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מִבְצָר

𐤌𐤁𐤑𐤓

mibtsâr

H4013 noun

SILEX Entry

Root בצר to fortify, make inaccessible, enclose, cut off

Definition

A place or structure that is fortified for protection, such as a stronghold, fortress, fortified city, or defensive post. The term designates physical constructions meant to withstand assault and to provide refuge, as well as, by extension and metaphor, objects or persons perceived as sources of security or defense. Used primarily for literal defensive sites—ranging from large walled cities to smaller military outposts—but sometimes for metaphorical strongholds or sources of strength.

Semantic Range

fortress, stronghold, fortified city, castle, defensive post, fortified place; source of security, symbolic stronghold

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root בָּצַר (b-ts-r), meaning 'to enclose, fortify, make inaccessible, cut off.' The noun form מִבְצָר is built from this root, indicating a fortified structure or location. Although the root's basic meaning is 'to separate, to make inaccessible,' the noun specifically refers to a physical or symbolic means of protection.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In early Israelite contexts, מִבְצָר frequently refers to fortified settlements or strongholds used for defensive purposes during times of conflict, typical of the hill country in the Iron Age. During the monarchic period, it often designates walled cities or military installations, including those of rival powers (e.g., Canaanite, Aramean, or Philistine strongholds). The term is used for both Israelite and foreign fortifications (cf. Numbers 13:19, Joshua 19:29). In prophetic and later writings, מִבְצָר acquired more figurative connotations, such as sources of security (Psalm 18:3; Isaiah 25:12). In Daniel (11:15), the related feminine plural form מִבְצָרוֹת appears, accentuating fortified structures in a symbolic-apocalyptic context. English translations often use 'fortress,' 'stronghold,' 'fortified city,' or 'castle' to render מִבְצָר, though nuances can be flattened or obscured—especially where metaphor is present. The term contrasts with חוֹמָה (wall) in that it focuses on the site or system of defense, not merely any wall. Unlike מָעוֹז or מָצוּד, which may signify either defense or refuge in a broader sense, מִבְצָר is generally architectural and militaristic in its referents. There is no evidence the term ever signified the people within or a defender in any literal sense; such readings are contextual or metaphorical.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

also (in plural) feminine (Daniel 11:l5) מִבְצָרָה; from בָּצַר; a fortification, castle, or fortified city; figuratively, a defender; (de-, most) fenced, fortress, (most) strong (hold).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בצר (b-ts-r) — fortify, make inaccessible, enclose, cut off

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1208 בָּצוֹר the fortified one
H1210 בָּצִיר grape harvest
H1219 בָּצַר made-inaccessible
H1220 בֶּצֶר extracted gold
H1221 בֶּצֶר Fortified-Place

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4013-05 מִבְצָ֖ר mivetsar HNcmsa fortified fortified place 16
H4013-03 הַ/מִּבְצָ֔ר hamivetsar HTd/Ncmsa the fortified the fortified place 5
H4013-06 מִבְצָרָֽיִ/ךְ mivetsarayikhe HNcmpc/Sp2fs your fortresses your fortified strongholds 3
H4013-08 מִבְצָרֶ֗י/ךָ mivetsareykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms your fortified your fortified strongholds 3
H4013-07 מִבְצָרָ֣י/ו mivetsarayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his strongholds his fortified strongholds 2
H4013-11 מִבְצְרֵ֥י mivetserey HNcmpc strongholds fortresses of 1
H4013-12 מִבְצְרֵי/הֶ֞ם mivetsereyhem HNcmpc/Sp3mp their fortresses their fortified strongholds 1
H4013-09 מִבְצָרִ֛ים mivetsarim HNcmpa fortresses fortified strongholds 1
H4013-10 מִבְצָר֑וֹת mivetsarot HNcmpa of fortresses fortified strongholds 1
H4013-04 לְ/מִבְצְרֵ֤י lemivetserey HR/Ncmpc to strongest to fortified strongholds of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

37 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4013-02 Numbers 13:19 בְּ/מִבְצָרִֽים bemivetsarim HR/Ncmpa in-fortifications in fortified strongholds
H4013-03 Numbers 32:17 הַ/מִּבְצָ֔ר hamivetsar HTd/Ncmsa the fortified the fortified place
H4013-05 Numbers 32:36 מִבְצָ֖ר mivetsar HNcmsa fortified fortified place
H4013-03 Joshua 10:20 הַ/מִּבְצָֽר hamivetsar HTd/Ncmsa the fortified the fortified place
H4013-05 Joshua 19:29 מִבְצַר mivetsar HNcmsc fortified fortified place
H4013-05 Joshua 19:35 מִבְצָ֑ר mivetsar HNcmsa fortified fortified place
H4013-05 1 Samuel 6:18 מִבְצָ֔ר mivetsar HNcmsa fortified fortified place
H4013-05 2 Samuel 24:7 מִבְצַר mivetsar HNcmsc the fortress fortified place
H4013-05 2 Kings 3:19 מִבְצָר֙ mivetsar HNcmsa fortified fortified place
H4013-12 2 Kings 8:12 מִבְצְרֵי/הֶ֞ם mivetsereyhem HNcmpc/Sp3mp their fortresses their fortified strongholds
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