חָזָק (cha.zaq)
cha.zaq
strong
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 45 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew adjective chazaq means strong, stout, or mighty. It describes physical power and intensity, often applied to heat or severity. The sources note it can mean hard or firm, sometimes in a negative sense like being obstinate. For example, Ezekiel uses it to describe a forehead that is hardened against God. This shows the word covers both external strength and internal stubbornness.
In Scripture, chazaq frequently appears in Deuteronomy and Exodus to describe God’s mighty acts. It characterizes the force with which He delivers His people, such as bringing them out of Egypt. The term also describes human strength, whether it is a warrior’s power or the resilience needed to endure hardship. Translators render it variously as strong, mighty, or sore depending on the context.
A key feature of chazaq is its use for both positive and negative force. It can describe the powerful hand of God or the stiff heart of a rebel. This duality highlights that strength itself is neutral; its moral value depends on who wields it and why. The word reminds readers that power exists in many forms, from divine rescue to human resistance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chazaq describes a strength that is tangible and undeniable. It appears often in the stories of Exodus and Deuteronomy when God delivers His people from Egypt. This usage reminds us that divine power is not abstract but acts with force to rescue those who are oppressed. When you face situations where human effort seems insufficient, this word points to a reality greater than your own limitations.
Yet chazaq also describes the stubbornness of Pharaoh or the hardness of heart in rebellion. This duality shows that strength itself is neutral; its moral value depends on who wields it and for what purpose. We are invited to align our will with God’s, using our resilience not to resist Him but to endure hardship with faith. The same power that broke chains can also harden a heart if turned away from love.
In your daily life, this word encourages you to recognize where true strength lies. It is found in the steadfast love of God and in the courage to stand firm in truth. Whether you are facing external opposition or internal struggles, remember that the hand that parted the sea is also with you. This assurance brings peace, knowing that no force can ultimately separate you from His care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 45 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- strong18×
- <the>/ mighty6×
- [is] strong4×
- severe2×
- ¿/ strong1×
- hard1×
- from/ a person [too] strong1×
- and/ strong1×
- and/ a strong [person]1×
- and/ <the>/ mighty1×
- a mighty [one]1×
- [were too] strong1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֲזָקָֽה\׃5×
- חָזָ֣ק4×
- חֲזָקָה֙4×
- חָזָ֥ק3×
- חֲזָקָ֔ה3×
- הַ/חֲזָקָ֔ה3×
- חָזָ֗ק2×
- חֲזָקָ֑ה2×
- מֵ/חָזָ֣ק1×
- חָזָ֤ק1×
- חָזָ֖ק1×
- חָזָ֑ק1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 6:1
Yahweh said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh, for by a strong hand he shall let them go, and by a strong hand he shall drive them out of his land.”
This verse uses chazaq to describe the forceful action by which God will compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites, highlighting divine sovereignty over political power.
-
Deuteronomy 7:8
but because Yahweh loves you, and because he desires to keep the oath which he swore to your fathers, Yahweh has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Here the word connects God’s mighty hand directly to His covenant love, showing that His strength is motivated by faithfulness rather than mere power.
-
Joshua 14:11
As yet I am as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me. As my strength was then, even so is my strength now for war, to go out and to come in.
Caleb uses this term to describe his enduring physical vitality at age eighty-five, illustrating how divine strength sustains personal resilience over time.
-
Numbers 13:31
But the men who went up with him said, “We aren’t able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.”
The spies use chazaq to describe the enemy’s superior military might, contrasting human weakness with the need for trust in God’s protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word chazaq mean?
How is chazaq different from other words for strength?
Where does chazaq appear most frequently?
Every Occurrence (45 verses across 17 books)
Exodus 6 verses
I know that the king of Egypt won’t give you permission to go, no, not by a mighty hand.
Exodus 6:1Yahweh said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh, for by a strong hand he shall let them go, and by a…
Exodus 10:19Yahweh sent an exceedingly strong west wind, which took up the locusts, and drove them into the Red Sea. There remained…
Exodus 13:9It shall be for a sign to you on your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, that Yahweh’s law may be in your…
Exodus 19:16On the third day, when it was morning, there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the…
Exodus 32:11Moses begged Yahweh his God, and said, “Yahweh, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, that you have brought…