Strength
Vine's Expository Dictionary of OT Words [1]
Chel'âh ( חֶלְאָה , Strong'S #2458), “strength; power; wealth; property; capable; valiant; army; troops; influential; upper-class people (courtiers).” The cognates of this word have been found in Aramaic, Akkadian, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic. Biblical Hebrew attests it about 245 times and in all periods.
First, this word signifies a faculty or “power,” the ability to effect or produce something. The word is used of physical “strength” in the sense of power that can be exerted: “If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength …” (Eccl. 10:10). Quite often this word appears in a military context. Here it is the physical strength, power, and ability to perform in battle that is in view. This idea is used of men in 1 Sam. 2:4: “The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength” (cf. Ps. 18:32, 39). Ps. 33:17 applies the word to a war horse. An interesting use of chel'âh appears in Num. 24:17-18, where Balaam prophesied the destruction of Moab and Edom at the hands of Israel: “And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and lsrael shall do valiantly” (v. 18). The idea here is dynamic; something is happening. One might also render this phrase: “Israel performs mightily.” This translation of the word is somewhat inexact; a noun is translated as an adverb.
Second, chel'âh means “wealth, property.” This nuance of the word focuses on that which demonstrates one’s ability, his wealth or goods; Levi, Simeon, and their cohorts attacked the Shechemites: “And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the home” (Gen. 34:29—the first biblical occurrence of the word). In Num. 31:9 chel'âh includes all the possessions of the Midianites except the women, children, cattle, and flocks. Thus it seems to be a little narrower in meaning. When this nuance is used with the Hebrew word “to do or make,” the resulting phrase means “to become wealthy or make wealth” (cf. Deut. 8:18; Ruth 4:11). This is in marked contrast to the emphasis of the same construction in Num. 24:18. Joel 2:22 uses chel'âh in the sense of “wealth” or products of the ability of a tree to produce fruit.
Third, several passages use the word in the sense of “able.” In Gen. 47:6 the ability to do a job well is in view. Pharaoh told Joseph: “The land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any men of activity [capable men] among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.” This word can also represent the domestic skills of a woman—Ruth is described as a woman of ability and, therefore, either potentially or actually a good wife (Ruth 3:11; Prov. 12:4). When applied to men, chel'âh sometimes focuses on their ability to conduct themselves well in battle as well as being loyal to their commanders (1 Sam. 14:52; 1 Kings 1:42). When used in such contexts, the word may be translated “valiant”: “And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him” (1 Sam. 14:52; cf. Num. 24:18; 1 Sam. 14:48).
Fourth, this word sometimes means “army”; “And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honored upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host [army] …” (Exod. 14:4). The word can also refer to the army as troops in the sense of a combination of a lot of individuals. Under such an idea the word can represent the members of an army distributed to perform certain functions. Jehoshaphat “placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah …” (2 Chron. 17:2). This is also the emphasis in 1 Kings 15:20: “Ben-hadad … sent the captains of the hosts which he had [NASB, “commanders of his armies”] against the cities of Israel.…”
Fifth, chel'âh sometimes represents the “upper class,” who, as in all feudal systems, were at once soldiers, wealthy, and influential; Sanballat “spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria,” i.e., in the royal court (NASB, “wealthy men”; Neh. 4:2). The Queen of Sheba was accompanied by a large escort of upperclass people from her homeland: “And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train …” (1 Kings 10:2).
King James Dictionary [2]
STRENGTH, n. See Strong.
1. That property or quality of an animal body by which it is enabled to move itself or other bodies. We say, a sick man has not strength to walk, or to raise his head or his arm. We say, a man has strength to lift a weight, or to draw it. This quality is called also power and force. But force is also used to denote the effect of strength exerted, or the quantity of motion. Strength in this sense, is positive, or the power of producing positive motion or action, and is opposed to weakness. 2. Firmness solidity or toughness the quality of bodies by which they sustain the application of force without breaking or yielding. Thus we speak of the strength of a bone, the strength of a beam, the strength of a wall, the strength of a rope. In this sense, strength is a passive quality, and is opposed to weakness or frangibility. 3. Power or vigor of any kind.
This act shall crush the strength of Satan.
Strength there must be either of love or war.
4. Power of resisting attacks fastness as the strength of a castle or fort. 5. Support that which supports that which supplies strength security.
God is our refuge and strength. Psalms 46 .
6. Power of mind intellectual force the power of any faculty as strength of memory strength of reason strength of judgment. 7. Spirit animation.
Me thinks I feel new strength within me rise.
8. Force of writing vigor nervous diction. The strength of words, of style, of expression and the like, consists in the full and forcible exhibition of ideas, by which a sensible or deep impression is made on the mind of a hearer or reader. It is distinguished from softness or sweetness. Strength of language enforces an argument, produces conviction, or excites wonder or other strong emotion softness and sweetness give pleasure.
And praise the easy vigor of a line, where Denhams strength and Wellers sweetness join.
9. Vividness as strength of colors or coloring. 10. Spirit the quality of any liquor which has the power of affecting the taste, or of producing sensible effects on other bodies as the strength of wine or spirit the strength of an acid. 11. The virtue or spirit of any vegetable, or of its juices or qualities. 12. Legal or moral force validity the quality of binding, uniting or securing as the strength of social or legal obligations the strength of law the strength of public opinion or custom. 13. Vigor natural force as the strength of natural affection. 14. That which supports confidence.
The allies, after a successful summer, are too apt upon the strength of it to neglect preparation for the ensuing campaign.
15. Amount of force, military or naval an army or navy number of troops or ships well appointed. What is the strength of the enemy by land, or by sea? 16. Soundness force the quality that convinces, persuades or commands assent as the strength of an argument or of reasoning the strength of evidence. 17. Vehemence force proceeding from motion and proportioned to it as the strength of wind or a current of water. 18. Degree of brightness or vividness as the strength of light. 19. Fortification fortress as an inaccessible strength. Not in use. 20. Support maintenance of power.
What they boded would be a mischief to us, you are providing shall be one of our principal strengths. Not used.
STRENGTH, To strengthen. Not in use.
Webster's Dictionary [3]
(1): ( n.) Intensity or degree of the distinguishing and essential element; spirit; virtue; excellence; - said of liquors, solutions, etc.; as, the strength of wine or of acids.
(2): ( n.) Force as measured; amount, numbers, or power of any body, as of an army, a navy, and the like; as, what is the strength of the enemy by land, or by sea?
(3): ( n.) Power to resist force; solidity or toughness; the quality of bodies by which they endure the application of force without breaking or yielding; - in this sense opposed to frangibility; as, the strength of a bone, of a beam, of a wall, a rope, and the like.
(4): ( n.) The quality or state of being strong; ability to do or to bear; capacity for exertion or endurance, whether physical, intellectual, or moral; force; vigor; power; as, strength of body or of the arm; strength of mind, of memory, or of judgment.
(5): ( n.) Intensity; - said of light or color.
(6): ( n.) Vigor or style; force of expression; nervous diction; - said of literary work.
(7): ( n.) One who, or that which, is regarded as embodying or affording force, strength, or firmness; that on which confidence or reliance is based; support; security.
(8): ( n.) A strong place; a stronghold.
(9): ( n.) That quality which tends to secure results; effective power in an institution or enactment; security; validity; legal or moral force; logical conclusiveness; as, the strength of social or legal obligations; the strength of law; the strength of public opinion; strength of evidence; strength of argument.
(10): ( v. t.) To strengthen.
(11): ( n.) Power of resisting attacks; impregnability.
Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology [4]
See Power
