Lexical Meaning in Biblical Hebrew and Cognitive Semantics 91 with the root qzj to be the most basic level terms. qzj has by far the widest distribution. As a verb qzj occurs 370 times and as an adjective 58 times (33). The two basic level terms qzj and j'Ko display similarities respectively with their English counterparts “strength” and “strong, to be strong, to strengthen”. I will not further deal with qzj here. An example from Amos 2,14 will have to suffice. It reflects well the relationship between j'Ko and qzj, viz. /jKo ≈Mea'y“Aalø qz:j;w“. The meaning potential of j'Ko, which occurs (only as a noun) 127 times in the Hebrew Bible, can be described as follows: 1a. j'Ko is often an attribute of humans, God or animals (or parts of them, typically their hand(s), arm(s) and legs). Sometimes j'Ko is an attribute of their voices (34) or emotions. It prototypically denotes the ability to perform actions, prevail in, or endure situations that require the exertion or mustering of an effort/force (35), e.g. manual work (36), fighting opposing forces (37), ruling a kingdom (38), oppressing other people (39), acquiring wealth (40), or giving birth (41). It often refers to the ability/energy humans need to face the challenges or hardships of life (42), express emotions (e.g. cry) (43) or the ability to do specialized work (44). Living entities may typically have various measures of this ability. Abundant measures of the ability are associated with young healthy beings (45), soldiers (46), large numbers of people (47), big armies (48) big animals (49) and God. In the case of people it is an ability that may be absent (50), drained (51) or used up (52). God, however, has huge measures of this ability (53). He can give the ability to humans (54) (and big animals) (55), or take (33) It is significant that the lexical item occurs frequently in Chronicles (98×, in other words, more or less 20% of all occurrences). (34) Ps 29,4; Isa 40,9. (35) Judg16,6.9.15.17.19. (36) Also Gen 31,6; Qoh 9,10; Neh 4,4 and Isa 44,12 . Possibly also Job 30,2. (37) Isa 10,13. (38) 2 Chr 22,9 and Dan 11,6. (39) Eccl 4,1. (40) 1 Chr 29,2. Deut 8,17.18. Perhaps also Gen 49,3. (41) 2 Kgs 19,3. (42) 1 Sam 28,28.22; Job 3,17; Ps 31,11; 38,11; 71,9; 102,24; Prov 24,10; Isa 40,29.31; 41,1; 44,12; 49,4; Jer 48,45; Lam 1,6.14; Dan 10,8; 10,16 and 17. In Ezra 10,13 a specific task is involved, viz. standing in the rain for days. In Job 6,11 and 12 God is implied as the cause of the hardship. (43) 1 Sam 30,4. (44) 1 Chr 26,8 and Dan 1,4. (45) Prov 20,29. (46) Josh 14,11. (47) Josh17,17. (48) Dan 11,25. (49) Job 39,11; 39,21; Prov 14,4. In Dan 8,6 a feature of a big animal’s rage is denoted. (50) 2 Chr 14,10; 20,12, Dan 11,15. The construction used is ˆyae j'Ko. Cf. also Job 26,2 and Dan 8,7. (51) 1 Sam 28,20. (52) Ps 31,11; 71,9. Isa 40,29. (53) Job 9,19; 36,22 and 37,23 and Isa 40,26. (54) Ps 33,16 and Zech 4,6 (as a near-synomym of lyIj', as second item of the pair). Implied in Judg 6,14. (55) In Job 40,16 j'Ko is a near-synonym of ˆ/a.