Jastrow: תּוֹקֶף

תּוֹקֶף, תֹּקֶף m. (b. h.; תּקַף) strength, power. Mekh. B’shall., s. 6 (ref. to Ex. XIV, 25) אין איתנו אלא תָקְפוֹ ethans means its strength. Meg. 19ᵃ (ref. to Esth. IX, 29) תָּקְפוֹ של אחשורוש ‘the whole strength’ refers to the power of Ahasverus (as described in the first chapters of Esther); תּוֹקְפוֹ של מרדכי to the power of Mordecai (beginning with II, 5); תוקפו של המן to Haman’s power (beginning with III, 1); תקפו של נס the strength of the wonderful salvation (beginning with VI, 1). Gen. R. s. 16, beg. (ref. to Job XIV, 20) ת׳ שנתן הקב"ה וכ׳ the power which God gave Adam was to be for ever. Gen. R. s. 100 כל תקפו של אבל וכ׳ the height of mourning is on the third day (after burial); Y. M. Kat. III, 82ᵇ bot. אין תוקפו … עד שלשה ימים the height of mourning lasts only three days; a. e.—Snh. 19ᵇ תוקפו של יוסף ענוותנותו וכ׳ that which was with Joseph an achievement of strength (self-control) was with Boaz a humble (plain) act. Sifré Deut. 323 (ref. to Deut. XXXII, 31) לא כת׳ שאתה וכ׳ the power which thou givest us is not like the power which thou givest them (the gentiles); כשאתה ניתן להם את הת׳ וכ׳ when thou givest them the power, they deal with us with cruelty &c.; a. e.