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arm (זרוע, zeroÌ„a‛, ×זרוע, 'ezroÌ„a‛, דּרע, derā‛; βÏαχιÌων, brachıÌoÌ„n; חצן, hÌ£oÌ„cen, כּתף, kaÌ„theÌ„ph): The usual form is zeroÌ„a‛ from the root zaÌ„ra‛, “to spread.†The arm may be “stretched out.†'EzroÌ„a‛ is this form with prosthetic 'aÌ„leÌ„ph (; ), and derā‛ is the Aramaic form. HÌ£oÌ„cen is really “bosom,†thus the Revised Version (British and American) (); and kaÌ„theÌ„ph is “shoulder,†thus the Revised Version (British and American) (). Compare χειÌÏ, cheıÌr, also, in .
Figurative: The arm denotes influence, power, means of support or conquest. The arms of Moab () and of Pharaoh () are broken. The arm of Eli and the arm of his father's house are to be cut off (). Because the arm wielded the sword it signified “oppression†(). The arms are the means of support, therefore to refuse to aid the fatherless is to break their arms ().
Applied anthropomorphically to God, the arm denotes also His power, power to deliver, support, conquer. His “outstretched arm†delivered Israel from Egypt (; , etc.). They support: “Underneath are the everlasting arms†(). His arm protects (). Yahweh is sometimes likened to a warrior and smites with His arm (; ; ). The arm of Yahweh is holy (; ). Many other passages of Scripture might be quoted showing how the power of God to redeem, judge, protect, punish is expressed by the idea of “the arm of Yahweh.â€