מַצָּבָה
𐤌𐤑𐤁𐤄
matstsâbâh
H4675 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A standing post or station, typically referring to a military garrison or outpost. The term denotes a fixed position or establishment, especially of personnel set to guard or defend, and may also refer to the act of setting up such a position or the group stationed there. Used in military contexts, it can designate both the physical guard post and the contingent assigned for defense.
Semantic Range
garrison, military post, guard post, station, established outpost, assigned guard
Root / Etymology
From the root נצב ('to stand, take a stand, position oneself'), מַצָּבָה is a feminine formation from מַצָּב ('post, station, standing-place'). It is derived from the concept of standing or being set in position, with the nominal ending marking it as a place or collective entity associated with the act of positioning.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, מַצָּבָה refers specifically to military posts or garrisons established by rulers, such as the Philistine garrisons placed in Israelite territory during the early monarchy (e.g., 1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Chronicles 11:16). The term emphasizes the idea of a fixed, fortified presence, distinguishing it from more mobile patrols or temporary encampments. It is sometimes rendered in English as 'garrison' or 'station', but such translations may not capture the original emphasis on establishment and permanence. In later usage, related forms could refer more generally to any standing structure or post, though in the Hebrew Bible the military or strategic usage is primary. This term is conceptually related to the root נצב, 'to stand', and is distinct from other military terms such as חַיִל (army, force) or מַחֲנֶה (camp, encampment).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or מִצָּבָה; feminine of מַצָּב; a military guard; army, garrison.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נצב (n-ts-b) — to stand, set up, establish, station
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4673 | מַצָּב | the standing-post |
| H4674 | מֻצָּב | one stationed |
| H4676 | מַצֵּבָה | the standing-pillar |
| H4678 | מַצֶּבֶת | to the standing stone |
| H5324 | נָצַב | the stationed one |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4675-02 |
מִצָּבָה֙ | mitsavah | HNcfsa |
because of the army | standing garrison-post | 1 |
H4675-01 |
הַ/מַּצָּבָ֜ה | hamatsavah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the_garrison | the standing-post | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4675-01 |
1 Samuel 14:12 | הַ/מַּצָּבָ֜ה | hamatsavah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the_garrison | the standing-post |
H4675-02 |
Zechariah 9:8 | מִצָּבָה֙ | mitsavah | HNcfsa |
because of the army | standing garrison-post |