Original Word: תָּמַךְ
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: tamak
Pronunciation: tah-mak'
Phonetic Spelling: (taw-mak')
KJV: (take, up-)hold (up), maintain, retain, stay (up)
NASB: uphold, holds, support, take hold, attain, attains, grasp
Word Origin: [a primitive root]
1. to sustain
2. (by implication) to obtain, keep fast
3. (figuratively) to help, follow close
A primitive root; to sustain; by implication, to obtain, keep fast; figuratively, to help, follow close -- (take, up-)hold (up), maintain, retain, stay (up).
Qal Perfect. 3 feminine singular תָּֽמְכָה Psalm 63:9, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יִתְמֹךְ Proverbs 29:23, 3masculine plural יִתְמֹ֑כוּ Job 36:17; Proverbs 5:5, etc., Infinitive absolute תָּמֹךְ Psalm 17:5; construct תְּמֹךְ Isaiah 33:15; Participle תּוֺמֵךְ Amos 1:5,8, תּוֺמִיךְ Psalm 16:5 (? read מֵיךְ#NAME?§ 51e, or תֹּמֵךְ, compare Vrss Du; > 0l תּוֺסִיף, Bi Che תָּמִיד), etc.; —
1 grasp, lay hold of, with accusative of thing Genesis 48:17 (E), Proverbs 31:19 ("" שׁלּח יד בְּ); accusative of person (wisdom) Proverbs 3:18 ("" מַחֲזִיק); accusative of thing (grasp and) wield Amos 1:5,8; Psalm 16:5 (see above) thou dost grasp my lot (i.e. take and cast it for me, compare modern Palestinian may Allah uphold my lot BergheimPEF 1894, 194); figurative, Job 36:17 judgment and justice seize (thee; but see obscure and doubtful); Proverbs 5:5 her steps lay hold of Sh®°ôl (keep the path to it); literal, with ב of thing Isaiah 33:15, ב person Proverbs 28:17 (or below
3; meaning dubious); lay hold of, attain, honour, wealth (accusative) Proverbs 11:16 (twice in verse). 2 hold up, support, with בְּיָדָיו Exodus 17:2 (E); figurative, ב person Isaiah 42:1; Psalm 41:13; Psalm 63:9; accusative of person Isaiah 41:10 (ב instrumental), Proverbs 29:23 (opposed to הִשְׁמִּיל), 3 hold, keep, with accusative of thing Proverbs 4:4 let thy heart keep my words ("" שָׁמַר); hold firmly Psalm 17:5 (ב location; opposed to נָמֹ֫טוּ). Niph`al Imperfect וּבְחַבְלֵי חַטָּאתוֺ יִתָּמֵ֑ךְ Proverbs 5:22 in the cords of his sin is he seized ("" לָכַד).
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The verb תָּמַךְ (Strong’s 8551) consistently pictures an active grasp that gives stability or restraint. Whether directed toward an object, a person, wisdom, or unrighteous gain, the idea of "holding fast" supplies the common thread that unites all twenty–one occurrences.
Physical Support in Pivotal Moments
Genesis 48:17 and Exodus 17:12 reveal the word in the most literal sense. Joseph "took hold of his father’s hand to move it" (Genesis 48:17), and Aaron and Hur "supported his hands, one on each side, so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down" (Exodus 17:12). In both scenes God’s covenant purposes move forward because someone comes alongside a patriarchal leader at a critical juncture. Ministry patterned after this verb therefore includes practical help that enables leaders to finish their God-given tasks.
Divine Upholding of the Believer
Several Psalms transform the same action into a metaphor of God’s covenant faithfulness:
• "The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; You secure my lot" (Psalm 16:5).
• "In my integrity You uphold me and set me in Your presence forever" (Psalm 41:12).
• "My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me" (Psalm 63:8).
These verses reassure worshipers that the Lord’s grasp never weakens. Isaiah echoes the theme: "I will uphold you with My righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10) and "Here is My Servant, whom I uphold" (Isaiah 42:1). God’s people rest not in their own resolve but in the everlasting arms that steady them.
Embracing Wisdom
Proverbs uses the verb more than any other book, urging decisive attachment to wisdom:
• "She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and blessed are those who hold her fast" (Proverbs 3:18).
• "Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commands and live" (Proverbs 4:4).
The same verb exposes folly when misdirected. The seductive woman’s steps "take hold of Sheol" (Proverbs 5:5), and "the cords of his sin hold him fast" (Proverbs 5:22). Whether toward righteousness or sin, what one clings to eventually shapes destiny.
Justice and Power
In Proverbs 11:16 ruthless men "hold fast to wealth," while Proverbs 28:17 warns against propping up a murderer. Amos extends the vocabulary to international judgment: those who "hold the scepter" in Damascus and Ashkelon will be cut off (Amos 1:5, 1:8). Governing power is merely a borrowed staff; when it is turned against God’s moral order, His judgment pries it from the ruler’s hand.
Messianic Horizon
Isaiah 42:1 marks the climax: the Servant is the One God personally upholds. The Father’s grip guarantees the Servant’s success in bringing justice to the nations. The Gospel writers identify this Servant with Jesus Christ, whose earthly ministry was sustained by the very hand that upholds the universe.
Historical and Cultural Notes
Ancient Near-Eastern treaties commonly spoke of grasping the hand as a sign of installing or confirming a ruler. The biblical authors adapt that imagery: Yahweh alone installs, supports, or removes. Human alliances, wealth, or violence provide no comparable security.
Ministry Implications
1. Pastoral care: Like Aaron and Hur, believers lift weary leaders by prayer, tangible assistance, and encouragement.
2. Discipleship: Proverbs invites deliberate attachment to Scripture’s wisdom; teachers equip others to "hold fast."
3. Counseling: Psalm 63:8 comforts those overwhelmed—God’s right hand is already upholding them.
4. Social ethics: Amos warns that any authority we wield is temporary stewardship; justice must govern its use.
Synthesis
Whether stabilizing aged Jacob, steadying Moses, securing a believer’s lot, or upholding the Messianic Servant, תָּמַךְ paints the portrait of a God whose grasp is both tender and inexorable. The call to His people is clear: forsake every false support, cling to Him and to His wisdom, and extend the same steadying hand to others until faith becomes sight.
Exodus 17:12
HEB: וְאַהֲרֹ֨ן וְח֜וּר תָּֽמְכ֣וּ בְיָדָ֗יו מִזֶּ֤ה
NAS: and Hur supported his hands,
KJV: and Hur stayed up his hands,
INT: and Aaron and Hur supported his hands one
Job 36:17
HEB: דִּ֖ין וּמִשְׁפָּ֣ט יִתְמֹֽכוּ׃
NAS: and justice take hold [of you].
KJV: and justice take hold [on thee].
INT: Judgment and justice take
Psalm 16:5
HEB: וְכוֹסִ֑י אַ֝תָּ֗ה תּוֹמִ֥יךְ גּוֹרָלִֽי׃
NAS: and my cup; You support my lot.
KJV: and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
INT: and my cup You support my lot
Psalm 17:5
HEB: תָּמֹ֣ךְ אֲ֭שֻׁרַי בְּמַעְגְּלוֹתֶ֑יךָ
NAS: My steps have held fast to Your paths.
KJV: Hold up my goings in thy paths,
INT: have held my goings to your paths
Psalm 41:12
HEB: וַאֲנִ֗י בְּ֭תֻמִּי תָּמַ֣כְתָּ בִּ֑י וַתַּצִּיבֵ֖נִי
NAS: As for me, You uphold me in my integrity,
KJV: And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity,
INT: I integrity uphold set your presence
Psalm 63:8
HEB: אַחֲרֶ֑יךָ בִּ֝֗י תָּמְכָ֥ה יְמִינֶֽךָ׃
NAS: to You; Your right hand upholds me.
KJV: thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
INT: my soul after upholds your right
Proverbs 3:18
HEB: לַמַּחֲזִיקִ֣ים בָּ֑הּ וְֽתֹמְכֶ֥יהָ מְאֻשָּֽׁר׃ פ
NAS: of her, And happy are all who hold her fast.
KJV: upon her: and happy [is every one] that retaineth her.
INT: who take hold of her and happy
Proverbs 4:4
HEB: וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לִ֗י יִֽתְמָךְ־ דְּבָרַ֥י לִבֶּ֑ךָ
NAS: to me, Let your heart hold fast my words;
KJV: unto me, Let thine heart retain my words:
INT: taught and said hold my words your heart
Proverbs 5:5
HEB: שְׁ֝א֗וֹל צְעָדֶ֥יהָ יִתְמֹֽכוּ׃
NAS: Her steps take hold of Sheol.
KJV: to death; her steps take hold on hell.
INT: of Sheol her steps take
Proverbs 5:22
HEB: אֶת־ הָרָשָׁ֑ע וּבְחַבְלֵ֥י חַ֝טָּאת֗וֹ יִתָּמֵֽךְ׃
NAS: the wicked, And he will be held with the cords
KJV: the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords
INT: will capture the wicked will be held of his sin the cords
Proverbs 11:16
HEB: אֵֽשֶׁת־ חֵ֭ן תִּתְמֹ֣ךְ כָּב֑וֹד וְ֝עָרִיצִ֗ים
NAS: woman attains honor,
KJV: woman retaineth honour:
INT: woman A gracious attains honor and ruthless
Proverbs 11:16
HEB: כָּב֑וֹד וְ֝עָרִיצִ֗ים יִתְמְכוּ־ עֹֽשֶׁר׃
NAS: honor, And ruthless men attain riches.
KJV: and strong [men] retain riches.
INT: honor and ruthless attain riches
Proverbs 28:17
HEB: יָ֝נ֗וּס אַל־ יִתְמְכוּ־ בֽוֹ׃
NAS: death; let no one support him.
KJV: to the pit; let no man stay him.
INT: fugitive no support
Proverbs 29:23
HEB: וּשְׁפַל־ ר֝֗וּחַ יִתְמֹ֥ךְ כָּבֽוֹד׃
NAS: But a humble spirit will obtain honor.
KJV: but honour shall uphold the humble
INT: A humble spirit will obtain honor
Proverbs 31:19
HEB: בַכִּישׁ֑וֹר וְ֝כַפֶּ֗יהָ תָּ֣מְכוּ פָֽלֶךְ׃
NAS: And her hands grasp the spindle.
KJV: and her hands hold the distaff.
INT: to the distaff hands grasp the spindle
Isaiah 33:15
HEB: נֹעֵ֤ר כַּפָּיו֙ מִתְּמֹ֣ךְ בַּשֹּׁ֔חַד אֹטֵ֤ם
NAS: his hands so that they hold no bribe;
KJV: his hands from holding of bribes,
INT: and shakes his hands hold bribe stops
Isaiah 41:10
HEB: עֲזַרְתִּ֔יךָ אַף־ תְּמַכְתִּ֖יךָ בִּימִ֥ין צִדְקִֽי׃
NAS: you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous
KJV: thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand
INT: will help Surely will uphold right my righteous
Isaiah 42:1
HEB: הֵ֤ן עַבְדִּי֙ אֶתְמָךְ־ בּ֔וֹ בְּחִירִ֖י
NAS: My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen
KJV: Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect,
INT: Behold my Servant uphold my chosen delights
Amos 1:5
HEB: מִבִּקְעַת־ אָ֔וֶן וְתוֹמֵ֥ךְ שֵׁ֖בֶט מִבֵּ֣ית
NAS: of Aven, And him who holds the scepter,
KJV: of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre
INT: the valley of Aven holds the scepter the house
Amos 1:8
HEB: יוֹשֵׁב֙ מֵֽאַשְׁדּ֔וֹד וְתוֹמֵ֥ךְ שֵׁ֖בֶט מֵֽאַשְׁקְל֑וֹן
NAS: from Ashdod, And him who holds the scepter,
KJV: from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre
INT: the inhabitant Ashdod holds the scepter Ashkelon
21 Occurrences
Strong's Hebrew 8551
21 Occurrences
’eṯ·māḵ- — 1 Occ.
mit·tə·mōḵ — 1 Occ.
tā·maḵ·tā — 1 Occ.
tā·mə·ḵāh — 1 Occ.
tā·mə·ḵū — 2 Occ.
tā·mōḵ — 1 Occ.
tə·maḵ·tî·ḵā — 1 Occ.
tiṯ·mōḵ — 1 Occ.
tō·w·mîḵ — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇə·ḥaḇ·lê — 1 Occ.
way·yiṯ·mōḵ — 1 Occ.
wə·ṯō·w·mêḵ — 2 Occ.
wə·ṯō·mə·ḵe·hā — 1 Occ.
yiṯ·mə·ḵū- — 2 Occ.
yiṯ·māḵ- — 2 Occ.
yiṯ·mō·ḵū — 2 Occ.