×
Perfect 2Sam 22:18 · Ps 18:18 · Ps 142:7 3×
Imperfect Gen 25:23 1×
Hithpael reflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others 3×
Perfect 1Kgs 12:18 · 2Chr 10:18 2×
Participle active Ruth 1:18 1×
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 8×
Imperfect Deut 15:7 · Job 4:4 · Amos 2:14 3×
Perfect Ps 80:16 · Ps 80:18 2×
Sequential imperfect Isa 35:3 · Nah 2:2 2×
Participle active Prov 24:5 1×
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.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain