The Hebrew verb amats means to be strong, to prevail, to make firm, or to be courageous. It is used both of physical strength and moral-spiritual courage, frequently in divine commissioning speeches where God commands His servants to take courage in the face of overwhelming challenge.
The famous command of Joshua 1:6–9 uses the paired imperative chazaq we-amats ('be strong and courageous') four times, embedding divine empowerment into the language of leadership. This is not psychological self-confidence but strength rooted in God's presence and promise.
Biblical courage is commanded — it is a moral category, not just a personality trait. Every believer is called to the kind of strength Joshua modeled: active obedience in the face of fear, grounded in the word of God.