Original Word: אֹמֶץ
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: omets
Pronunciation: OH-mets
Phonetic Spelling: (o'-mets)
KJV: stronger
NASB: stronger
Word Origin: [from H553 (אָמַץ - courageous)]

1. strength

stronger

From 'amats; strength -- stronger.

see HEBREW 'amats

Word Origin
from amets
Definition
strength
NASB Translation
stronger (1).

אֹ֫מֶץ noun [masculine] strength, figurative טֳהָריָֿדַיִם יֹסִיף אֹ֑מֶץ Job 17:9 the clean of hands increaseth strength.

Concept and Scope

אֹמֶץ portrays an inner fortitude that transcends mere physical power. It speaks of moral stamina, resilient courage, and the steady perseverance that enables the righteous to keep moving forward in the midst of severe affliction.

Primary Occurrence: Job 17:9

“Nevertheless, the righteous will hold to their ways, and those with clean hands will grow stronger.” (Job 17:9)

Job, stripped of wealth, health, and reputation, affirms that true righteousness is never static; it presses on and actually intensifies under trial. The verse sets “the righteous” and “the one with clean hands” in parallel, linking ethical purity with the capacity to gain fresh strength. אֹמֶץ thus becomes a benchmark for faith that refuses to succumb to despair.

Intertextual Resonance

Though the noun itself appears only here, Scripture repeatedly testifies that God supplies this caliber of strength:
• Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:9 – commands to “be strong and courageous” set strength in the framework of covenant obedience.
• Psalm 138:3 – “On the day I called, You answered me; You emboldened me and strengthened my soul.” The psalmist echoes the same inner reinforcement.
• Isaiah 40:29 – “He gives power to the faint; and to the weary He increases strength.” The prophetic promise aligns with Job’s experience that divine enabling comes to those who wait on God.

These passages confirm that Job’s assertion is not an isolated wisdom-saying but a consistent biblical motif: righteousness, reliance on the Lord, and renewed strength form an unbroken chain.

Historical and Cultural Insight

In the ancient Near East, strength was usually gauged by military might or social standing. Job’s declaration stands in stark contrast, elevating spiritual integrity above conventional measures. The cultural expectation would have judged Job’s losses as evidence of divine displeasure; instead, Job testifies that God-centered righteousness generates its own hidden reservoir of power, defying the shame culture that surrounded him.

Theological Themes

1. Perseverance of the saints – Job anticipates later affirmations that true faith endures (James 1:12).
2. Sanctification under trial – affliction functions as a crucible that intensifies inner strength (Romans 5:3-4).
3. Divine empowerment – the strength described is not self-manufactured but God-supplied, preserving the gracious character of salvation (Psalm 18:32).

Practical Ministry Significance

• Pastoral Care: Job 17:9 equips counselors to move sufferers from resignation to resilient hope, grounding encouragement in God’s character rather than circumstances.
• Discipleship: The verse provides a framework for spiritual formation that measures growth by increasing steadfastness, not external success.
• Intercession: Prayer meetings can employ the language of אֹמֶץ, asking God to “strengthen with power through His Spirit in the inner being” (Ephesians 3:16).
• Worship: Songs and liturgies celebrating God as the source of strength align the congregation’s affections with this biblical truth.

Christological and New Covenant Fulfillment

The Messiah embodies perfect righteousness and exhibits unbroken fortitude in His passion (Luke 22:43). In Him, believers receive an even greater deposit of inner strength:
• 2 Corinthians 4:16 – “Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.”
• Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

Thus, אֹמֶץ finds its fullest expression in union with Christ, where clean hands and a steadfast way culminate in resurrection power.

Summary

אֹמֶץ, while appearing only once, crystallizes a central biblical conviction: authentic righteousness is accompanied by God-given resilience that not only survives adversity but intensifies through it. From Job’s ash heap to the triumph of Christ and the daily perseverance of the Church, this inner strength continues to be both promise and provision for all who walk with clean hands before the Lord.

אֹֽמֶץ׃ אמץ׃ ’ō·meṣ ’ōmeṣ OmetzInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts