English · KJV
H6105

עָצַם

ʻâtsam /aw-tsam'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningalso denominatively (from עֶצֶם); to bind fast, i.e. close (the eyes); intransitively, to be (causatively, make) powerful or numerous; to crunch the bones
KJV usagebreak the bones, close, be great, be increased, be (wax) mighty(-ier), be more, shut, be(-come, make) strong(-er).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻâtsam — 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 ʻâtsam, represented by H6105, is a primitive root with a range of meanings centered on power and quantity. Its definitions include to be or make powerful or numerous, to close the eyes, and to break bones. It appears 20 times across 20 unique verses, illustrating its use in describing physical strength, numerical abundance, and decisive action.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H6105 is used to convey strength in various contexts. It describes the growth of a nation, as when the children of Israel "waxed exceeding mighty" in Egypt Exodus 1:7 or when Abimelech tells Isaac, "thou art much mightier than we" Genesis 26:16. The word also applies to the strength of adversaries, such as the psalmist's enemies who "are mighty" Psalms 69:4. Beyond physical power, it is used to express great number, as when God's thoughts are declared to be so vast that "they are more than can be numbered" Psalms 40:5. In a more physical sense, it can mean to "shut" one's eyes from evil Isaiah 33:15 or, violently, for an enemy to have "broken his bones" Jeremiah 50:17.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the concepts of strength and abundance associated with H6105:

  • H3581 kôach (vigor, force, might, power): This noun denotes power or ability. It is used to describe the source of might, such as a future king whose power (kôach) will become mighty (ʻâtsam) Daniel 8:24.
  • H6099 ʻâtsûwm (powerful, numerous): This term, a passive participle of ʻâtsam, functions as an adjective. It is used to describe a "strong" nation Isaiah 60:22 and the "mighty" who are subject to destruction Daniel 8:24.
  • H7235 râbâh (to increase, multiply): This verb for increase is used alongside ʻâtsam to show exponential growth. In Egypt, the Israelites "multiplied" (râbâh) and "waxed" exceeding "mighty" (ʻâtsam) Exodus 1:7.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6105 is seen in its application to divine power, human accountability, and the consequences of sin.

  • Strength and Might: The word contrasts reliance on human power with dependence on God. Israel is warned against trusting in Egypt's "very strong" horsemen instead of the Lord Isaiah 31:1. In contrast, God is the one who ultimately made His people "stronger than their enemies" Psalms 105:24.
  • The Weight of Sin: ʻâtsam is used metaphorically to describe the overwhelming quantity of sin. Judgment comes because sins "were increased" Jeremiah 30:14. The psalmist also expresses this when he cries that his iniquities "are more than the hairs of mine head" Psalms 40:12.
  • Greatness of God: The term is used to express the immensity of God's mind and works. The psalmist marvels at God's thoughts, exclaiming, "how great is the sum of them!" Psalms 139:17.

Summary

In summary, H6105 is a versatile word that connects the concepts of might, number, and forceful action. It can describe the physical strength of a person or nation, the uncountable nature of God's thoughts, or the overwhelming increase of sin. From the growth of Israel in Egypt Exodus 1:7 to the breaking of bones by an enemy Jeremiah 50:17, ʻâtsam conveys a sense of formidable power and scale, making it a significant term for understanding strength and consequence in scripture.

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 verb across 20 occurrences, inflected in 9 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.

  • עָצְמוּ
  • יַּעַצְמוּ
  • עָצַם
  • יַּעֲצִמֵ
  • יְעַצֵּם
  • עִצְּמ
  • עָצְמ
  • עֹצֵם
  • עָצַמְתָּ

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H3581 כֹּחַ or (Daniel 11:6) כּוֹחַ; from an unused root meaning to be firm; vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense) or f H6099 עָצוּם or עָצֻם; passive participle of עָצַם; powerful (specifically, a paw); by implication, numerous; [phrase] feeble, great, H7235 רָבָה a primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect); (bring in) abundance ([idiom] -antly), [phrase] archer (by mistake

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 20 verses across 6 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Psalms (6 verses); never once in the other 33.

1
Genesis
2
Exodus
6
Psalms
3
Isaiah
5
Jeremiah
3
Daniel

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.