Definition

to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer

Etymology

a primitive root;

Where the KJV renders it

• aid
• amend
• calker
• catch
• cleave
• confirm
• be constant
• constrain
• continue
• be of good (take) courage(-ous
• -ly)
• encourage (self)
• be established
• fasten
• force
• fortify
• make hard
• harden
• help
• (lay) hold (fast)
• lean
• maintain
• play the man
• mend
• become (wax) mighty
• prevail
• be recovered
• repair
• retain
• seize
• be (wax) sore
• strengthen (self)
• be stout
• be (make
• shew
• wax) strong(-er)
• be sure
• take (hold)
• be urgent
• behave self valiantly
• withstand

Every distinct English word the King James Version uses to translate this Hebrew term. The variety shows what readers in English receive across many different surface words — the same underlying word, scattered across the English Bible under different names.

What the first audience heard

A deep-dive treatment of this word is in the works. The featured chapter above carries the long form of what this word meant to its first audience.