What does תָּמַךְ (tāmakĕ) mean in the Bible?
תָּמַךְ (tāmakĕ): To grasp and hold firmly; sustaining through active support rather than passive maintenance alone.
Hebrew · H8551
תָּמַךְ
To sustain ; by implication, to obtain , keep fast ; figuratively, to help , follow close
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תָּמַךְH8551
Pronunciationtāmakĕ
What does תָּמַךְ (tāmakĕ) mean in the Bible?
תָּמַךְ (tāmakĕ): To grasp and hold firmly; sustaining through active support rather than passive maintenance alone.
Full entry for תָּמַךְ (H8551) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H8551?
The BSB source-word alignment has 21 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and the one who wields (2), and grasps (1), and those who lay hold of her (1), and took (1), attains (1).
Where does תָּמַךְ (tāmakĕ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 48:17. Its strongest book concentrations include Proverbs (9), Psalms (4), Isaiah (3), Amos (2).
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 the one who wields2×Amos 1:5, Amos 1:8
and grasps1×Proverbs 31:19
and those who lay hold of her1×Proverbs 3:18
and took1×Genesis 48:17
attains1×Proverbs 11:16
gain1×Proverbs 11:16
have held1×Psalms 17:5
have made1×Psalms 16:5
have seized you1×Job 36:17
held1×Exodus 17:12
I will uphold you1×Isaiah 41:10
lay hold1×Proverbs 4:4
lead straight to1×Proverbs 5:5
support1×Proverbs 28:17
takes1×Isaiah 33:15
the cords1×Proverbs 5:22
upholds me1×Psalms 63:8
whom I uphold1×Isaiah 42:1
will obtain1×Proverbs 29:23
You uphold1×Psalms 41:12
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 48:17וַיִּתְמֹ֣ךְtoand tookConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularExodus 17:12תָּֽמְכ֣וּtoheldVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralJob 36:17יִתְמֹֽכוּ׃tohave seized youVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralPsalms 16:5תּוֹמִ֥יךְtohave madeVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularPsalms 17:5תָּמֹ֣ךְtohave heldVerb - Qal - Infinitive absolutePsalms 41:12תָּמַ֣כְתָּtoYou upholdVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularPsalms 63:8תָּמְכָ֥הtoupholds meVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularProverbs 3:18וְֽתֹמְכֶ֥יהָtoand those who lay hold of herConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singularProverbs 4:4יִֽתְמָךְ־tolay holdVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularProverbs 5:5יִתְמֹֽכוּ׃tolead straight toVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 48:17
Aligned rows21
Books represented7
Genesis1Exodus1Job1Psalms4Proverbs9Isaiah3Amos2
Source forms
וְתוֹמֵ֥ךְ2xwə·ṯō·w·mêḵAmos 1:5, Amos 1:8
יִתְמְכוּ־2xyiṯ·mə·ḵū-Proverbs 11:16, Proverbs 28:17
יִתְמֹֽכוּ׃2xyiṯ·mō·ḵūJob 36:17, Proverbs 5:5
אֶתְמָךְ־1x’eṯ·māḵ-Isaiah 42:1
וַיִּתְמֹ֣ךְ1xway·yiṯ·mōḵGenesis 48:17
וְֽתֹמְכֶ֥יהָ1xwə·ṯō·mə·ḵe·hāProverbs 3:18
יִתְמֹ֥ךְ1xyiṯ·mōḵProverbs 29:23
יִֽתְמָךְ־1xyiṯ·māḵ-Proverbs 4:4
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural4xJob 36:17, Proverbs 5:5, Proverbs 11:16, Proverbs 28:17
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular2xProverbs 4:4, Proverbs 29:23
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural2xExodus 17:12, Proverbs 31:19
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1xGenesis 48:17
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular1xProverbs 3:18
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct1xAmos 1:8
Noun - masculine singular1xAmos 1:5
Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct1xIsaiah 33:15
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. To grasp and hold firmly; sustaining through active support rather than passive maintenance alone.
Strong'sH8551
Lexical occurrences21 versesWord forms2 forms15 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkProverbs 28:17Source Gloss
to sustain ; by implication, to obtain , keep fast ; figuratively, to help , follow close
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
To grasp and hold firmly; sustaining through active support rather than passive maintenance alone.
to sustain; by implication, to obtain, keep fast; figuratively, to help, follow close BDB: grasp Usage: (take, up-) hold (up), maintain, retain, stay (up).
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 groups2Aligned forms15
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense14×
ImperfectJob 36:17 · Prov 5:5 · Prov 11:16 · Isa 42:1 · Prov 29:236×
PerfectExod 17:12 · Prov 31:19 · Ps 41:13 · Ps 63:94×
JussiveProv 4:4 · Prov 28:172×
Participle activePs 16:51×
Infinitive absolutePs 17:51×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action1×
ImperfectProv 5:221×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
to grasp or maintain control, as one burdened by guilt
Showing 1 selected witness from 21 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
תָּמַךְ 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.