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תָּמַךְ

𐤕𐤌𐤊

tâmak

H8551 verb

SILEX Entry

Root תמך to support, to hold, to sustain

Definition

To support, hold firmly, or sustain something physically or figuratively; to grasp securely or uphold, either materially or metaphorically. The term can denote providing physical support, maintaining a condition or state, or offering protective reinforcement.

Semantic Range

to support physically, to grasp or hold securely, to sustain or maintain a condition, to uphold (morally or spiritually), to reinforce, to protect, to help or assist

Root / Etymology

Root/Etymology: From the root תָּמַךְ, core meaning 'to support, grasp, sustain.' The formation is the qal verb base, expressing a simple, uncausative meaning: to hold or support.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, תָּמַךְ appears in contexts involving both literal and metaphorical support. Literally, it describes actions such as holding up hands (Exod 17:12) or sustaining a physical object. Figuratively, it is used for maintaining justice, upholding the righteous, or preserving someone in danger (Job 36:17; Ps 37:17, 24). The word frequently occurs in wisdom literature and Psalms, where the notion of support extends to moral, emotional, or spiritual sustenance. Over time, the metaphorical sense of 'support' or 'uphold' gained prominence in liturgical and poetic contexts. The English rendering 'hold,' 'maintain,' or 'uphold' often captures the sense, but may not convey the range from physical to moral support. Distinct from related terms like סעד (to support, especially for sustenance) and סמך (to lean or lay upon for support), תָּמַךְ stresses the act of grasping or holding up rather than merely providing a foundation or being leaned upon.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to sustain; by implication, to obtain, keep fast; figuratively, to help, follow close; (take, up-) hold (up), maintain, retain, stay (up).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

תמך (t-m-k) — support, hold, sustain

Word Forms

17 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8551-17 יִתְמֹֽכוּ yitemokhu HVqi3mp take hold they will support 2
H8551-15 יִתְמְכוּ yitemekhu HVqi3mp gain they will support 2
H8551-11 וְ/תוֹמֵ֥ךְ vetomekhe HC/Vqrmsc and-the-one-holding supporting one 2
H8551-05 תָּֽמְכ֣וּ tamekhu HVqp3cp grasp they supported 2
H8551-04 תָּמְכָ֥ה tamekhah HVqp3fs holds she supported 1
H8551-16 יִתְמֹ֥ךְ yitemokhe HVqi3ms will uphold he will support 1
H8551-14 יִֽתְמָךְ yitemakhe HVqj3ms let it hold fast may he support 1
H8551-08 תִּתְמֹ֣ךְ titemokhe HVqi3fs gains she will support 1
H8551-07 תְּמַכְתִּ֖י/ךָ temakhetikha HVqp1cs/Sp2ms I have upheld you I have supported you 1
H8551-02 מִ/תְּמֹ֣ךְ mitemokhe HR/Vqc from holding from supporting 1

Occurrences in Scripture

21 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8551-10 Genesis 48:17 וַ/יִּתְמֹ֣ךְ vayitemokhe HC/Vqw3ms and he grasped and he supported
H8551-05 Exodus 17:12 תָּֽמְכ֣וּ tamekhu HVqp3cp held up they supported
H8551-02 Isaiah 33:15 מִ/תְּמֹ֣ךְ mitemokhe HR/Vqc from holding from supporting
H8551-07 Isaiah 41:10 תְּמַכְתִּ֖י/ךָ temakhetikha HVqp1cs/Sp2ms I have upheld you I have supported you
H8551-01 Isaiah 42:1 אֶתְמָךְ etemakhe HVqi1cs whom I uphold I will support
H8551-11 Amos 1:5 וְ/תוֹמֵ֥ךְ vetomekhe HC/Vqrmsc and the one who holds supporting one
H8551-11 Amos 1:8 וְ/תוֹמֵ֥ךְ vetomekhe HC/Vqrmsc and-the-one-holding supporting one
H8551-09 Psalms 16:5 תּוֹמִ֥יךְ tomikhe HVqrmsa maintain supporting one
H8551-06 Psalms 17:5 תָּמֹ֣ךְ tamokhe HVqa Hold up to firmly support
H8551-03 Psalms 41:13 תָּמַ֣כְתָּ tamakheta HVqp2ms you have upheld you supported
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