cha.zaq describes powerful force, whether in a hand, person, people, wind, battle, or resistant disposition.

The adjective most often marks force exercised through a hand in acts of bringing out, redeeming, ruling, or fighting. Elsewhere it describes formidable persons, peoples, and things, the intensity of winds, famine, battle, and sickness, and in Ezekiel a hardened face, forehead, or heart.

1. Power exercised through a hand or arm · dominant

   The feminine singular form occurs repeatedly in clauses about a hand or arm: in Deuteronomy 26:8 the APB renders Israel's departure from Egypt "with a strong hand," and in Ezekiel 20:33 it renders divine rule "with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm." The same construction accompanies bringing the people out, redemption, and fighting in Exodus 13:9, Jeremiah 21:5, and Nehemiah 1:10.

   Deuteronomy 26:8Exodus 13:9Ezekiel 20:33Jeremiah 21:5Nehemiah 1:10
2. Formidable persons, peoples, or physical things · common

   The masculine singular form characterizes people or an opponent in Numbers 13:31, where the APB renders the people as "stronger than we are," and in Jeremiah 31:11, where deliverance is "from the hand of one stronger than he." It also describes Caleb's present capacity in Joshua 14:11 and the Canaanite in Joshua 17:18; plural forms describe those too strong for Micah in Judges 18:26.

   Numbers 13:31Jeremiah 31:11Joshua 14:11Joshua 17:18Judges 18:26
3. Intense force in events and conditions · occasional

   The term qualifies a sea wind in Exodus 10:19 and the wind that tears mountains and shatters rocks in 1 Kings 19:11; the APB renders both with "strong." It likewise marks the severity of famine in 1 Kings 18:2, sickness in 1 Kings 17:17, and battle in 1 Samuel 14:52.

   Exodus 10:191 Kings 19:111 Kings 18:21 Kings 17:171 Samuel 14:52
4. Hard or resistant face, forehead, and heart · occasional

   In Ezekiel 2:4 the masculine plural construct form occurs in the description "hard-faced and strong-hearted." Ezekiel 3:7 describes a hard forehead and stubborn heart, while Ezekiel 3:8 and Ezekiel 3:9 use the term for Ezekiel's face and forehead in contrast with the rebellious house.

   Ezekiel 2:4Ezekiel 3:7Ezekiel 3:8Ezekiel 3:9

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across these verses the APB commonly uses "strong," "mighty," or "hard," and at times expresses the clause through "stronger," "fierce," or "power." These renderings confirm the verse-level contexts rather than supplying separate definitions.