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the city shall be in the midst.…” In other passages this word signifies the hypothetical
center line dividing something into two equal parts: “And he [Abraham] took unto him all
these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another …” (Gen.
15:10; cf. Ezek. 15:4).
In a few instances
(
is used substantively, meaning “the middle or the center part
of a thing”: “Sihon king of the Amorites … ruled from Aroer, which is upon the bank of
the river Arnon, and from the middle of the river …” (Josh. 12:2).
The word occurs only 7 times without a preceding preposition.
MIGHT
$
(
%
, 1369), “might.” This noun is found 61 times in the Hebrew Old
Testament, predominantly in poetic books and in Isaiah and Jeremiah. The first
occurrence is in Exod. 32:18: “And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for
, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them
that sing do I hear.”
The primary meaning of
$
is “power” or “strength.” Certain animals are
known for their “strength,” such as horses (Ps. 147:10) and crocodiles (Job 41:4). Man
also demonstrates “might” in heroic acts (Judg. 8:21) and in war (Isa. 3:25). David’s
powerful regime is expressed as a “kingship of
$
" (1 Chron. 29:30;
KJV
, “his reign
and his might”). Since both physical strength and wisdom were necessary for leadership,
these two qualities are joined together: “Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am
understanding; I have strength” (Prov. 8:14). Also Micah, being filled with the Holy
Spirit, said: “But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and
of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin” (Mic. 3:8). In
messianic expectations the prophets projected the Messiah’s special role as a
demonstration of “might” and counsel: “And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of
knowledge and of the fear of the Lord” (Isa. 11:2).
The Psalms ascribe “might” to God. These characterizations are found either in the
context of “praise”: “… which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded
with power” (Ps. 65:6), or in the context of prayer: “Save me, O God, by thy name, and
judge me by thy strength” (Ps. 54:1). The Lord’s “might” is a manifestation of His
wisdom: “With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding” (Job
12:13). In the plural
$
denotes God’s mighty deeds of the past: “O Lord God, thou
hast begun to show thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there
in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?”
(Deut. 3:24).
The Septuagint gives the following translations:
$
(“ruler, sovereign; court
official”);
$
(“strength; power; might”); and
$
(“power; strength; might;
ability; capability”). The
KJV
gives these senses: “might; strength; power; mighty acts.”
TO MINISTER, SERVE
A. Verb.