What does עָצַם mean in the Bible?
e. close (the eyes); intransitively, to be (causatively, make) powerful or numerous ; to crunch the bones".
Hebrew · H6105
עָצַם
To bind fast , i.e. close (the eyes); intransitively, to be (causatively, make) powerful or numerous ; to crunch the bones
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
עָצַם H6105
What does עָצַם mean in the Bible?
עָצַם is a Hebrew word meaning "to bind fast , i.e. close (the eyes); intransitively, to be (causatively, make) powerful or numerous ; to crunch the bones".
Full entry for עָצַם (H6105) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6105?
The BSB source-word alignment has 20 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include . . . (2), and your numerous (2), more numerous (2), numerous (2), and shuts (1).
Where does עָצַם appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 26:16. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (6), Jeremiah (5), Daniel (3), Isaiah (3).
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 . . . 2× Psalms 38:19, Isaiah 31:1
and your numerous 2× Jeremiah 30:14, Jeremiah 30:15
more numerous 2× Psalms 105:24, Jeremiah 15:8
numerous 2× Exodus 1:7, Exodus 1:20
and shuts 1× Isaiah 33:15
are numerous 1× Jeremiah 5:6
but at the height of his power 1× Daniel 8:8
He has shut 1× Isaiah 29:10
many are 1× Psalms 69:4
They are more 1× Psalms 40:12
they are more than 1× Psalms 40:5
to crush his bones 1× Jeremiah 50:17
to power 1× Daniel 11:23
too powerful 1× Genesis 26:16
vast 1× Psalms 139:17
will be great 1× Daniel 8:24
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 26:16 עָצַֽמְתָּ־ to too powerful Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular Exodus 1:7 וַיַּֽעַצְמ֖וּ to numerous Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Exodus 1:20 וַיַּֽעַצְמ֖וּ to numerous Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Psalms 38:19 עָצֵ֑מוּ to . . . Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Psalms 40:5 עָ֝צְמ֗וּ to they are more than Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Psalms 40:12 עָצְמ֥וּ to They are more Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Psalms 69:4 עָצְמ֣וּ to many are Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Psalms 105:24 וַ֝יַּֽעֲצִמֵהוּ to more numerous Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular Psalms 139:17 עָ֝צְמוּ to vast Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Isaiah 29:10 וַיְעַצֵּ֖ם to He has shut Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 26:16
Aligned rows 20
Books represented 6
Genesis 1 Exodus 2 Psalms 6 Isaiah 3 Jeremiah 5 Daniel 3
Source forms
וַיַּֽעַצְמ֖וּ 2x way·ya·‘aṣ·mū Exodus 1:7, Exodus 1:20
עָצְמ֣וּ 2x ‘ā·ṣə·mū Psalms 69:4, Isaiah 31:1
עָצְמ֖וּ 2x ‘ā·ṣə·mū Jeremiah 5:6, Jeremiah 30:14
וַיְעַצֵּ֖ם 1x way·‘aṣ·ṣêm Isaiah 29:10
וַ֝יַּֽעֲצִמֵהוּ 1x way·ya·‘ă·ṣi·mê·hū Psalms 105:24
וּכְעָצְמ֗וֹ 1x ū·ḵə·‘ā·ṣə·mōw Daniel 8:8
וְעָצַ֤ם 1x wə·‘ā·ṣam Daniel 8:24
וְעָצַ֖ם 1x wə·‘ā·ṣam Daniel 11:23
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural 10x Psalms 38:19, Psalms 40:5, Psalms 40:12, Psalms 69:4
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular 2x Daniel 8:24, Daniel 11:23
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural 2x Exodus 1:7, Exodus 1:20
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular 1x Psalms 105:24
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 1x Isaiah 29:10
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 1x Isaiah 33:15
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular 1x Daniel 8:8
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular 1x Jeremiah 50:17
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. to bind fast , i.e. close (the eyes); intransitively, to be (causatively, make) powerful or numerous ; to crunch the bones
Source Gloss
to bind fast , i.e. close (the eyes); intransitively, to be (causatively, make) powerful or numerous ; to crunch the bones
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
to bind fast, i.e. close (the eyes); intransitively, to be (causatively, make) powerful or numerous; to crunch the bones BDB: shut the eyes Usage: break the bones, close, be great, be increased, be (wax) mighty(-ier), be more, shut, be(-come, make) strong(-er).
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 1 Aligned forms 11
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 11×
Perfect Isa 31:1 · Jer 5:6 · Jer 15:8 · Jer 30:14 · Jer 30:15 · Ps 38:20 · Ps 40:6 · Ps 40:13 · Ps 69:5 · Ps 139:17 · Gen 26:16 11×
Word Origins
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