מִגְדּוֹל
𐤌𐤂𐤃𐤅𐤋
Migedol
H4024 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun: A fortified locality or city in Egypt, referenced as a landmark or border location in the Hebrew Bible, especially in narratives related to the Exodus and prophetic oracles. Common noun: Tower, a structure built for defense, watch, or as a prominent elevated feature; occasionally used metaphorically for strength or security. The term can denote literal architectural towers in fortifications, watchposts, or walled cities and may also serve as a toponym for sites named for such structures.
Semantic Range
fortified tower, watchtower, defensive structure, prominent elevation, place-name (Egyptian border locality), metaphor for strength or security
Root / Etymology
The form מִגְדּוֹל (migdôl) is a loanword, most likely of Egyptian origin, cognate with Egyptian 'mktr' ('fortress', 'tower'). The word is not transparently derivable from the common Hebrew root גָּדַל (גדל) 'to grow, be great' despite the superficial similarity; it entered Hebrew as a designation for defensive or significant structures, and the related place-names likely reflect sites noted for such features.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, מִגְדּוֹל appears both as a common noun ('tower', e.g., Genesis 11:4, Judges 8:9,12) and as a proper noun referring to a prominent Egyptian locality (e.g., Exodus 14:2, Numbers 33:7-8, Jeremiah 44:1, 46:14) near the northeastern border of Egypt. In prophecy and geographical lists, 'Migdol' marks a strategic or border location. The term is distinct from מִצְפָּה (mizpah), which typically means 'watchtower' or 'lookout,' though both refer to elevated monitoring structures. Later English translations may render the toponym as 'Migdol' or translate it generically as 'tower,' but the latter risks obscuring its use as a specific place. Over time, the term's architectural sense remained stable, while the place-name sense became less prominent outside biblical contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or מִגְדֹּל; probably of Egyptian origin; Migdol, a place in Egypt; Migdol, tower.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
uncertain (uncertain (Egyptian loanword)) — fortress, tower, elevated defensive structure
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1085 | בִּלְדַּד | Bildad |
| H1095 | בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר | Belteshatsar |
| H1114 | בִּלְשָׁן | Bilshan |
| H1150 | בִּנְעָא | Bin'a |
| H116 | אֱדַיִן | and then |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4024-02 |
מִגְדֹּ֖ל | migedol | HNp |
Migdol | Fortress-Tower | 3 |
H4024-03 |
מִ/מִּגְדֹּ֥ל | mimigedol | HR/Np |
from Migdol | from Migdol | 2 |
H4024-04 |
בְ/מִגְדּ֔וֹל | vemigedol | HR/Np |
in Migdol | in Migdol | 1 |
H4024-01 |
בְּ/מִגְדֹּל֙ | bemigedol | HR/Np |
in Migdol | in Fortress-Migdol | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4024-02 |
Exodus 14:2 | מִגְדֹּ֖ל | migedol | HNp |
Migdol | Fortress-Tower |
H4024-02 |
Numbers 33:7 | מִגְדֹּֽל | migedol | HNp |
Migdol | Fortress-Tower |
H4024-02 |
2 Samuel 22:51 | מִגְדּ֖וֹל | migedol | HNcmsc |
tower | Fortress-Tower |
H4024-01 |
Jeremiah 44:1 | בְּ/מִגְדֹּל֙ | bemigedol | HR/Np |
in Migdol | in Fortress-Migdol |
H4024-04 |
Jeremiah 46:14 | בְ/מִגְדּ֔וֹל | vemigedol | HR/Np |
in Migdol | in Migdol |
H4024-03 |
Ezekiel 29:10 | מִ/מִּגְדֹּ֥ל | mimigedol | HR/Np |
from Migdol | from Migdol |
H4024-03 |
Ezekiel 30:6 | מִ/מִּגְדֹּ֣ל | mimigedol | HR/Np |
from-Migdol | from Migdol |