Vine Old Testament Dictionary :: Strength

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 1Sa 2:4: "The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength" (cf. Psa 18:32, 39). Psa 33:17 applies the word to a war horse. An interesting use of h?ayil 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 Israel 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, h?ayil 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 house" (Gen 34:29, the first biblical occurrence of the word). In Num 31:9 h?ayil 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 h?ayil 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, h?ayil sometimes focuses on their ability to conduct themselves well in battle as well as being loyal to their Commanders (1Sam 14:52; 1Ki 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" (1Sam 14:52; cf. Num 24:18; 1Sa 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…" (2Chron 17:2). This is also the emphasis in 1Ki 15:20: "Ben-hadad…sent the captains of the hosts which he had [nasb, "commanders of his armies"] against the cities of Israel…."

Fifth, h?ayil 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 upper-class people from her homeland: "And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train…" (1Kings 10:2).