Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of being "stronger" in the Bible often relates to spiritual strength, moral fortitude, and the power of God working through individuals. It is a theme that underscores the importance of relying on God's strength rather than one's own.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, strength is frequently associated with God's power and might. For instance, in
Exodus 15:2, the Israelites sing, "The LORD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation." This verse highlights the belief that true strength comes from God, who delivers His people from their enemies.
The account of David and Goliath in
1 Samuel 17 is a classic example of how spiritual strength can overcome physical might. David, a young shepherd, defeats the giant Goliath not through physical prowess but through his faith in God. David declares, "The battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hands" (
1 Samuel 17:47), emphasizing that God's strength is greater than any human force.
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the theme of being stronger is often linked to spiritual resilience and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul writes in
Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." This verse is a testament to the belief that believers can endure and overcome challenges through the strength provided by Christ.
Ephesians 6:10-11 encourages believers to "be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes." Here, strength is depicted as a divine empowerment that enables Christians to withstand spiritual warfare.
Moral and Spiritual StrengthThe Bible also speaks to the importance of moral and spiritual strength.
Proverbs 24:5 states, "A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength." This suggests that true strength is not merely physical but is also found in wisdom and understanding.
In
2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Paul discusses how God's strength is made perfect in weakness. He writes, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me... For when I am weak, then I am strong." This paradoxical statement highlights the Christian belief that acknowledging one's weaknesses allows God's strength to manifest more fully.
Divine Strength in TrialsThe Bible assures believers that God's strength is available during times of trial.
Isaiah 40:29-31 promises, "He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak... those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint." This passage offers comfort and encouragement, affirming that God provides strength to those who trust in Him.
ConclusionThe biblical concept of being "stronger" is deeply rooted in the understanding that true strength comes from God. Whether facing physical challenges, spiritual battles, or moral dilemmas, believers are encouraged to rely on God's power and wisdom. Through faith, prayer, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Christians can find the strength to overcome any obstacle.
Greek
1991. episterizo -- to makestronger... to make
stronger. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: episterizo Phonetic Spelling:
(ep-ee-stay-rid'-zo) Short Definition: I prop up, uphold, confirm
...2001. epischuo -- to growstronger
... to growstronger. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: epischuo Phonetic Spelling:
(ep-is-khoo'-o) Short Definition: I persist, insist Definition: I persist...
2909. kreitton -- better
... better. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: kreitton or kreisson Phonetic
Spelling: (krite'-tohn) Short Definition:stronger, more excellent Definition...
2908. kreisson -- better.
... Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: kreisson Phonetic Spelling: (krice'-son)
Short Definition:stronger, more excellent Definition:stronger, more...
2398. idios -- one's own, distinct
... 2398 (a primitive word, ) -- properly, , to the. 2398 ("uniquely one's own")
is "stronger than the simple possessive pronoun ('own')....
730. arren -- male, man.
... Word Origin variant reading for arsen, qv. male, man. Arsen (ar'-sane) probably
from airo; male (asstronger for lifting) -- male, man. see GREEK airo....
2172. euchomai -- to pray
... 2172 ("pray, wish for") is used of wishes necessarily God-, unlike the meaning
associated with thestronger, prefixed cognate (4336, "pray")....
3375. men -- certainly
... surely. Astronger form of men; a particle of affirmation (only with e); assuredly -- +
surely. see GREEK men. see GREEK e. 3374, 3375. men. 3376 ....
3992. pempo -- to send
... Apparently a primary verb; to dispatch (from the subjective view or point of departure,
whereas hiemi (as astronger form of eimi) refers rather to the...
3780. ouchi -- not, not at all
... 3780 () is always emphatic, (dismissing) what is -- meaning "!" (G. Archer).
["The base, , is madestronger by (, as in Lk 1:60)....
Strong's Hebrew
2390. chazeq -- wax louder,stronger... chazeq. 2391 . wax louder,
stronger. Transliteration: chazeq Phonetic Spelling:
(khaw-zake') Short Definition: louder.
... from chazaq, qv. wax louder,
stronger...555. omets -- strength
... 554, 555. omets. 556 . strength. Transliteration: omets Phonetic Spelling:
(o'-mets) Short Definition:stronger....stronger. From 'amats; strength --stronger...
7194. qashar -- to bind, league together, conspire
... conspire NASB Word Usage bind (9), bound (2), carried (1), conspirators (2), conspired
(19), joined together (1), knit (1), made (3),stronger (2), tie (2...
1396. gabar -- to be strong, mighty
... 1), conducts himself arrogantly (1), exert (1), great (2), magnified (1), make a
firm (1), prevail (5), prevailed (9), strengthen (2),stronger (1), surpassed...
553. amets -- to be stout, strong, bold, alert
... 2), made strong (1), makes her strong (1), mighty (1), proved...strong (1), raises
(1), strengthen (6), strengthened (3), strong (2),stronger (1), summon (1...
2388. chazaq -- to be or grow firm or strong, strengthen
... fast (3), joining (1), laid hold (1), louder (1), made (1), made himself secure
(1), made their harder (1), made repairs (12), madestronger (1), maintain (1...
8623. taqqiph -- mighty
... 8622, 8623. taqqiph. 8624 . mighty. Transliteration: taqqiph Phonetic
Spelling: (tak-keef') Short Definition:stronger. Word Origin...
2389. chazaq -- strong, stout, mighty
... 1), loud (1), might (1), mighty (20), obstinate* (1), powerful (1), severe (3),
stalwart (1), strong (19), stubborn* (1), who is strong (1), who wasstronger (1...
5794. az -- strong, mighty, fierce
... Word Usage fierce (2), fierce men (1), greedy* (1), insolent* (1), mighty (2), power
(1), raging (1), roughly (1), strong (10), strong ones (1),stronger (1)....
6099. atsum -- mighty, numerous
... mighty, numerous NASB Word Usage great (1), large number (1), mightier (6), mighty
(14), mighty men (1), mighty ones (1), numerous (1), strong (5),stronger (1...
Library
Whether Hatred isStronger than Love?
... OF HATRED (SIX ARTICLES) Whether hatred isstronger than love? Objection
1: It would seem that hatred isstronger than love. For...
The Strong Forerunner and theStronger Son
... THE STRONG FORERUNNER AND THESTRONGER SON. 'The beginning of... hand. III. We
have the gentle figure of thestronger Son. The introduction...
He Tries byStronger and Weightier Arguments to Destroy that...
... Book VII. Chapter XX. He tries bystronger and weightier arguments to destroy
that notion. But why are we so long dealing with your...
The Argument for Christian Practices Becomes all theStronger...
... Chapter V. The argument for Christian practices becomes all thestronger?
The argument for Christian practices becomes all the...
How Faulty Interpretations Can be Emended.
... faulty in the Latin tongue, but it is ambiguous too, as if the meaning might be,
that the folly of men or the weakness of men is wiser orstronger than that of...
Out of the Deep of Death.
... me. He isstronger than hell and death, and He will not suffer me in my
last hour, for any pains of death, to fall from Him. He...
On the Words of the Gospel, John vi. 55,"For My Flesh is Meat...
... Thou requirest strength from the weaker sex; the lust of the flesh ye have both
of you: let him that is thestronger, be the first to conquer....
Christ and Beelzebub
... summons reluctantly obeyed. It required the interference of astronger power,
which could only be the power of God. None could enter...
Explanation of the Preceding Chapter.
... better. But when these two loves came into comparison with one another,
the good Abraham made quite clear which was thestronger....
How Divine Love Makes Use of all the Passions and Affections of...
... be, we know that two things make the light of the stars disappear,"the obscurity
of the mists of night, and the light of the sun which isstronger than theirs...
Thesaurus
Stronger (59 Occurrences)...Stronger (59 Occurrences). Mark 9:24 Straight away the father of the child gave
a cry, saying, I have faith; make my feeble faith
stronger. (BBE).
...Lowlands (25 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 20:23 Then the king of Aram's servants said to him, Their god is a god of
the hills; that is why they werestronger than we: but if we make an attack...
Plateau (13 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 20:23 And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, Their gods are
gods of the mountains; therefore they werestronger than we; but if we fight...
Plains (31 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 20:23 And the servants of the king of Aram said unto him: 'Their God is
a God of the hills; therefore they werestronger than we; but let us fight...
Strongest (9 Occurrences)
... (BBE). 1 Chronicles 5:2 Though Judah becamestronger than his brothers, and from
him came the ruler, the birthright was Joseph's:) (See NIV)....
Lasted (3 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 3:1 Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David:
and David grewstronger andstronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker...
Waxeth (5 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV). Job 17:9 Yet shall the righteous hold on his way, And he that
hath clean hands shall waxstronger andstronger. (See JPS)....
Weaker (4 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 3:1 Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David:
and David grewstronger andstronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker...
Delivereth (49 Occurrences)
... delivered. (YLT). 2 Samuel 22:18 He delivereth me from my strong enemy, From
those hating me, For they werestronger than I. (YLT). 2...
Condemn (43 Occurrences)
... 14, omitted in the Revised Version (British and American); "condemnation of the
devil" 1 Timothy 3:6; 1 Timothy 5:12 Jude 1:4). (4) Muchstronger is katakrima...
Resources
What does the Bible say about being left-handed? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that God is not mocked? | GotQuestions.orgDid Jacob placing branches in front of his flock really result in the offspring being speckled and spotted? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
