gevura · might

What it means

gevura (גְּבוּרָה) is a Hebrew word of the Bible that means “might”.

Strength, might; mighty deed, victory.

How to say it

Approximate pronunciation. Vowels sound as in Spanish (a as in father, e as in bed, i as in machine, o as in note, u as in rule); the syllable in bold is stressed. The voice is your device's.

Its senses in the Bible

1. Strength of body or spirit to face something.
2. God's strength and his great deeds.
3. Triumph in battle, won by strength.

From Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906)

Word study

Might, strength: the capacity to prevail and the brave deeds that show it. It is from the root גָּבַר (‘be strong’), the same as גִּבּוֹר (‘mighty one’, H1368) and גֶּבֶר (‘man’, H1397).

• A king’s might, in the chronicles 1 Kings 15:231 Kings 16:27
• “As the man {is}, {so is} his strength” Judges 8:21
• The might of YHWH Psalms 21:13Psalms 145:11Psalms 150:2
• “The spirit of counsel and might” Isaiah 11:2
• Not boasting in one’s own might Jeremiah 9:23Ecclesiastes 9:16Isaiah 30:15

Historical and cultural background

The books of Kings close the reign of many kings by referring to their chronicles for “the rest of all the deeds” and “his might” (1 Kings 15:23).

How we translate it

“Might” 45 times, “mighty deeds” 6 and “mighty acts” 2 for the deeds that show it, “powers” 2. “Strength” 5 times when it is a person’s strength (Judges 8:21; Psalm 90:10).

How it is translated

The words this translation uses for it, most frequent first.

• might ×45
• mighty deeds ×6
• strength ×5
• mighty acts ×2
• powers ×2
• victory ×1

Related words

Words of the same family, by Strong’s numbering.

Where it appears

• Exodus×1
• Deuteronomy×1
• Judges×2
• 1 Kings×4
• 2 Kings×7
• 1 Chronicles×3
• 2 Chronicles×1
• Esther×1
• Job×4
• Psalms×17
• Proverbs×1
• Ecclesiastes×2
• Isaiah×7
• Jeremiah×6
• Ezekiel×2
• Micah×2

• Exodus 32:18

  But he said, “It is not the sound of the shout of victory, and it is not the sound of the cry of defeat; the sound of singing I hear.”

• Deuteronomy 3:24

  “Adonai YHWH, you have begun to show your servant your greatness and your strong hand; for what god is there in the heavens or on the earth who can do according to your works and according to your mighty deeds?

• Judges 5:31

  So may all your enemies perish, YHWH! But may those who love him be like the going out of the sun in its strength.” And the land was calm forty years.

• Judges 8:21

  Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise yourself and fall upon us, for as the man is, so is his strength.” So Gideon rose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and he took the crescents that were on the necks of their camels.

• 1 Kings 15:23

  The rest of all the deeds of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Only in the time of his old age he became diseased in his feet.

• 1 Kings 16:5

  The rest of the deeds of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

• 1 Kings 16:27

  The rest of the deeds of Omri, what he did, and his might that he showed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

• 1 Kings 22:45

  The rest of the deeds of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he showed, and how he fought, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

• 2 Kings 10:34

  The rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

• 2 Kings 13:8

  The rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

• 2 Kings 13:12

  The rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

• 2 Kings 14:15

  The rest of the acts of Joash that he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

• 2 Kings 14:28

  The rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might with which he fought, and how he brought back Damascus and Hamath to Judah in Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

• 2 Kings 18:20

  You have said —only a word of lips— “There is counsel and might for war.” Now, on whom have you trusted, that you have rebelled against me?

• 2 Kings 20:20

  The rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made the pool and the conduit and brought the water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

• 1 Chronicles 29:11

  Yours, YHWH, are the greatness and the might and the beauty and the eminence and the splendor, for all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours. Yours, YHWH, is the kingdom, and you are the one who exalts himself as head over all.

• 1 Chronicles 29:12

  Riches and glory come from before you, and you rule over all; in your hand are strength and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to strengthen all.

• 1 Chronicles 29:30

  with all his reign and his might, and the times that passed over him and over Israel and over all the kingdoms of the lands.

• 2 Chronicles 20:6

  and said, “YHWH, Elohim of our fathers, are you not Elohim in the heavens? And you rule over all the kingdoms of the nations; in your hand are power and might, and there is no one able to stand firm against you.

• Esther 10:2

  And all the deeds of his authority and of his might, and the sum of the greatness of Mordecai, with which the king made him great, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?

• Job 12:13

  With him are wisdom and might; to him belong counsel and understanding.

• Job 26:14

  Look, these are the edges of his ways; and what a whisper of a word is heard of him; but the thunder of his powers, who will consider it?”

• Job 39:19

  Do you give the horse might? Do you clothe his neck with a mane?

• Job 41:12

  I will not keep silent about its limbs, or the account of its powers, or the grace of its bearing.

• Psalms 20:6

  Now I know that YHWH has saved his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heavens with the mighty acts of the salvation of his right hand.

• Psalms 21:13

  Be exalted, YHWH, in your strength; we will sing and sing psalms to your might.

• Psalms 54:1

  For the director. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David, when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, “Is not David hiding among us?” Elohim, by your name save me, and by your might judge me.

• Psalms 65:6

  who establishes the mountains by his strength, girded with might,

• Psalms 66:7

  He rules by his might forever; his eyes watch the nations; let the rebellious not exalt themselves. Selah.

• Psalms 71:16

  I will come with the mighty acts of Adonai YHWH; I will bring to remembrance your righteousness, yours alone.

• Psalms 71:18

  And even to old age and gray hair, Elohim, do not abandon me, until I declare your arm to the generation, to all who are to come, your might.

• Psalms 80:2

  Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your might, and come for our salvation.

• Psalms 89:13

  Yours is the arm with might; strong is your hand, exalted your right hand.

• Psalms 90:10

  The days of our years —in them seventy years, and if by strength eighty years; and their pride is suffering and sorrow, for it passes quickly, and we fly away.

• Psalms 106:2

  Who can speak of the mighty deeds of YHWH, or make heard all his praise?

• Psalms 106:8

  Yet he saved them for the sake of his name, to make known his might.

• Psalms 145:4

  Generation to generation will celebrate your works, and your mighty deeds they will declare.

• Psalms 145:11

  The glory of your kingdom they will tell, and of your might they will speak,

• Psalms 145:12

  to make known to human beings his mighty deeds and the glory of the majesty of his kingdom.

• Psalms 147:10

  Not in the strength of the horse does he delight, nor in the legs of a man does he take pleasure.

And 21 more times.