Lexical Summary atsam: To be strong, mighty, numerous, powerful Original Word: עָצַם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance break the bones, close, be great, be increased, be more, shut, become, A primitive root; to bind fast, i.e. Close (the eyes); intransitively, to be (causatively, make) powerful or numerous; denominatively (from etsem) to crunch the bones -- break the bones, close, be great, be increased, be (wax) mighty(-ier), be more, shut, be(-come, make) strong(-er). see HEBREW etsem Brown-Driver-Briggs I. [עָצֹם, compare LagBN 31], עָצַם verb be vast, mighty, numerous (Late Hebrew Nithp. contend strenuously, and in derivatives; Phoenician in עצמת mighty deeds, עצמם bones; Arabic Qal Perfect3masculine singular וְעָצַם consecutive Daniel 8:24; Daniel 11:23; 2masculine singular עָצַמְתָּ Genesis 26:16; 3plural עָֽצְמוּ Isaiah 31:1 +, עָצֵ֑מוּ Psalm 38:20; Imperfect3masculine plural וַיַּעַצְמוּ Exodus 1:7,20; Infinitive construct עָצְמַת Isaiah 47:9; suffix עָצְמוֺ Daniel 8:8; — 1 be mighty, Genesis 26:16 (J; with מִן compare), Daniel 8:8,24; Daniel 11:23. 2 be numerous, "" דַבּוּ etc., Isaiah 31:1, בְּעָצְמַת חֲבָרַיִח מְאֹד Isaiah 47:9, Jeremiah 5:6; Jeremiah 30:14,15; Exodus 1:7 (P), Exodus 1:20 (J), Psalm 38:20; Psalm 69:5; with מִן compare Jeremiah 15:8; Psalm 40:6; Psalm 40:13; alone Psalm 139:17. Hiph`il make strong, Imperfect3masculine singular: suffix וַיַּעֲצִימֵחוּ Psalm 105:24 + מִן compare II. [עָצַם] verb shut the eyes (Late Hebrew Hiph`il; possibly connection with Syriac Qal Participle וְעֹצֵם עֵינָיו מִן Isaiah 33:15 shutteth his eyes from seeing Pi`el Imperfect3masculine singular וַיְעַצֵּם אֶתעֵֿינֵיכֶם Isaiah 29:10 he hath tightly shut your eyes (compare I. עצה). Topical Lexicon Overview of ConceptThe Hebrew verb עָצַם depicts a movement from ordinary to exceptional magnitude—whether in numbers, power, intensity, or even the physical act of closing or crushing. In Scripture it serves as a narrative marker of God-given increase, human arrogance, moral restraint, or judicial severity. Narrative Foundations: Covenant Increase and Threatened Neighbors • Genesis 26:16 records Abimelech’s expulsion of Isaac because he had “become much too powerful”, signalling the first fulfillment of the promise that Abraham’s line would grow formidable among the nations. These early uses present עָצַם as a blessing flowing from covenant faithfulness and as the catalyst for conflict that drives redemptive history forward. Poetic Reflection: Vast Blessings, Overwhelming Troubles Psalmic writers employ the verb both positively and negatively: The term intensifies the worshipper’s sense of scale: God’s mercies are immeasurable; so, at times, are the believer’s adversities. In pastoral use this balance guards against both triumphalism and despair. Prophetic Literature: Strength Misplaced, Sin Multiplied, Vision Shut 1. False Reliance Isaiah 31:1 rebukes Judah for trusting in Egypt’s “great strength” rather than the LORD. עָצַם exposes the folly of substituting human might for divine help. Isaiah 29:10—“He has closed your eyes—the prophets”—links the verb with judicial hardening. Isaiah 33:15 recasts the image ethically: the righteous “shuts his eyes against contemplating evil,” modeling deliberate holiness. Jeremiah clusters the verb with national guilt: “their transgressions are many” (Jeremiah 5:6); “your sins innumerable” (Jeremiah 30:14-15). The same term that celebrated Israel’s numeric growth now exposes her moral overgrowth. Jeremiah 50:17 pictures Babylon “crushing” Israel’s bones, showing the verb’s capacity to describe devastating power. Daniel 8:8; 8:24; 11:23 use עָצַם to chart the ascent of Gentile rulers whose strength is impressive yet transient, reinforcing that no empire outgrows the sovereignty of God. Theological Threads • Covenant Fidelity: God magnifies His people to keep His promises (Genesis, Exodus, Psalm 105:24). Ministry Implications 1. Encouragement of Growth: Congregations can appeal to Exodus 1:7 as evidence that God delights to enlarge His people despite hostile environments. Summary עָצַם is a versatile verb that magnifies the narrative moment—whether amplifying a blessing, an enemy force, a moral failure, or a prophetic judgment. Throughout the Old Testament it underscores the consistent biblical truth that genuine strength and increase proceed from the LORD, are accountable to Him, and are ultimately directed toward His redemptive purposes. Forms and Transliterations וְעָצַ֖ם וְעָצַ֤ם וְעֹצֵ֥ם וַ֝יַּֽעֲצִמֵהוּ וַיְעַצֵּ֖ם וַיַּֽעַצְמ֖וּ וּכְעָצְמ֗וֹ ויעצם ויעצמהו ויעצמו וכעצמו ועצם עִצְּמ֔וֹ עָ֝צְמ֗וּ עָ֝צְמוּ עָֽצְמוּ֙ עָֽצְמוּ־ עָצְמ֖וּ עָצְמ֣וּ עָצְמ֥וּ עָצֵ֑מוּ עָצַֽמְתָּ־ עצמו עצמו־ עצמת־ ‘ā·ṣam·tā- ‘ā·ṣê·mū ‘ā·ṣə·mū ‘ā·ṣə·mū- ‘āṣamtā- ‘āṣêmū ‘āṣəmū ‘āṣəmū- ‘iṣ·ṣə·mōw ‘iṣṣəmōw atzamta aTzemu itztzeMo ū·ḵə·‘ā·ṣə·mōw ucheatzeMo ūḵə‘āṣəmōw Vaiyaatzimehu vaiyaatzMu vayatzTzem veaTzam veoTzem way‘aṣṣêm way·‘aṣ·ṣêm way·ya·‘ă·ṣi·mê·hū way·ya·‘aṣ·mū wayya‘ăṣimêhū wayya‘aṣmū wə‘āṣam wə‘ōṣêm wə·‘ā·ṣam wə·‘ō·ṣêmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 26:16 HEB: מֵֽעִמָּ֔נוּ כִּֽי־ עָצַֽמְתָּ־ מִמֶּ֖נּוּ מְאֹֽד׃ NAS: away from us, for you are too powerful for us. KJV: from us; for thou art much mightier than we. INT: with for powerful at are too Exodus 1:7 Exodus 1:20 Psalm 38:19 Psalm 40:5 Psalm 40:12 Psalm 69:4 Psalm 105:24 Psalm 139:17 Isaiah 29:10 Isaiah 31:1 Isaiah 33:15 Jeremiah 5:6 Jeremiah 15:8 Jeremiah 30:14 Jeremiah 30:15 Jeremiah 50:17 Daniel 8:8 Daniel 8:24 Daniel 11:23 20 Occurrences |
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be great in bone, or anything, 
, bones; Ethiopic 
: id.; Aramaic עִטְמָא, 
thigh): — 
= id., Arabic 
, IV (on 
= 
see NöZMG xxxii (1878), 406); Late Hebrew עִמֵּץ close eyes of dead; compare BaES 5f.); —