to strengthen
a.mats denotes becoming strong or resolute, or giving strength to people, communities, and things.
The term most often marks strength or resolve required in the face of fear, opposition, or a commanded task. It also describes imparting strength to people, hearts, a kingdom, a house, bodily members, and created things; several clauses portray a person or people as stronger than another.
Senses in use
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Be strong or resolute for a task or threat · dominant
Qal imperatives repeatedly address a person or group facing responsibility or danger: Joshua is told to be strong as he leads Israel into the land in Joshua 1:6, and the people are told not to fear an enemy force in 2 Chronicles 32:7. In Ruth 1:18, the Hithpael participle describes Ruth as determined to go with Naomi; in 2 Chronicles 13:7, the same stem describes men strengthening themselves against Rehoboam.
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Give strength or support to someone or something · common
Piel forms describe strengthening another: Moses is instructed to strengthen Joshua in Deuteronomy 3:28, and God says, in Isaiah 41:10, that he strengthens the addressee. The same pattern applies to weak hands and knees in Isaiah 35:3, to a speaker's support for others in Job 16:5, and to the kingdom of Judah in 2 Chronicles 11:17.
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Make firm or reinforce a constructed or material thing · occasional
The term is used of material or built things: in 2 Chronicles 24:13 the APB renders the work on the house of God as setting it to its measure and strengthening it. Isaiah 44:14 places the action among cutting and planting trees, while Proverbs 8:28 speaks of strengthening the fountains of the deep.
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Be stronger than or unable to strengthen oneself · occasional
In Genesis 25:23, the Qal imperfect occurs in the comparison of two peoples, where the APB renders one as “stronger than the other.” In 2 Samuel 22:18 the plural Qal perfect describes enemies too strong for the speaker, while Amos 2:14 states that the strong person will not strengthen his strength.
In the Anselm Project Bible: Across the verses, the APB commonly uses “be strong” or “strengthen,” and it also uses “determined” in Ruth 1:18 and “stronger” in Genesis 25:23. These renderings reflect each verse's clause.