Original Word: תָּמַךְ
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: tamak
Pronunciation: tah-mak'
Phonetic Spelling: (taw-mak')
KJV: (take, up-)hold (up), maintain, retain, stay (up)
NASB: uphold, holds, support, take hold, attain, attains, grasp
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to sustain
2. (by implication) to obtain, keep fast
3. (figuratively) to help, follow close

take, uphold up, maintain, retain, stay up

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

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to grasp, support, attain
NASB Translation
attain (1), attains (1), grasp (1), grasped (1), held (1), held fast (1), hold (1), hold her fast (1), hold fast (1), holds (2), obtain (1), support (2), supported (1), take hold (2), uphold (3), upholds (1).

[תָּמַךְ] verb grasp, support, attain (Aramaic תְּמַךְ Pa`el hold fast; compare Phoenician and Old Aramaic תמכאל El hath sustained Lzb³⁸⁶ SAC¹²¹ Cooke³⁶¹); —

Qal Perfect. 3 feminine singular תָּֽמְכָה Psalm 63:9, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יִתְמֹךְ Proverbs 29:23, 3masculine plural יִתְמֹ֑כוּ Job 36:17; Proverbs 5:5, etc., Infinitive absolute תָּמֹךְ Psalm 17:5; construct תְּמֹךְ Isaiah 33:15; Participle תּוֺמֵךְ Amos 1:5,8, תּוֺמִיךְ Psalm 16:5 (? read מֵיךְ#NAME?^{§ 51e}, or תֹּמֵךְ, compare Vrss Du; > 0l תּוֺסִיף, Bi Che תָּמִיד), etc.; —

1 grasp, lay hold of, with accusative of thing Genesis 48:17 (E), Proverbs 31:19 ("" שׁלּח יד בְּ); accusative of person (wisdom) Proverbs 3:18 ("" מַחֲזִיק); accusative of thing (grasp and) wield Amos 1:5,8; Psalm 16:5 (see above) thou dost grasp my lot (i.e. take and cast it for me, compare modern Palestinian may Allah uphold my lot Bergheim^{PEF 1894, 194}); figurative, Job 36:17 judgment and justice seize (thee; but see obscure and doubtful); Proverbs 5:5 her steps lay hold of Sh®°ôl (keep the path to it); literal, with ב of thing Isaiah 33:15, ב person Proverbs 28:17 (or below

3; meaning dubious); lay hold of, attain, honour, wealth (accusative) Proverbs 11:16 (twice in verse).

2 hold up, support, with בְּיָדָיו Exodus 17:2 (E); figurative, ב person Isaiah 42:1; Psalm 41:13; Psalm 63:9; accusative of person Isaiah 41:10 (ב instrumental), Proverbs 29:23 (opposed to הִשְׁמִּיל),

3 hold, keep, with accusative of thing Proverbs 4:4 let thy heart keep my words ("" שָׁמַר); hold firmly Psalm 17:5 (ב location; opposed to נָמֹ֫טוּ).

Niph`al Imperfect וּבְחַבְלֵי חַטָּאתוֺ יִתָּמֵ֑ךְ Proverbs 5:22 in the cords of his sin is he seized ("" לָכַד).

Core Concept

The verb תָּמַךְ (Strong’s 8551) consistently pictures an active grasp that gives stability or restraint. Whether directed toward an object, a person, wisdom, or unrighteous gain, the idea of “holding fast” supplies the common thread that unites all twenty–one occurrences.

Physical Support in Pivotal Moments

Genesis 48:17 and Exodus 17:12 reveal the word in the most literal sense. Joseph “took hold of his father’s hand to move it” (Genesis 48:17), and Aaron and Hur “supported his hands, one on each side, so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down” (Exodus 17:12). In both scenes God’s covenant purposes move forward because someone comes alongside a patriarchal leader at a critical juncture. Ministry patterned after this verb therefore includes practical help that enables leaders to finish their God-given tasks.

Divine Upholding of the Believer

Several Psalms transform the same action into a metaphor of God’s covenant faithfulness:

• “The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; You secure my lot” (Psalm 16:5).
• “In my integrity You uphold me and set me in Your presence forever” (Psalm 41:12).
• “My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me” (Psalm 63:8).

These verses reassure worshipers that the Lord’s grasp never weakens. Isaiah echoes the theme: “I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10) and “Here is My Servant, whom I uphold” (Isaiah 42:1). God’s people rest not in their own resolve but in the everlasting arms that steady them.

Embracing Wisdom

Proverbs uses the verb more than any other book, urging decisive attachment to wisdom:

• “She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and blessed are those who hold her fast” (Proverbs 3:18).
• “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commands and live” (Proverbs 4:4).

The same verb exposes folly when misdirected. The seductive woman’s steps “take hold of Sheol” (Proverbs 5:5), and “the cords of his sin hold him fast” (Proverbs 5:22). Whether toward righteousness or sin, what one clings to eventually shapes destiny.

Justice and Power

In Proverbs 11:16 ruthless men “hold fast to wealth,” while Proverbs 28:17 warns against propping up a murderer. Amos extends the vocabulary to international judgment: those who “hold the scepter” in Damascus and Ashkelon will be cut off (Amos 1:5, 1:8). Governing power is merely a borrowed staff; when it is turned against God’s moral order, His judgment pries it from the ruler’s hand.

Messianic Horizon

Isaiah 42:1 marks the climax: the Servant is the One God personally upholds. The Father’s grip guarantees the Servant’s success in bringing justice to the nations. The Gospel writers identify this Servant with Jesus Christ, whose earthly ministry was sustained by the very hand that upholds the universe.

Historical and Cultural Notes

Ancient Near-Eastern treaties commonly spoke of grasping the hand as a sign of installing or confirming a ruler. The biblical authors adapt that imagery: Yahweh alone installs, supports, or removes. Human alliances, wealth, or violence provide no comparable security.

Ministry Implications

1. Pastoral care: Like Aaron and Hur, believers lift weary leaders by prayer, tangible assistance, and encouragement.
2. Discipleship: Proverbs invites deliberate attachment to Scripture’s wisdom; teachers equip others to “hold fast.”
3. Counseling: Psalm 63:8 comforts those overwhelmed—God’s right hand is already upholding them.
4. Social ethics: Amos warns that any authority we wield is temporary stewardship; justice must govern its use.

Synthesis

Whether stabilizing aged Jacob, steadying Moses, securing a believer’s lot, or upholding the Messianic Servant, תָּמַךְ paints the portrait of a God whose grasp is both tender and inexorable. The call to His people is clear: forsake every false support, cling to Him and to His wisdom, and extend the same steadying hand to others until faith becomes sight.

אֶתְמָךְ־ אתמך־ וְֽתֹמְכֶ֥יהָ וְתוֹמֵ֥ךְ וַיִּתְמֹ֣ךְ וּבְחַבְלֵ֥י ובחבלי ויתמך ותומך ותמכיה יִֽתְמָךְ־ יִתְמְכוּ־ יִתְמֹ֥ךְ יִתְמֹֽכוּ׃ יתמך יתמך־ יתמכו־ יתמכו׃ מִתְּמֹ֣ךְ מתמך תְּמַכְתִּ֖יךָ תִּתְמֹ֣ךְ תָּ֣מְכוּ תָּֽמְכ֣וּ תָּמְכָ֥ה תָּמַ֣כְתָּ תָּמֹ֣ךְ תּוֹמִ֥יךְ תומיך תמך תמכה תמכו תמכת תמכתיך תתמך ’eṯ·māḵ- ’eṯmāḵ- etmoch mit·tə·mōḵ mitteMoch mittəmōḵ tā·maḵ·tā tā·mə·ḵāh tā·mə·ḵū tā·mōḵ taMachta tāmaḵtā tameChah tameChu tāməḵāh tāməḵū taMoch tāmōḵ tə·maḵ·tî·ḵā temachTicha təmaḵtîḵā tiṯ·mōḵ titMoch tiṯmōḵ tō·w·mîḵ toMich tōwmîḵ ū·ḇə·ḥaḇ·lê ūḇəḥaḇlê uvechavLei vaiyitMoch vetoMech vetomeCheiha way·yiṯ·mōḵ wayyiṯmōḵ wə·ṯō·mə·ḵe·hā wə·ṯō·w·mêḵ wəṯōməḵehā wəṯōwmêḵ yiṯ·māḵ- yiṯ·mə·ḵū- yiṯ·mō·ḵū yiṯ·mōḵ yiṯmāḵ- yitmechu yiṯməḵū- yitmoch yitMochu yiṯmōḵ yiṯmōḵūInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts