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מִגְדָּל

𐤌𐤂𐤃𐤋

migdâl

H4026 noun

SILEX Entry

Root גדל to be great, become strong, grow

Definition

A structure built to provide elevation, most commonly a tower used for defense, watch, or signal purposes; secondarily, any prominent elevated structure, such as a fortress, stronghold, or lookout post; rarely, an elevated rostrum or platform, and poetically, a raised bed or mound (e.g., of flowers). The term refers primarily to tall edifices characterized by their height, frequently used in military, urban, and cultic contexts in ancient Israelite society.

Semantic Range

tower (military or city watchtower), fortress, lookout post, elevated rostrum or platform, mound or raised structure (including a garden bed); figuratively, security or strength; part of place names signifying a prominent tower or elevated site

Root / Etymology

From the root גָּדַל (g-d-l), meaning 'to be great, grow, become strong or important, increase.' The noun מִגְדָּל (migdâl) is a derivative form indicating a place or object marked by prominence or elevation, developed specifically to refer to tall, upright structures. The feminine form מִגְדָּלָה (migdālâ) exists and is sometimes used in parallel or in place-names.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מִגְדָּל (migdâl) appears in both singular and plural (מִגְדָּלִים migdālîm; feminine מִגְדָּלוֹת migdālôt). In the biblical record, migdâl can refer to military fortifications (e.g., towers along city walls), stand-alone watchtowers in fields or wilderness (for shepherds or sentinels), and occasionally to prominent enclosed structures used for lookout or communication (such as signaling). In cultic poetry or metaphor, migdâl can take on the sense of security or strength ('tower of deliverance'). Sometimes, by analogy, it refers to an elevated rostrum or platform for public address, or (rarely and figuratively) to a pyramidal or mound-like raised bed in a garden. Throughout the monarchic period, migdâl identified key defensive installations in city architecture. In post-exilic usage, the term had become somewhat generalized for any prominent tower-like structure, and is preserved in various place names (e.g., Migdal-gad, Migdal-eder), which may indicate sites known for such features. Later English translations sometimes use 'castle' or 'fortress,' but the underlying Hebrew usually connotes the physical aspect (height, visibility) over the size or luxury implied by 'castle.' In the Septuagint, the translation typically uses πύργος (pyrgos, 'tower').

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

also (in plural) feminine מִגְדָּלָה; from גָּדַל; a tower (from its size or height); by analogy, a rostrum; figuratively, a (pyramidal) bed of flowers; castle, flower, tower. Compare the names following.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גדל (g-d-l) — to be great, grow, become strong, become prominent

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1419 גָּדוֹל in the great one
H1420 גְּדוּלָה greatness of
H1431 גָּדַל I will make great
H1432 גָּדֵל great-ones of
H1433 גֹּדֶל in your greatness

Word Forms

17 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4026-08 מִגְדַּ֥ל migedal HNcbsc tower elevated strong-tower 13
H4026-02 הַ/מִּגְדָּ֑ל hamigedal HTd/Ncbsa the tower the elevated tower 7
H4026-13 וּ/מִגְדָּל֙ umigedal HC/Ncbsa and the tower and tower 5
H4026-10 מִגְדָּלִֽים migedalim HNcbpa towers elevated towers 3
H4026-12 מִ/מִּגְדַּ֥ל mimigedal HR/Ncbsc from watchtower from a tower of 3
H4026-06 כְּ/מִגְדַּ֤ל kemigedal HR/Ncbsc like-a-tower like a tower 3
H4026-09 מִגְדָּלֶ֔י/הָ migedaleyha HNcbpc/Sp3fs her towers her towers 2
H4026-03 הַ/מִּגְדָּלִֽים hamigedalim HTd/Ncbpa the towers the elevated towers 2
H4026-17 וְ/הַ/מִּגְדָּ֗ל vehamigedal HC/Td/Ncbsa and the tower and the tower 2
H4026-14 וּ/מִגְדָּלִים֮ umigedalim HC/Ncbpa and towers and towers 2

Occurrences in Scripture

49 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4026-13 Genesis 11:4 וּ/מִגְדָּל֙ umigedal HC/Ncbsa and a tower and tower
H4026-02 Genesis 11:5 הַ/מִּגְדָּ֑ל hamigedal HTd/Ncbsa the tower the elevated tower
H4026-02 Judges 8:9 הַ/מִּגְדָּ֥ל hamigedal HTd/Ncbsa the tower the elevated tower
H4026-08 Judges 8:17 מִגְדַּ֥ל migedal HNcbsc tower elevated strong-tower
H4026-08 Judges 9:46 מִֽגְדַּל migedal HNcbsc tower of elevated strong-tower
H4026-08 Judges 9:47 מִֽגְדַּל migedal HNcbsc the tower of elevated strong-tower
H4026-08 Judges 9:49 מִֽגְדַּל migedal HNcbsc tower elevated strong-tower
H4026-13 Judges 9:51 וּ/מִגְדַּל umigedal HC/Ncbsc and-tower and tower
H4026-02 Judges 9:51 הַ/מִּגְדָּֽל hamigedal HTd/Ncbsa the-tower the elevated tower
H4026-02 Judges 9:52 הַ/מִּגְדָּ֔ל hamigedal HTd/Ncbsa the tower the elevated tower
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