Original Word: חֵזֶק
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: chezeq
Pronunciation: KHEH-zek
Phonetic Spelling: (khay'-zek)
KJV: strength
NASB: strength
Word Origin: [from H2388 (חָזַק - strong)]

1. help

strength

From chazaq; help -- strength.

see HEBREW chazaq

Word Origin
from chazaq
Definition
strength
NASB Translation
strength (1).

[חֵ֫זֶק] noun [masculine] strength, only חִזְקִי ׳י Psalm 18:2 (omitted by error "" 2 Samuel 22:2 where ᵐ5^L ἰσχύς μου). (De and others derive from חֹזֶק, but [חֶזְקָה] favours חֵזֶק).

Biblical Setting

The noun חֵזֶק appears a single time, in the superscription of the Davidic psalm preserved as Psalm 18:1 (also reflected in 2 Samuel 22). In the Berean Standard Bible the term is rendered “my strength”: “I love You, O LORD, my strength.” The context is David’s thanksgiving after the LORD delivers him from Saul and all enemies. The solitary placement of חֵזֶק therefore concentrates its theological weight on the testimony of a king who has experienced covenant faithfulness firsthand.

Semantic Range within Scripture

Though used only once as a noun, חֵזֶק shares its root with the common verb חָזַק (“to be strong,” “to prevail”). The root family carries ideas of might, courage, and steadfast resolve. In Psalm 18 the derivative noun emphasizes that the LORD Himself embodies the very quality of strength, not merely grants it. David’s confession shifts the focus from human valor to divine sufficiency.

Theological Emphasis

1. Divine Immutability: By calling Yahweh “my strength,” David teaches that true power is anchored in the unchanging character of God (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17).
2. Covenant Reliability: The psalm frames David’s military victories as manifestations of God’s pledged loyalty (Deuteronomy 31:6). חֵזֶק functions as a relational label—strength that belongs to the covenant partner and is shared with the faithful.
3. Monotheistic Worship: In an ancient Near Eastern milieu where kings credited multiple deities for success, David singularly attributes every triumph to the LORD. חֵזֶק consequently underlines exclusivity of worship (Exodus 20:3).

Historical and Literary Context

The song was likely composed near the end of David’s turbulent ascent to the throne (circa 1000 BC). Militarily, Israel was transitioning from tribal confederation to centralized monarchy. The use of a rare noun for “strength” underscores the unprecedented nature of David’s experience: victories over Philistines, consolidation of Judah and Israel, and preservation from internal betrayal. For later generations—returnees from exile or worshipers in the Second Temple era—Psalm 18 offered liturgical assurance that the covenant God who fortified David still sustains His people.

Worship and Devotional Use

Believers across ages have used Psalm 18 in personal and corporate praise. The singular חֵזֶק enables worshipers to appropriate the same confession, turning deliverance accounts into doxology. Singing or praying “my strength” binds the community to a lineage of trust stretching from David to present disciples.

Intertextual Echoes in the New Testament

While חֵזֶק itself does not reappear in Greek, its theological motif surfaces often:
• “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)
• “The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3)

The apostolic writers inherit David’s conviction, transferring the title of strength to the risen Christ without diminishing Old Testament monotheism.

Implications for Ministry

Pastoral counseling: Encourage believers facing adversity to personalize David’s declaration, shifting focus from self-reliance to divine empowerment.

Preaching: Use Psalm 18 as a template for testimonies that honor God rather than human ingenuity.

Discipleship: Teach new converts that sanctification involves continual recognition of God as their ongoing חֵזֶק, preventing burnout and fostering humility.

Doctrinal Corollaries

• Perseverance of the saints is grounded in God’s sustaining strength.
• Spiritual warfare is waged not in fleshly power but in the might supplied by the Lord (Ephesians 6:10).
• Worship rightly attributes every deliverance to the LORD, cultivating gratitude and obedience.

Conclusion

Though brief, the occurrence of חֵזֶק crystallizes a key biblical principle: authentic strength is not an attribute acquired but a Person encountered. From David’s battlefield to every believer’s daily challenges, the LORD remains the unchanging source of power, worthy of love and praise.

חִזְקִֽי׃ חזקי׃ chizKi ḥiz·qî ḥizqîInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts