חׇזְקָה (choz.qah)
choz.qah
force
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun chozqah denotes physical power or force, often carrying a connotation of violence or aggression. It appears in four biblical verses, primarily within Judges and 1 Samuel, to describe the raw strength used by individuals or armies in conflict.
Its meaning ranges from neutral "might" to active "violence," depending on context. In Judges 20:35, it describes the overwhelming force of the Philistines, while in Jonah 1:4, it refers to the violent storm that threatened the ship. This duality highlights how power itself is morally neutral until directed by intent.
Unlike words for gentle strength or endurance, chozqah emphasizes sudden, impactful energy. Translators often render it as "force" or "violence" to capture this intensity, distinguishing it from more static terms for ability. The word underscores the tangible, sometimes destructive, nature of power in biblical narratives.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chozqah describes raw, often violent force. It appears in stories of war, storm, and coercion, reminding us that power itself is neutral until directed by intent. When used to describe human actions, it can reflect aggression or oppression, as seen when soldiers take what belongs to others by force.
Yet this same term describes the mighty wind in Jonah’s story, showing that nature’s intensity is not inherently evil but part of a larger divine purpose. For your faith, this word invites reflection on how we use our strength. Are we using our energy to dominate, or to serve? It challenges us to consider whether our actions build up or tear down.
Ultimately, chozqah highlights the difference between mere power and righteous strength. While human force can be destructive, God’s power brings order out of chaos. This distinction encourages us to seek a strength that aligns with justice and compassion rather than selfish gain.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- with/ force2×
- with/ strength1×
- by/ force1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בְּ/חָזְקָֽה\׃1×
- בְּ/חָזְקָ֖ה1×
- בְּ/חָזְקָ֑ה1×
- בְ/חָזְקָֽה\׃1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 2:16
If the man said to him, “Let the fat be burned first, and then take as much as your soul desires;” then he would say, “No, but you shall give it to me now; and if not, I will take it by force.”
This verse illustrates the negative aspect of chozqah, where Eli’s sons use physical force to seize food, showing how power can become a tool for injustice when detached from moral restraint.
-
Jonah 3:8
but let them be covered with sackcloth, both man and animal, and let them cry mightily to God. Yes, let them turn everyone from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.
Here, the word describes the 'violence' in Nineveh’s hands, linking societal corruption directly to the abuse of physical force and oppression against others.
-
Judges 4:3
The children of Israel cried to Yahweh, for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and he mightily oppressed the children of Israel for twenty years.
The term conveys the heavy, oppressive might used by Jabin, demonstrating how unchecked military force can lead to prolonged suffering for a people.