tamach · hold fast, grasp

What it means

tamach (תָּמַךְ) is a Hebrew word of the Bible that means “hold fast, grasp”.

Hold, grasp with the hand; take hold, support.

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. To grasp something and not let go, or to keep it for oneself.
2. To hold someone up by the hand so he does not fall, as God does.
3. To be caught in one's own sin, as in ropes.

From Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906)

How it is translated

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

• hold ×6
• hold fast ×3
• uphold ×3
• one who holds ×2
• have held fast ×1
• he will be held fast ×1
• held up ×1
• holding ×1
• holds fast ×1
• upholds ×1
• others ×1

Where it appears

• Genesis×1
• Exodus×1
• Job×1
• Psalms×4
• Proverbs×9
• Isaiah×3
• Amos×2

• Genesis 48:17

  When Joseph saw that his father put his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it was displeasing in his eyes; and he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from the head of Ephraim to the head of Manasseh.

• Exodus 17:12

  But Moses’ hands grew heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side and one on the other side; so his hands were steady until the setting of the sun.

• Job 36:17

  But with the judgment of the wicked you are filled; judgment and justice take hold of you.

• Psalms 16:5

  YHWH is the portion of my share and of my cup; you uphold my lot.

• Psalms 17:5

  My steps have held fast to your tracks; my footsteps have not been moved.

• Psalms 41:12

  And as for me, in my integrity you have upheld me and set me before you forever.

• Psalms 63:8

  My soul has clung close behind you; your right hand upholds me.

• Proverbs 3:18

  She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and those who hold her fast are happy.

• Proverbs 4:4

  And he instructed me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.

• Proverbs 5:5

  Her feet go down to death; to Sheol her steps hold fast.

• Proverbs 5:22

  His own iniquities will catch the wicked, and in the cords of his sin he will be held fast.

• Proverbs 11:16

  A gracious woman holds fast to honor, and tyrants hold fast to riches.

• Proverbs 28:17

  A man burdened with the blood of a soul will flee to the pit; let no one hold him up.

• Proverbs 29:23

  A man’s loftiness will bring him low, but the lowly of spirit will lay hold of honor.

• Proverbs 31:19

  Her hands she stretches out to the distaff, and her palms hold the spindle.

• Isaiah 33:15

  He who walks in righteous deeds and speaks uprightly, who rejects the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands from holding a bribe, who stops his ear from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from looking on evil,

• Isaiah 41:10

  Do not fear, for I am with you; do not look about in anguish, for I am your Elohim; I strengthen you, also I help you, also I uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.

• Isaiah 42:1

  Look, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen one, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; justice to the nations he will bring out.

• Amos 1:5

  And I will break the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the valley of Aven, and the one who holds the scepter from Beth-eden; and the people of Aram will go into exile to Kir, says YHWH.

• Amos 1:8

  And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and the one who holds the scepter from Ashkelon; and I will turn my hand against Ekron, and the remnant of the Philistines will perish, says Adonai YHWH.

And 1 more times.