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Hebrew Vocabulary

Hebrew Words for Strength

Hebrew has a rich vocabulary for strength — each word carrying distinct nuances from physical power to spiritual courage. Explore the words, their biblical roots, and the names they inspire.

Names Meaning StrengthBiblical Strength NamesAll Hebrew Words
1.

Koach

/KO-akh/

Strength / Power / Force

כֹּחַ
Noun (masculine) · Root: כ-ח

In the Hebrew Bible

One of the most common Hebrew words for strength. Found over 120 times in the Hebrew Bible. God tells Joshua "Chazak ve'ematz" (Be strong and courageous) using a related root. The phrase "b'kol koach" (with all one's strength) appears in the Shema's instruction to love God "with all your might."

Cultural Significance

"Yasher Koach" (יישר כוחך), literally "may your strength be directed," is said to someone who has performed a mitzvah or been called to the Torah. It is one of the most commonly heard Hebrew phrases in synagogue life.

הַתּוֹרָה נוֹתֶנֶת כֹּחַ

The Torah gives strength.

Related names:
HezekiahEzekiel
2.

Gevurah

/geh-voo-RAH/

Strength / Might / Heroism / Courage

גְּבוּרָה
Noun (feminine) · Root: ג-ב-ר

In the Hebrew Bible

Derived from the root meaning "to prevail" or "to be mighty." In Psalms 20:7, David declares trust not in chariots but in God's strength. The "Gibborim" (mighty ones) of David were his elite warriors.

Cultural Significance

Gevurah is the fifth of the ten Sefirot in Kabbalah, representing divine judgment, discipline, and restraint. In Pirkei Avot 4:1, Ben Zoma asks: "Who is strong (gibor)? One who conquers their own inclination" — redefining strength as inner mastery rather than physical power.

גְּבוּרָה אֲמִתִּית הִיא שְׁלִיטָה עַצְמִית

True strength is self-mastery.

Related names:
GabrielGibor
3.

Oz

/OHZ/

Strength / Boldness / Might / Splendor

עֹז
Noun (masculine) · Root: ע-ז

In the Hebrew Bible

Found throughout the Psalms and Proverbs. Psalm 29:11 reads: "The Lord will give Oz (strength) to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace." In Proverbs 31:25, the Woman of Valor is described: "Oz v'hadar levushah" — strength and dignity are her garments.

Cultural Significance

Oz is both a standalone Hebrew name and an element in compound names like Uzziah (עוזיה, "my strength is God") and Uzziel (עוזיאל, "God is my strength"). As a modern Israeli name, Oz conveys boldness and confidence.

עֹז וְהָדָר לְבוּשָׁהּ

Strength and dignity are her garments. (Proverbs 31:25)

Related names:
OzUzziahUzzielAzariah
4.

Chozek

/KHO-zek/

Strength / Fortitude / Toughness

חֹזֶק
Noun (masculine) · Root: ח-ז-ק

In the Hebrew Bible

From the same root as "chazak" (strong). When God commissions Joshua to lead Israel into the Promised Land, He repeats "Chazak ve'ematz" (Be strong and courageous) three times. The root appears over 290 times in the Hebrew Bible.

Cultural Significance

"Chazak, chazak, v'nitchazek!" (Be strong, be strong, and let us be strengthened!) is proclaimed by the entire congregation when completing the reading of each of the Five Books of Moses. This communal declaration transforms individual strength into collective resilience.

חֲזַק וֶאֱמָץ

Be strong and courageous. (Joshua 1:9)

Related names:
HezekiahHizkiyahu
5.

Eitan

/ay-TAHN/

Strong / Enduring / Firm / Mighty

אֵיתָן
Adjective · Root: א-י-ת

In the Hebrew Bible

In Numbers 24:21, Balaam describes a dwelling place as "eitan" — strong and enduring. The name Ethan the Ezrahite appears in 1 Kings 5:11 as one of the wisest men. Psalm 89, attributed to Ethan, begins: "I will sing of the Lord's steadfast love forever."

Cultural Significance

Eitan is one of the most popular Hebrew boy names in Israel. It conveys the idea of something permanent and unshakeable — like a rock or a deeply rooted tree. The modern Hebrew word for a strong, reliable stream is "nahal eitan" (perennial stream).

אֵיתָן מוֹשָׁבֶךָ

Enduring is your dwelling place. (Numbers 24:21)

Related names:
Ethan
6.

Tokef

/TO-kef/

Power / Force / Validity / Strength

תּוֹקֶף
Noun (masculine) · Root: ת-ק-ף

In the Hebrew Bible

While less common in the Bible, the root appears in Esther 9:29 and Daniel 4:8. The Aramaic form "takif" means "mighty" or "powerful."

Cultural Significance

Best known from "Unetaneh Tokef," one of the most powerful prayers in the High Holiday liturgy. The prayer declares the "tokef" (power/significance) of the Day of Judgment: "Who shall live and who shall die, who by fire and who by water." It is among the most emotionally intense moments of the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services.

וּנְתַנֶּה תֹּקֶף קְדֻשַּׁת הַיּוֹם

Let us declare the mighty holiness of this day.

7.

Azuz

/ah-ZOOZ/

Mighty / Fierce / Intense

עַזּוּז
Adjective · Root: ע-ז

In the Hebrew Bible

An intensified form of Oz. Used in Psalm 24:8: "Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty (izuz), the Lord mighty in battle." Isaiah 43:17 uses it to describe military might.

Cultural Significance

The root עז gives Hebrew many words and names related to strength. In modern Hebrew, "azuz" is colloquially used to describe something or someone impressive, powerful, or excellent.

יְהוָה עִזּוּז וְגִבּוֹר

The Lord, strong and mighty. (Psalm 24:8)

Related names:
AzariahUzzielUzziah
8.

Ometz

/OH-metz/

Courage / Bravery / Strength of Heart

אֹמֶץ
Noun (masculine) · Root: א-מ-ץ

In the Hebrew Bible

Paired with "chazak" throughout the Bible. God's command to Joshua includes both: "Chazak ve'ematz" — be strong and be courageous. The root emphasizes moral courage and determination as much as physical bravery.

Cultural Significance

"Ometz lev" (אומץ לב), literally "courage of the heart," is the Hebrew expression for bravery and moral fortitude. It represents the inner strength to do what is right even when it is difficult — a central value in Jewish ethics.

אֹמֶץ לֵב הוּא לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת הַנָּכוֹן

Courage is doing what is right.

Related names:
AmozAmaziah

Strength in the Torah

These verses from the Hebrew Bible use words for strength, courage, and divine power — the same roots that give us the Hebrew names and vocabulary above.

Amos 2:14עמוס 2:14

ואבד מנוס מקל וחזק לא יאמץ כחו וגבור לא ימלט נפשו

Flight shall fail the swift, The strong shall find no strength, And the warrior shall not save his life.

Daniel 8:24דניאל 8:24

ועצם כחו ולא בכחו ונפלאות ישחית והצליח ועשה והשחית עצומים ועם קדשים

He will have great strength, but not through his own strength. He will be extraordinarily destructive; he will prosper in what he does, and destroy the mighty and the people of holy ones.

Daniel 10:8דניאל 10:8

ואני נשארתי לבדי ואראה את המראה הגדלה הזאת ולא נשאר בי כח והודי נהפך עלי למשחית ולא עצרתי כח

So I was left alone to see this great vision. I was drained of strength, my vigor was destroyed, and I could not summon up strength.

Daniel 10:16דניאל 10:16

והנה כדמות בני אדם נגע על שפתי ואפתח פי ואדברה ואמרה אל העמד לנגדי אדני במראה נהפכו צירי עלי ולא עצרתי כח

Then [this figure] who looked human touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before me, “My lord, because of the vision, I have been seized with pangs and cannot summon strength.

Daniel 10:17דניאל 10:17

והיך יוכל עבד אדני זה לדבר עם אדני זה ואני מעתה לא יעמד בי כח ונשמה לא נשארה בי

How can this servant of my lord speak with my lord, seeing that my strength has failed and no spirit is left in me?”

Daniel 10:18דניאל 10:18

ויסף ויגע בי כמראה אדם ויחזקני

The one who looked human touched me again, and strengthened me.

Daniel 10:19דניאל 10:19

ויאמר אל תירא איש חמדות שלום לך חזק וחזק וכדברו עמי התחזקתי ואמרה ידבר אדני כי חזקתני

He said, “Have no fear, precious one, all will be well with you; be strong, be strong!” As he spoke with me, I was strengthened, and said, “Speak on, my lord, for you have strengthened me!”

Daniel 11:1דניאל 11:1

ואני בשנת אחת לדריוש המדי עמדי למחזיק ולמעוז לו

“In the first year of Darius the Mede, I took my stand to strengthen and fortify him.

English translation: THE JPS TANAKH, Revised Edition (2023) © Jewish Publication Society, via Sefaria. CC BY-NC 4.0

Hebrew Names Meaning Strength

These names derive from Hebrew words for strength. Each one carries the power and meaning explored above.

אהרן
Aaron
A teacher; lofty; mountain of ...
בועז
Boaz
In strength; in him is strengt...
כלב
Caleb
A dog; a crow; a basket; faith...
איתן
Ethan
Strong; the gift of the island...
יחזקאל
Ezekiel
The strength of God; God will ...
גבריאל
Gabriel
God is my strength; man of God
גדעון
Gideon
He that bruises or breaks; a d...
נמרוד
Nimrod
Rebellion; the valiant; he tha...
View all names meaning strength →

The Concept of Strength in Hebrew

The Hebrew language has at least eight distinct words for strength, each reflecting a different aspect of power. Where Koach (כח) describes raw physical or spiritual force, Gevurah (גבורה) speaks to heroism and self-discipline. Oz (עז) conveys boldness and might, while Ometz (אומץ) points to moral courage — the strength of heart.

This richness of vocabulary reflects how central the concept of strength is to Jewish thought. The Torah repeatedly commands “Chazak ve'ematz” — be strong and courageous. But the Talmud redefines strength not as domination over others, but as mastery over oneself. In Kabbalah, Gevurah is one of the ten divine attributes, representing judgment, discipline, and the focused power that shapes creation.

These words have given rise to some of the most enduring Hebrew names: Gabriel (“God is my strength”), Ethan (“firm, enduring”), Oz (“strength”), Hezekiah (“God is my strength”), and many more. When a Jewish family chooses a name meaning strength, they are drawing on this deep wellspring of meaning — connecting their child to thousands of years of tradition.

Discover Gematria

Every Hebrew word carries a numerical value through gematria. Explore the hidden connections between words, names, and Torah verses.

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