Lexical Summary achaz: To seize, grasp, take hold of Original Word: אָחַז Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be affrighted, bar, catch, lay, take hold back, come upon, fasten, handle, A primitive root; to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession) -- + be affrighted, bar, (catch, lay, take) hold (back), come upon, fasten, handle, portion, (get, have or take) possess(-ion). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to grasp, take hold, take possession NASB Translation acquire property (1), acquired property (1), attached (1), bolt (1), catch (1), caught (3), drawn (2), fastened (3), grasp (2), grasped (1), grasps (1), gripped (1), grips (1), handle (1), have possessions (1), held (4), held fast (1), hold (3), holding (1), inserted (1), lay hold (1), obscures (1), possessed (1), seized (10), seizes (3), take hold (6), take possession (1), taken (2), taken hold (3), takes hold (2), took (1), took hold (3), trapped (1), wielders (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אָחַז68 verb grasp, take hold, take posses-sion (Arabic  , Sabean אחֿדֿ SabDenkm39, Aramaic אֲחַד,  Assyrian a—azu, Ethiopic  ) — Qal Perfect אָחַז Exodus 15:14 +; אָֽחֲזָה Job 23:11; Isaiah 33:14; suffix אֲחָזַנִי 2 Samuel 1:9; 1singular suffix אֲחַזְתִּיו Songs 3:4,etc.; Imperfect יאֹחֵז Job 17:9 +; וַיּ֫אֹחֶז 2 Samuel 6:6; 3feminine singular תּאֹחֵז Deuteronomy 32:41; וַתּאֹחֶז Ruth 3:15; וַתֹּחֶז 2 Samuel 20:9; וָאֹחֵז Judges 20:6; יאֹחֵזוּן Isaiah 13:8; suffix יאֹחֲזֵ֫מוֺ Exodus 15:15; יאֹחֱזוּךְ Jeremiah 13:21, etc.; — as ׳פ guttural וַיֶּאֱחֹז Judges 16:3; 1 Kings 6:10; 2masculine singular תֶּאֱחֹז Ecclesiastes 7:18; Infinitive אֲחֹז 1 Kings 6:6; אֱחֹז 1 Chronicles 13:9 3t.; Imperative אֱחֹז Exodus 4:4; 2 Samuel 2:21, אֶחֳזִיֿ Ruth 3:15; אֶחֱזוּ Songs 2:15; אֱחֹ֑זוּ Nehemiah 7:3; Participle active אֹחֵז2Chronicles 25:5; passive אָחוּז Esther 1:6, etc.; — grasp, take hold of, followed by בְּ Genesis 25:26; Exodus 4:4 (both J) Judges 16:3; Judges 20:6 ( = וַיַּחֲזֵק בְּ Judges 19:29) 2 Samuel 4:10; 2 Samuel 6:6; 2 Samuel 20:9; 1 Kings 1:51; Ruth 3:15 (twice in verse); 1 Kings 6:6 of beams having hold in a wall; (compare בֵּית אֲבָנִים יֶָֽחֱזֶה֑ Job 8:17; Hoffm reads יֹחֲזָה = ׳יאֹ); also Cant 7:9 of taking hold of branches, in metaphor; poetic, figurative, of God's seizing man in wrath Job 16:12; taking hold graciously Psalm 73:23; taking hold of judgment Deuteronomy 32:41; subject man בַּאֲשֻׁרוֺ אָֽחֲזָה רַגְלִי Job 23:11 ("" דַּרְכּוֺ שָׁמַרְתִּי compare also Job 17:9); of taking hold of folly Ecclesiastes 2:3; compare Ecclesiastes 7:18; subject הַשַּׁחַר Job 38:13, לֶאֱחֹו בְּכַנְפוֺת הָאָ֑רֶץ; also followed by accusative Judges 1:6; Judges 12:6; Judges 16:21; 2 Samuel 2:21; Isaiah 5:29; Songs 2:15; Songs 3:4; 1 Chronicles 13:9; 2Chronicles 25:5; Psalm 56:1; Psalm 137:9; compare 1 Kings 6:10 (compare 1 Kings 6:6 above), subject הַיָּצוּעַ, אֶתֿ ׳וַיֶּא הַבַּיִת בַּעֲצֵי אֲרָזִים; of a snare catching the heel, in metaphor Job 18:9; figurative, subject God Psalm 77:5; God's hand Psalm 139:10; subject pain, sorrow, fear, etc. Exodus 15:14,15; 2 Samuel 1:9; Job 21:6; Job 30:16; Psalm 48:7; Psalm 119:53; Isaiah 21:3; Isaiah 33:14; Jeremiah 13:21; Jeremiah 49:24; subject man, object fear, etc. Job 18:20; Isaiah 13:8; object דֶּרֶךְ take one's way Job 17:9 יאֹחֵז צַדִּיק דַּרְכּוֺ AV RV hold on his way (compare Job 23:11 above, & Assyrian ƒabâtu ur—u, e. g. V. R:1, 74); — absolute Nehemiah 7:3 of barring gates; passive participle caught Ecclesiastes 9:12; fastened, held Esther 1:6; taken (by lot) 1 Chronicles 24:6 (3 t. in verse) (on text see Öttli); taken out of a number Numbers 31:30,47; participle active of same form אֲחֻזֵי חֶרֶב Songs 3:8 compare Thes BaNB 175 & Ethiopic Participle.; similarly Aramaic אָחִיד, e.g. ᵑ7 Amos 2:5; Niph`al Perfect3plural נאֹחֲזוּ Joshua 22:9; ׳וְנאֹ (consecutive) Numbers 32:30; Imperfect וַיֵּאָחֲזוּ Genesis 47:27; Imperative הֵאָֽחֲזוּ Genesis 34:10; Joshua 22:19; Participle נֶאֱחָז Genesis 22:13; נֶאֱחָזִים Ecclesiastes 9:12; — be caught Genesis 22:13; Ecclesiastes 9:12; elsewhere have possessions Genesis 34:10; Genesis 47:27; Numbers 32:30; Joshua 22:9,19 (P). Pi`el Participle מְאַחֵז Job 26:9 with accusative enclose, overlay (so Assyrian DlW, p. 294, compare Arabic Hoph`al Participle plural מָאֳחָזִים2Chronicles 9:18 fastened to followed by לְ. Topical Lexicon Overviewאָחַז conveys the decisive act of seizing, grasping, or holding fast. Occurring roughly sixty-eight times, the verb ranges from the literal capture of objects and people to figurative portrayals of fear, covenant loyalty, and divine judgment. Physical Seizure and Capture • Genesis 22:13 – “Abraham looked up and saw behind him a ram caught in a thicket by its horns.” The ram God provided was literally seized by the brush, prefiguring substitutionary atonement. Emotional or Psychological Grip • Psalm 48:6 – “Trembling seized them there, anguish like a woman in labor.” These passages remind readers that inward terrors can bind as tightly as physical chains, driving the heart either to despair or to seek divine refuge. Possession and Territorial Control • Numbers 32:30; Joshua 22:9 – The eastern tribes take possession of their allotted land, emphasizing covenant inheritance. Here אָחַז underlines the principle that every conquest, whether righteous or hostile, unfolds under divine sovereignty. Covenant Commitment and Moral Resolve • Deuteronomy 32:41 – The LORD “takes hold of judgment,” asserting His personal involvement in justice. These uses turn the verb toward the believer’s deliberate embrace of God’s ways. Divine Initiative in Judgment or Salvation • Jeremiah 38:23 – The Chaldeans will seize Jerusalem’s royal family; yet the same verb is reversed when God later seizes Babylon in judgment (Jeremiah 50:43-46). No nation, ruler, or circumstance escapes the LORD’s grasp. Representative Themes 1. Substitution and Redemption – The ram seized in Genesis 22 foreshadows Christ, the ultimate substitute (John 1:29). Ministry and Devotional Applications • Reassure the fearful that the Lord “takes hold of your right hand” (Isaiah 41:13), stronger than any terror that may seize them. Christological Fulfillment In the Greek New Testament, cognate verbs describe crowds laying hold of Jesus to crucify Him (Matthew 26:57), yet Acts 2:24 proclaims that “it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him.” The Old Testament pattern of אָחַז thus climaxes in the resurrection: death seized Christ, but God’s stronger grip broke its power, securing believers forever (John 10:28). Conclusion From rams in thickets to nations in turmoil, from trembling hearts to determined faith, אָחַז depicts moments when something comes firmly under control. Scripture testifies that the Lord alone possesses the ultimate grasp—over history, over judgment, and over those who trust Him. The wise response is to yield to His sovereign hold while resolutely laying hold of His unfailing promises. Forms and Transliterations אֲ֭חָזַתְנִי אֲחַזְתִּיו֙ אֲחָז֔וּנִי אֲחָזַ֖נִי אֲחָזַ֖תָּה אֲחָזָ֣תַם אֲחֹ֥ז אֲחֻ֣זֵי אֲחוּזִ֑ים אֲחוּזִ֖ים אֶֽחֱזוּ־ אָ֝חַ֗זְתָּ אָ֣חֲזוּ אָ֭חַזְתָּ אָחֲזָ֣ה אָחֲזָ֥ה אָחַ֔ז אָחַ֞ז אָחֻ֖ז אָחֻ֣ז אָחֻז֙ אָחוּז֙ אֹֽחֲזָ֖ה אֹחֵ֖ז אֹחֶ֙זֶת֙ אחוז אחוזים אחז אחזה אחזו אחזו־ אחזוני אחזי אחזני אחזת אחזתה אחזתיו אחזתם אחזתני בֶּֽאֱחֹ֨ז באחז הָֽאָחֻז֙ הָאֲחֻז֖וֹת האחז האחזות וְֽתֹאחֲזֵ֥נִי וְאֶֽחֳזִי־ וְאָחַ֣ז וְאָחַ֥ז וְאָחֻ֥ז ׀ וְהֵֽאָחֲז֖וּ וְהֵאָחֲז֖וּ וְיֹאחֵ֣ז וְלֶאֱחֹ֣ז וְנֹֽאחֲז֥וּ וְתֹאחֵ֥ז וֶאֱחֹ֑זוּ וֶאֱחֹ֖ז וֶאֱחֹ֣ז וַיֵּאָחֲז֣וּ וַיֶּאֱחֹ֞ז וַיֶּאֱחֹ֥ז וַיֹּ֣אחֶז וַיֹּאחֲז֣וּ וַיֹּאחֲז֣וּהוּ וַתֹּ֜חֶז וַתֹּ֣אחֶז וָֽאֹחֵ֤ז וָאֹחֲזָ֣ה ואחז ואחזה ואחזו ואחזי־ והאחזו ויאחז ויאחזו ויאחזוהו ולאחז ונאחזו ותאחז ותאחזני ותחז יֹ֖אחֲז֣וּנִי יֹֽאחֲזֵ֖מוֹ יֹֽאחֵז֔וּן יֹאחֱז֔וּךְ יֹאחֵ֣ז יאחז יאחזוך יאחזון יאחזוני יאחזמו לֶ֭אֱחֹז לֶאֱחֹז֙ לאחז מְאַחֵ֥ז מָאֳחָזִ֔ים מאחז מאחזים נֶאֱחַ֥ז נֹֽאחֲזוּ־ נאחז נאחזו־ שֶׁיֹּאחֵ֓ז שֶׁנֶּֽאֱחָזִים֙ שיאחז שנאחזים תֶּאֱחֹ֣ז תאחז ’ă·ḥā·za·nî ’ă·ḥā·zā·ṯam ’ā·ḥă·zāh ’ă·ḥā·zaṯ·nî ’ă·ḥā·zat·tāh ’ā·ḥă·zū ’ă·ḥā·zū·nî ’ā·ḥaz ’ā·ḥaz·tā ’ă·ḥaz·tîw ’ă·ḥōz ’ă·ḥu·zê ’ă·ḥū·zîm ’ā·ḥuz ’ā·ḥūz ’āḥaz ’āḥăzāh ’ăḥāzanî ’ăḥāzāṯam ’ăḥāzaṯnî ’ăḥāzattāh ’āḥaztā ’ăḥaztîw ’āḥăzū ’ăḥāzūnî ’ăḥōz ’āḥuz ’āḥūz ’ăḥuzê ’ăḥūzîm ’e·ḥĕ·zū- ’eḥĕzū- ’ō·ḥă·zāh ’ō·ḥe·zeṯ ’ō·ḥêz ’ōḥăzāh ’ōḥêz ’ōḥezeṯ aChaz achaZah achaZani achaZatam Achazatni achaZattah aChazta achazTiv Achazu achaZuni aChoz aChuz aChuzei achuZim be’ĕḥōz be·’ĕ·ḥōz beeChoz echezu hā’āḥuz hā’ăḥuzōwṯ hā·’ă·ḥu·zō·wṯ hā·’ā·ḥuz haaChuz haachuZot le’ĕḥōz le·’ĕ·ḥōz leeChoz mā’oḥāzîm mā·’o·ḥā·zîm mə’aḥêz mə·’a·ḥêz meaChez moochaZim ne’ĕḥaz ne·’ĕ·ḥaz neeChaz nō·ḥă·zū- nochazu nōḥăzū- ochaZah oChez oChezet še·yō·ḥêz šen·ne·’ĕ·ḥā·zîm šenne’ĕḥāzîm šeyōḥêz sheiyoChez shenneechaZim te’ĕḥōz te·’ĕ·ḥōz teeChoz vaiyeachaZu vaiyeeChoz vaiyochaZu vaiyochaZuhu vaiYochez vaochaZah vaoChez vatTochez veaChaz veaChuz veeChoz veechozi veeChozu veheachaZu veleeChoz venochaZu vetochaZeni vetoChez veyoChez wā’ōḥăzāh wā’ōḥêz wā·’ō·ḥă·zāh wā·’ō·ḥêz wat·tō·ḥez wattōḥez way·yê·’ā·ḥă·zū way·ye·’ĕ·ḥōz way·yō·ḥă·zū way·yō·ḥă·zū·hū way·yō·ḥez wayyê’āḥăzū wayye’ĕḥōz wayyōḥăzū wayyōḥăzūhū wayyōḥez wə’āḥaz wə’āḥuz we’ĕḥōz wə’eḥozî- we’ĕḥōzū wə·’ā·ḥaz wə·’ā·ḥuz wə·’e·ḥo·zî- we·’ĕ·ḥō·zū we·’ĕ·ḥōz wə·hê·’ā·ḥă·zū wə·le·’ĕ·ḥōz wə·nō·ḥă·zū wə·ṯō·ḥă·zê·nî wə·ṯō·ḥêz wə·yō·ḥêz wəhê’āḥăzū wəle’ĕḥōz wənōḥăzū wəṯōḥăzênî wəṯōḥêz wəyōḥêz yō·ḥă·zê·mōw yō·ḥă·zū·nî yō·ḥĕ·zūḵ yō·ḥê·zūn yō·ḥêz yochaZemov yochaZuni yoChez yocheZuch yocheZun yōḥăzêmōw yōḥăzūnî yōḥêz yōḥĕzūḵ yōḥêzūnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 22:13 HEB: אַ֔יִל אַחַ֕ר נֶאֱחַ֥ז בַּסְּבַ֖ךְ בְּקַרְנָ֑יו NAS: [him] a ram caught in the thicket KJV: [him] a ram caught in a thicket INT: a ram behind caught the thicket his horns Genesis 25:26 Genesis 34:10 Genesis 47:27 Exodus 4:4 Exodus 15:14 Exodus 15:15 Numbers 31:30 Numbers 31:47 Numbers 32:30 Deuteronomy 32:41 Joshua 22:9 Joshua 22:19 Judges 1:6 Judges 12:6 Judges 16:3 Judges 16:21 Judges 20:6 Ruth 3:15 Ruth 3:15 2 Samuel 1:9 2 Samuel 2:21 2 Samuel 4:10 2 Samuel 6:6 2 Samuel 20:9 68 Occurrences |
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e.g. ᵑ6 
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