← H5809 H5811 →

עָזַז

𐤏𐤆𐤆

ʻâzaz

H5810 verb

SILEX Entry

Root עזז to be strong, to prevail, to harden oneself, to be impudent

Definition

To be strong or mighty; to demonstrate physical, moral, or psychological strength. In various contexts, it can denote becoming strong, growing bold, acting with confidence or insolence, or displaying unyielding firmness. Depending on the context, it may involve positive senses (e.g., strengthening oneself, prevailing against adversity) or negative (e.g., acting impudently, becoming hardened or brazen).

Semantic Range

to be mighty, to become strong, to gain strength, to prevail, to act boldly, to act insolently, to harden oneself, to demonstrate unyielding firmness; intransitive and reflexive senses

Root / Etymology

The verb עָזַז derives from the root ע-ז-ז, associated with strength, power, and fierceness. The root's base meaning is 'to be strong.' The form עָזַז functions as an intransitive or reflexive verb indicating the process or state of gaining, exhibiting, or exercising strength. Related nouns include עֹז ('strength, might'), and adjectives like עַז ('strong, fierce').

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, עָזַז occurs relatively rarely and often appears in poetic or figurative contexts. Its primary sense is exhibiting strength, whether physical or internal. While most occurrences convey a positive attribute (courage, valor, resilience), some poetic uses shift toward arrogance, insolence, or hardness of heart (e.g., refusing counsel or sense). In post-biblical Hebrew, derivatives leaned more toward the sense of impudence or insolence. English translations sometimes narrow its meaning to simply 'be strong,' but the Hebrew carries a wider spectrum, from strength to brashness or hardness. The term is distinct from חָזַק (ḥāzaq, 'to be strong, firm'), which more commonly indicates lasting, reliable strength, whereas עָזַז often has a more dynamic, sometimes aggressive connotation. This word appears both in Israelite poetry and late biblical texts but rarely in legal or narrative prose.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to be stout (literally or figuratively); harden, impudent, prevail, strengthen (self), be strong.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

עזז (ʿ-z-z) — strength, might, boldness, firmness

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4581 מָעוֹז in a stronghold of
H4590 מַעַזְיָה to Yah-is-Refuge
H5794 עַז strong
H5795 עֵז in the goats
H5797 עֹז my strength

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5810-08 יָעֹ֣ז yaoz HVqj3ms he shall not be strengthened may he be strong 3
H5810-05 תָּעֹ֥ז taoz HVqi3fs is-strong she will grow strong 2
H5810-07 וַ/תָּ֣עָז vataaz HC/Vqw3fs and grew strong and she grew strong 2
H5810-06 עוּזָּ֥/ה uzah HVqv2ms/Sd strengthen-her her strength 1
H5810-03 הֵעֵ֥זָה heezah HVhp3fs she made bold she strengthened 1
H5810-01 בַּ֝/עֲז֗וֹז baazoz HR/Vqc when he strengthened to be strong 1
H5810-02 הֵעֵ֬ז heez HVhp3ms hardens he made strong 1
H5810-04 לָ/עוֹז֙ laoz HR/Vqc to strengthen to be strong 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5810-07 Judges 3:10 וַ/תָּ֣עָז vataaz HC/Vqw3fs and it prevailed and she grew strong
H5810-07 Judges 6:2 וַ/תָּ֥עָז vataaz HC/Vqw3fs and grew strong and she grew strong
H5810-04 Isaiah 30:2 לָ/עוֹז֙ laoz HR/Vqc to strengthen to be strong
H5810-08 Psalms 9:20 יָעֹ֣ז yaoz HVqj3ms prevail may he be strong
H5810-08 Psalms 52:9 יָ֝עֹ֗ז yaoz HVqi3ms he strengthens himself may he be strong
H5810-06 Psalms 68:29 עוּזָּ֥/ה uzah HVqv2ms/Sd strengthen-her her strength
H5810-05 Psalms 89:14 תָּעֹ֥ז taoz HVqi3fs is-strong she will grow strong
H5810-03 Proverbs 7:13 הֵעֵ֥זָה heezah HVhp3fs she made bold she strengthened
H5810-01 Proverbs 8:28 בַּ֝/עֲז֗וֹז baazoz HR/Vqc when he strengthened to be strong
H5810-02 Proverbs 21:29 הֵעֵ֬ז heez HVhp3ms hardens he made strong
← H5809 Hebrew Lexicon H5811 →