מָצוּד
𐤌𐤑𐤅𐤃
mâtsûwd
H4686 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A place of defense or stronghold, typically referring to a fortified location such as a citadel, fortress, or strong place built for protection. In some contexts, by extension, refers metaphorically to security or protection itself. Rarely, may refer to a net or trap used for capturing animals, though this sense is secondary and largely supplanted by related terms.
Semantic Range
fortress, stronghold, castle, secure refuge, place of defense, (less often) net, trap, device for capture
Root / Etymology
מָצוּד (mâtsûwd) derives from the root מצד (מצד/מצד), closely related etymologically to מצודה (masculine or feminine forms). The root מצד likely carries the idea of taking a stand, establishing, or fortifying. The core root meaning relates to being or making something strong or a place of taking a stand. The lexical noun is formed to denote either the product or result (fortified place; rarely, a trap or net used for hunting).
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, מָצוּד is most frequently used to describe physical strongholds in the landscape of ancient Israel/Palestine, such as elevated fortresses, defensive towers, or secure refuges, especially in the context of military conflict or seeking safety from pursuit (e.g., David seeking refuge from Saul). In a minority of cases, especially where feminine forms prevail, the term refers to a net or trap for animals; this meaning appears to stem from the etymological association with capturing but is more commonly represented by the related term מָצוֹד. The association with 'net' is attested but secondary; in later texts and translation traditions, the meaning narrows to focus on castles, strongholds, and places of defense. English translations often conflate מָצוּד with other stronghold terms such as מִבְצָר, though the nuances may differ: מָצוּד tends to denote a naturally defensible or secluded location, whereas מִבְצָר emphasizes constructed fortification. In Second Temple and later periods (post-exilic), related forms persist in reference to defensive sites, and the term occasionally acquires metaphorical force as a figurative place of safety. In translation traditions, especially in English Bibles, earlier references to nets and hunting in pre-monarchic or poetic texts are sometimes obscured by the dominance of the 'fortress' sense.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or (feminine) מְצוּדָה; or מְצֻדָה; for מָצוֹד; a net, or (abstractly) capture; also a fastness; castle, defense, fort(-ress), (strong) hold, be hunted, net, snare, strong place.
Bantu Hebrew
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מצד (m-ṣ-d) — to take a stand, to be strong, to fortify, to capture
Word Forms
11 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4686-09 |
וּ/מְצֻדָתִ֖/י | umetsudati | HC/Ncbsc/Sp1cs |
and my fortress | and my stronghold | 6 |
H4686-02 |
בַּ/מְּצוּדָֽה | bametsudah | HRd/Ncbsa |
in the stronghold | in the stronghold | 5 |
H4686-03 |
בִּ/מְצֽוּדָתִ֑/י | bimetsudati | HR/Ncfsc/Sp1cs |
in-my-snare | in my stronghold | 2 |
H4686-04 |
הַ/מְּצוּדָֽה | hametsudah | HTd/Ncbsa |
the stronghold | the fortified stronghold | 2 |
H4686-06 |
מְצֻדַ֣ת | metsudat | HNcbsc |
stronghold | fortress of | 2 |
H4686-11 |
בַ/מְּצוּדָ֑ה | vametsudah | HRd/Ncfsa |
into the net | in the stronghold | 1 |
H4686-10 |
וּ֝/מְצוּד֗/וֹ | umetsudo | HC/Ncbsc/Sp3ms |
and his net | and his stronghold | 1 |
H4686-05 |
לִ/מְצוּדָ֑ה | limetsudah | HR/Ncfsa |
for-a-snare | to a stronghold | 1 |
H4686-07 |
מְצוּד֗וֹת | metsudot | HNcbpa |
of fortresses | strongholds | 1 |
H4686-08 |
וּ/מְצוּדָֽה | umetsudah | HC/Ncbsa |
and-stronghold | and a fortified stronghold | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
23 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4686-02 |
1 Samuel 22:4 | בַּ/מְּצוּדָֽה | bametsudah | HRd/Ncbsa |
in the stronghold | in the stronghold |
H4686-02 |
1 Samuel 22:5 | בַּ/מְּצוּדָ֔ה | bametsudah | HRd/Ncbsa |
in the stronghold | in the stronghold |
H4686-04 |
1 Samuel 24:23 | הַ/מְּצוּדָֽה | hametsudah | HTd/Ncbsa |
the stronghold | the fortified stronghold |
H4686-06 |
2 Samuel 5:7 | מְצֻדַ֣ת | metsudat | HNcbsc |
stronghold | fortress of |
H4686-02 |
2 Samuel 5:9 | בַּ/מְּצֻדָ֔ה | bametsudah | HRd/Ncbsa |
in the stronghold | in the stronghold |
H4686-04 |
2 Samuel 5:17 | הַ/מְּצוּדָֽה | hametsudah | HTd/Ncbsa |
the stronghold | the fortified stronghold |
H4686-09 |
2 Samuel 22:2 | וּ/מְצֻדָתִ֖/י | umetsudati | HC/Ncbsc/Sp1cs |
and my fortress | and my stronghold |
H4686-02 |
2 Samuel 23:14 | בַּ/מְּצוּדָ֑ה | bametsudah | HRd/Ncbsa |
in the stronghold | in the stronghold |
H4686-03 |
Ezekiel 12:13 | בִּ/מְצֽוּדָתִ֑/י | bimetsudati | HR/Ncfsc/Sp1cs |
in-my-snare | in my stronghold |
H4686-05 |
Ezekiel 13:21 | לִ/מְצוּדָ֑ה | limetsudah | HR/Ncfsa |
for-a-snare | to a stronghold |