H8633 H8633
power, strength, might, especially in royal or imperial contexts
This noun denotes power and strength, particularly as exercised by rulers and kingdoms. In Esther, it describes the authoritative power with which Queen Esther writes (9:29) and the mighty acts of King Ahasuerus (10:2)—paired with 'might' (gevurah) to emphasize royal strength. Daniel uses it for 'the strength of his whole kingdom,' referring to imperial power brought to bear in political action. The term often appears in contexts of official decrees, royal acts, and political might. It suggests not merely abstract strength but power actively deployed, authority exercised with force.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Multilingual evidence shows glosses emphasizing authority and power—Spanish 'autoridad' and 'poder,' French 'puissance.' Some versions preserve the Hebrew transliteration, marking it as a technical term for royal might. All three occurrences appear in late biblical texts (Esther, Daniel) dealing with Persian imperial contexts, suggesting this may be a loan word or specialized term for political power. The consistent association with royal decrees and acts of state suggests strength exercised through official authority. 3×
AR["بِـ-قُوَّةِ", "سُلْطَانٍ", "قُوَّتِهِ"]·ben["-শক্তিতে", "অধিকার", "তাঁর-ক্ষমতার"]·DE["[בתקף]", "[תקף]", "[תקפו]"]·EN["authority", "his-power", "with-strength-of"]·FR["[תקף]", "[תקפו]", "puissance"]·heb["ב-תוקף", "תקף", "תקפו-ו"]·HI["अधिकार", "उसकी शक्ति-के", "में-शक्ति"]·ID["dengan-kekuatan", "kekuatan", "kekuatannya"]·IT["[בתקף]", "[תקף]", "[תקפו]"]·jav["kakiyatan", "kakiyatanipun", "kanthi-kakiyatan-ipun"]·KO["권세를", "그의-권세와", "에-힘으로"]·PT["autoridade", "com-a-força-de", "poder-seu"]·RU["власть", "могущества-его", "с-силой"]·ES["autoridad", "con-fuerza-de", "su-poder"]·SW["kwa-nguvu", "ya-nguvu-zake", "yote"]·TR["be-gücüyle", "gücünün", "otoritesiyle"]·urd["تاکید", "ساتھ-طاقت", "قوت-اپنی"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† תֹּ֫קֶף n.m. power, strength, energy (Aramaic תְּקוֹף, תֹּקֶף, ܬܽܘܩܦܳܐ );—ת׳ abs. Est 9:29; cstr. Dn 11:17 the strength of his whole kingdom; sf. תָּקְפּוֹ Est 10:2 the deeds of his power (+ גְּבוּרָתוֹ, etc.).