הַחֲזֵ֣ק
𐤄𐤇𐤆𐤒
châzaq
Take hold
To be or become strong, firm, or resolute—whether physically, mentally, or spiritually; to strengthen or make firm, to hold fast, to seize or take hold (of), to repair or restore, or to prevail. The word also carries nuances of being courageous, reinforcing, supporting, repairing, or recovering, depending on context. In certain cases, it conveys the idea of overcoming resistance or withstanding.
Proverbs 4:13 · Word #1
Lexicon H2388
| Lemma | חָזַק |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤇𐤆𐤒 |
| Transliteration | châzaq |
| Strong's | H2388 |
| Definition | To be or become strong, firm, or resolute—whether physically, mentally, or spiritually; to strengthen or make firm, to hold fast, to seize or take hold (of), to repair or restore, or to prevail. The word also carries nuances of being courageous, reinforcing, supporting, repairing, or recovering, depending on context. In certain cases, it conveys the idea of overcoming resistance or withstanding. |
Morphology HVhv2ms
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | V — Verb — An action or state |
| Binyan | h — Hiphil — Causative active |
| Conjugation | v — Imperative — A command |
| Person | 2 — 2nd person — Second person ("you") |
| Gender | m — Masculine — Masculine |
| Number | s — Singular — Singular |
Common Translation
| Phrase | Take hold |
SIBI-P1 Translation H2388-16
Strengthen!
| Morphological Notes | Verb, Hiphil (causative) imperative, 2nd person masculine singular. |
| Rendering Rationale | The Hiphil stem gives a causative force, meaning "cause to be strong" or "make firm." As a 2nd person masculine singular imperative, it is a direct command to bring about strength or firmness. |
View full lexicon entry for H2388 →
SILEX v2
SIBI-P2 (Context-Aware)
Take hold
| Same as P1 | No — adjusted for context |
| Rationale | In context, 'Take hold' more accurately expresses the imperative nuance of urging one to grasp or seize rather than 'Strengthen!' which may sound generic or passive. The SILEX definition supports 'take hold' for this verb. |