Word Study for H248 (אֶזְרוֹעַ)

ʼezrôwaʻ /ez-ro'-a/ Ask about this word

Meaningthe arm

KJV usagearm.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʼezrôwaʻ — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word ʼezrôwaʻ, represented by H248, is a variation of a more common word for arm. It appears just 2 times in 2 unique verses, yet its uses illustrate a stark contrast between divine power and human frailty.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The two appearances of H248 showcase its dual application. In Jeremiah 32:21, it is used figuratively to describe God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt, citing His "stretched out arm" alongside a "strong hand" as an instrument of His power. Conversely, in Job 31:22, the word is used in a literal, physical sense. As part of a self-imposed curse to assert his innocence, Job declares, "let mine arm be broken from the bone."

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a fuller context for the concept of the arm and its associated strength:

H2389 châzâq (strong): This adjective is frequently paired with terms for hand or arm to describe might. In the same context as H248, God's deliverance is accomplished with a "strong hand" Jeremiah 32:21. It is often used to describe God's "mighty hand" in rescuing His people Deuteronomy 7:8.
H3027 yâd (hand): Often appearing alongside "arm," this word indicates power, means, and direction. The phrase "strong hand" and "stretched out arm" is a common pairing to signify God's complete and powerful intervention in events like the Exodus Jeremiah 32:21.
H3802 kâthêph (shoulder): This word provides the anatomical context for the arm. In Job's oath, he describes his arm falling from his shoulder blade, connecting H248 to the physical body and its vulnerability Job 31:22.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H248 is derived from its two distinct contexts:

Symbol of Divine Intervention: The "stretched out arm" is a powerful metaphor for God's active and miraculous power to save and deliver His people. This imagery, seen in Jeremiah 32:21, reinforces the theme of God's direct involvement in human history to fulfill His purposes.
Standard of Personal Justice: In Job, the physical arm becomes a measure of integrity. Job's willingness to see his own arm broken if he is guilty highlights a profound connection between the physical body and moral accountability before God Job 31:22.

Summary

In summary, while H248 is used infrequently, ʼezrôwaʻ serves as a potent term. It encapsulates both the transcendent, saving power of God symbolized by His outstretched arm, and the tangible, breakable human arm that is subject to physical consequence and divine judgment.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

אֶזְרוֹעַ
אֶזְרֹעִ

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Job and Jeremiah (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

Job

Jeremiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.