Original Word: אָמַץ
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: amats
Pronunciation: ah-MAYTS
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-mats')
KJV: confirm, be courageous (of good courage, stedfastly minded, strong, stronger), establish, fortify, harden, increase, prevail, strengthen (self), make strong (obstinate, speed)
NASB: courageous, strengthen, strengthened, made haste, strong, take courage, conquered
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to be alert, physically (on foot) or mentally (in courage)

confirm, be courageous of good courage, steadfastly minded, strong, stronger, establish, fortify, harden,

A primitive root; to be alert, physically (on foot) or mentally (in courage) -- confirm, be courageous (of good courage, stedfastly minded, strong, stronger), establish, fortify, harden, increase, prevail, strengthen (self), make strong (obstinate, speed).

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to be stout, strong, bold, alert
NASB Translation
conquered (1), courageous (11), determined (1), harden (1), hardened (1), increases (1), made his obstinate (1), made firm (1), made haste (2), made strong (1), makes her strong (1), mighty (1), proved...strong (1), raises (1), strengthen (6), strengthened (3), strong (2), stronger (1), summon (1), supported (1), take courage (2).

Essential Theme of Courage and Strength

The verb conveys the idea of becoming firm, resolute, or emboldened. It depicts inner fortitude granted or commanded by God and then expressed in decisive action. Whether applied to leaders, armies, craftsmen, women in daily labor, or the fearful remnant of Israel, it consistently joins moral bravery with confident trust in the LORD’s presence.

God’s Direct Command to Leaders

From the Jordan to the exile, the imperative “be strong” frames transitional moments for covenant leadership. Four times in Deuteronomy 31 and another four in Joshua 1, Moses and the LORD charge Joshua:
• Deuteronomy 31:6, 7, 23
• Joshua 1:6, 7, 9, 18

In each setting strength is not self-generated but grounded in the promise “for the LORD your God is with you” (Joshua 1:9). The same exhortation resurfaces for Hezekiah before Assyria (2 Chronicles 32:7) and for returning exiles who rebuild the temple (Zechariah 8:9, 13). Thus the word links successive generations to the same divine resource.

Courage in Warfare and National Crisis

Numbers 13:20 introduces the term on the lips of Moses to the spies: “Be courageous, and bring back some fruit of the land.” Later, commanders rally troops with it:
• 2 Samuel 10:12; 1 Chronicles 19:13 — Joab before Arameans and Ammonites
• Joshua 10:25 — Joshua after routing the five Amorite kings

These occurrences pair human resolve with the conviction that victory belongs to the LORD (cf. Deuteronomy 31:6; 2 Chronicles 32:7). The courage urged is neither reckless nor self-confident; it rests on God’s covenant faithfulness.

Strength for the Weary and Afflicted

Job repeatedly uses the verb of sustaining the broken: “Your words have steadied those who stumbled; you have strengthened faltering knees” (Job 4:4). Isaiah echoes the imagery for a fearful remnant: “Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!” (Isaiah 35:3). Psalm 31:24 universalizes the call: “Be strong and courageous, all you who hope in the LORD.” Here the focus shifts from battlefield to heart, yet the source of empowerment remains identical.

Wisdom, Work, and Domestic Life

Proverbs 31:17 portrays the virtuous wife: “She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.” The same verb that rallies armies now describes diligence in ordinary vocation. Isaiah 41:7 even shows craftsmen encouraging one another as they fashion idols—an ironic contrast that highlights the greater legitimacy of strength derived from Yahweh.

Prophetic Hope and Restoration

Post-exilic texts employ the term when morale is low: “Let your hands be strong so that the temple may be rebuilt” (Zechariah 8:9). Divine assurance enables restored obedience, anchoring future blessing on present courage (Zechariah 8:13, 15). Daniel, overwhelmed by heavenly visions, is twice “strengthened” by angelic touch (Daniel 10:18), foreshadowing eschatological empowerment for God’s people.

Theological Synthesis

1. True courage is inseparable from God’s presence and promise.
2. Strength is both commanded and bestowed; obedience opens the channel for divine enabling.
3. The same grace fortifies leaders, laborers, warriors, exiles, and the afflicted.
4. Eschatological passages anticipate a final, God-given strengthening of His people, ultimately fulfilled in Christ who strengthens every believer (compare Ephesians 6:10).

Ministry Application

• Preaching: Emphasize that calls to courage are grounded in covenant promises, not mere optimism.
• Counseling: Encourage the weary with Psalm 31:24; remind them that God still “strengthens hearts” (Psalm 10:17).
• Leadership Training: Model Joshua’s pattern—mediate divine truth, exhort courage, affirm God’s presence.
• Mission and Service: Like the Proverbs 31 woman, believers display spiritual strength through faithful, energetic labor.

Summary

Across roughly forty-one occurrences, the verb paints a consistent biblical portrait: God imparts inner firmness that enables His people to obey, to persevere in trial, to accomplish His work, and to face every adversary with holy boldness.

אֲאַמִּצְכֶ֥ם אִמַּ֥צְתָּ אִמַּ֥צְתָּה אִמַּצְתִּ֙יךָ֙ אַמֵּ֥ץ אַמֵּֽצוּ׃ אָמְצ֖וּ אָמְצ֣וּ אָמְצ֥וּ אאמצכם אמץ אמצו אמצו׃ אמצת אמצתה אמצתיך בְּאַמְּצ֣וֹ באמצו הִתְאַמֵּץ֙ התאמץ וְאִמְצ֔וּ וְאִמֵּץ֙ וְאַמְּצֵ֑הוּ וְיַאֲמֵ֣ץ וֶֽאֱמַ֜ץ וֶֽאֱמָץ֒ וֶאֱמַץ֙ וֶאֱמָ֑ץ וֶאֱמָ֔ץ וֶאֱמָֽץ׃ וֶאֱמָץ֒ וַ֝תְּאַמֵּ֗ץ וַֽיְאַמְּצ֛וּ וַֽיְאַמְּצֻֽהוּ׃ וַיְאַמֵּ֣ץ וַיְאַמֶּץ־ וַיִּֽתְאַמְּצ֖וּ וַיֶּֽאֶמְצוּ֙ ואמץ ואמץ׃ ואמצהו ואמצו ויאמץ ויאמץ־ ויאמצהו׃ ויאמצו ויתאמצו ותאמץ יְאַמֵּ֣ץ יֶֽאֱמָ֔ץ יאמץ מְאַמֶּץ־ מִתְאַמֶּ֥צֶת מאמץ־ מתאמצת תְּאַמֵּֽץ׃ תְאַמְּצֶֽנּוּ׃ תְאַמֵּ֣ץ תאמץ תאמץ׃ תאמצנו׃ ’ă’ammiṣḵem ’ă·’am·miṣ·ḵem ’ā·mə·ṣū ’am·mê·ṣū ’am·mêṣ ’āməṣū ’ammêṣ ’ammêṣū ’im·maṣ·tā ’im·maṣ·tāh ’im·maṣ·tî·ḵā ’immaṣtā ’immaṣtāh ’immaṣtîḵā aammitzChem ameTzu amMetz amMetzu bə’amməṣōw bə·’am·mə·ṣōw beammeTzo hiṯ’ammêṣ hiṯ·’am·mêṣ hitamMetz imMatzta imMatztah immatzTicha mə’ammeṣ- mə·’am·meṣ- meammetz miṯ’ammeṣeṯ miṯ·’am·me·ṣeṯ mitamMetzet tə’ammêṣ ṯə’ammêṣ ṯə’amməṣennū ṯə·’am·mə·ṣen·nū tə·’am·mêṣ ṯə·’am·mêṣ teamMetz teammeTzennu vaiyeemTzu vaiyitammeTzu vatteamMetz vayamMetz vayammeTzu VayammeTzuhu veammeTzehu veeMatz veimMetz veimTzu veyaaMetz wat·tə·’am·mêṣ wattə’ammêṣ way’ammêṣ way’ammeṣ- way’amməṣū way’amməṣuhū way·’am·mə·ṣū way·’am·mə·ṣu·hū way·’am·mêṣ way·’am·meṣ- way·ye·’em·ṣū way·yiṯ·’am·mə·ṣū wayye’emṣū wayyiṯ’amməṣū wə’amməṣêhū we’ĕmaṣ we’ĕmāṣ wə’immêṣ wə’imṣū wə·’am·mə·ṣê·hū we·’ĕ·maṣ we·’ĕ·māṣ wə·’im·mêṣ wə·’im·ṣū wə·ya·’ă·mêṣ wəya’ămêṣ yə’ammêṣ ye’ĕmāṣ yə·’am·mêṣ ye·’ĕ·māṣ yeamMetz yeeMatzInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts