Lexical Summary azar: To help, to support, to assist Original Word: אָזַר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bind compass about, gird up, with A primitive root; to belt -- bind (compass) about, gird (up, with). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to gird, encompass, equip NASB Translation binds (1), bound (1), encircle (1), gird (7), girded (5), girds (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [אָזַר] verb gird, encompass, equip (Talmud id., Arabic  , Aramaic in derivation LagBN 177 derives from  ). Qal Perfect אָֽזְרוּ 1 Samuel 2:4; Imperfect suffix יַאַזְרֵנִי Job 30:18; 2masculine singular תֶּאֱזוֺר Jeremiah 1:17; Imperative אֱזָרנָֿא Job 38:3; Job 40:7;Passive participle אָזוּר 2 Kings 1:8; — gird, gird on, followed by accusative of thingloins חֲלָצֶיךָ Job 38:3; Job 40:7, מָתְנֶיךָ Jeremiah 1:17; passive, subject אֵזוֺר, וְאֵזוֺר עוֺר אָזור בְּמָתְנָיו 2 Kings 1:8; compare active with accusative of person Job 30:18כְּפִי כֻתָּנְתִּי יַאַזְרֵנִי, subject לְבוּשִׁי see Di; figurative 1 Samuel 2:4 אָֽזְרוּ חַיִל Niph`al Participle נֶאֱזָר figurative Psalm 65:7 of God (בִּגְבוּרֶה ׳נ) girded with might. Pi`el Imperfect2masculine singular suffix וַתְּאַזְּרֵנִי Psalm 18:40; Psalm 30:12; וַתַּזְרֵנִי 2 Samuel 22:40 (Ges§ 68 R 2); Participle suffix הַמְּאַזְּרֵנִי Psalm 18:33; construct מְאַזְּרֵי Isaiah 50:11 but compare below — gird, with 2 accusative (person & thing) figurative, Psalm 18:40 = 2 Samuel 22:40; Psalm 18:33 (חַיִל); Psalm 30:12 (שִׂמְחָה); accusative of thing omitted Isaiah 45:5; accusative of person omitted מְאַזְּרֵי זִיקוֺת Isaiah 50:12; but read rather מְאִירֵי compare Isaiah 27:11 (ᵑ6 Kn Brd Di). Hithpa`el Perfect הִתְאַזָּ֑ר Psalm 93:1; Imperative הִתְאַזְּרוּ Isaiah 8:9 (twice in verse) — gird oneself, for war Isaiah 8:9 (twice in verse); with עֹז Psalm 93:1 (subject ׳י). Topical Lexicon Overviewאָזַר conveys the action of girding, strapping on, or equipping, whether with physical garments, weapons, or inward strength. In Scripture it consistently underscores preparation, empowerment, and readiness granted either by God or demanded by God of His servants. Old Testament Usage 1. Empowerment for Battle and Victory • 1 Samuel 2:4 – “The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble are equipped with strength.” 2. Personal Preparation under Divine Commission • Job 38:3; 40:7 – “Brace yourself like a man.” The verb calls Job to muster courage under God’s searching questions, illustrating that right response to revelation requires girded resolve. 3. Liturgical and Poetic Portraits of Yahweh’s Majesty • Psalm 65:6 – Creation imagery depicts God “having girded Yourself with strength,” stressing His sovereign power over the cosmos. 4. Transformation of Circumstance • Psalm 30:11 – “You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.” The same verb that arms for war also wraps the worshiper in celebratory garments, highlighting God’s power to alter inward conditions as surely as external battles. 5. Physical Description and Daily Dress • 2 Kings 1:8 – Elijah is recognized by “a leather belt around his waist,” a practical emblem of a prophet constantly ready for action. 6. Warnings to a Rebellious World • Isaiah 8:9 – “Prepare for battle, and be shattered.” The nations may gird themselves, yet without God such preparation guarantees defeat. Historical Context Occurrences span the eras of the Judges (Hannah’s song), united monarchy (Davidic psalms), divided kingdom (Elijah), exile anticipation (Isaiah, Jeremiah), and post-exilic reflection (later psalms). Across these centuries the same idea prevails: true security flows from God’s strengthening, while self-made girding proves futile. Thematic Links Across Canon The Old Testament call to be girded finds New Testament resonance in Ephesians 6:14, “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,” where spiritual warfare demands the believer be armed by God’s own provision. The imagery also anticipates Revelation 1:13, where the glorified Christ is “girt about the chest with a golden sash,” the ultimate picture of divinely endowed authority. Theological and Ministry Significance • Dependence: Every human endeavor—political, military, prophetic, or personal—succeeds only when God supplies strength. Practical Application Believers today draw upon God’s strength through prayer, Scripture, and the indwelling Spirit, consciously “girding up the loins of the mind” (echoed in 1 Peter 1:13) for holiness and witness. Ministry that rests on human ability will fracture; ministry armed by亞zar-strength stands firm. Related Concepts • חָזַק (to strengthen) – complements אָזַר by describing inward fortification. In every occurrence אָזַר points beyond human capacity to the enabling grace of the covenant-keeping God, who alone girds His people with unassailable strength. Forms and Transliterations אֱזָר־ אֲאַזֶּרְךָ֖ אָ֥זְרוּ אָז֣וּר אאזרך אזור אזר־ אזרו הִֽתְאַזְּר֖וּ הִתְאַזְּר֣וּ הִתְאַזָּ֑ר הַמְאַזְּרֵ֣נִי המאזרני התאזר התאזרו וַֽתְּאַזְּרֵ֥נִי וַתְּאַזְּרֵ֣נִי וַתַּזְרֵ֥נִי ותאזרני ותזרני יַֽאַזְרֵֽנִי׃ יאזרני׃ מְאַזְּרֵ֣י מאזרי נֶ֝אְזָ֗ר נאזר תֶּאְזֹ֣ר תאזר ’ă’azzerḵā ’ă·’az·zer·ḵā ’ā·zə·rū ’ā·zūr ’āzərū ’āzūr ’ĕ·zār- ’ĕzār- aazzerCha Azeru aZur ezor ham’azzərênî ham·’az·zə·rê·nî hamazzeReni hiṯ’azzār hiṯ’azzərū hiṯ·’az·zār hiṯ·’az·zə·rū hitazZar hitazzeRu mə’azzərê mə·’az·zə·rê meazzeRei ne’·zār ne’zār neZar te’·zōr te’zōr teZor vattazReni vatteazzeReni wat·taz·rê·nî wat·tə·’az·zə·rê·nî wattazrênî wattə’azzərênî ya’azrênî ya·’az·rê·nî YaazReniLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 2:4 HEB: חַתִּ֑ים וְנִכְשָׁלִ֖ים אָ֥זְרוּ חָֽיִל׃ NAS: But the feeble gird on strength. KJV: and they that stumbled are girded with strength. INT: are shattered the feeble gird strength 2 Samuel 22:40 2 Kings 1:8 Job 30:18 Job 38:3 Job 40:7 Psalm 18:32 Psalm 18:39 Psalm 30:11 Psalm 65:6 Psalm 93:1 Isaiah 8:9 Isaiah 8:9 Isaiah 45:5 Isaiah 50:11 Jeremiah 1:17 16 Occurrences |
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