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מָצוּק

𐤌𐤑𐤅𐤒

mâtsûwq

H4690 noun

SILEX Entry

Root צוק to press, to constrain, to oppress

Definition

A narrow or constrained place, often referring specifically to a rocky outcrop, crag, or high columnar rock feature. In extended usage, the term can refer metaphorically to any situation or condition of constraint, oppression, or distress. Depending on context, may connote both physical and metaphorical narrowness or pressure.

Semantic Range

constrained rocky place, narrow upright column of rock, hilltop, pillar (rare), metaphorical: situation of distress or oppression

Root / Etymology

From the root צוּק (tsuq), meaning 'to press upon, constrain, oppress.' מָצוּק is a substantive or adjectival form denoting a place or thing that is pressed, constrained, or narrow.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, מָצוּק appears rarely and is contextually tied to imagery of hardness, narrowness, or pressure, either literal (such as a crag or isolated column of rock) or metaphorical (referencing hardship, oppression, or distress). The term may overlap in meaning with other words indicating tight or difficult places (e.g. מְצוּקָה metsuqah), but מָצוּק is more focused on the physicality of the constricted or upright narrow space. In some translations, particularly in later tradition, the metaphorical uses may be obscured in favor of more literal renderings (pillar, column). Its infrequent and poetic usage means English translations often narrow its full sense. In post-exilic texts, if used, the figurative sense of societal or personal hardship becomes more pronounced.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or מָצֻק; from צוּק; something narrow, i.e. a column or hilltop; pillar, situate.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

צוק (ts-w-q) — to press, constrain, oppress

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4689 מָצוֹק pressing straitness
H4691 מְצוּקָה from my constrictions
H6693 צוּק the pressuring one
H6694 צוּק they poured out
H6695 צוֹק pressing distress

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4690-01 מָצ֥וּק matsuq HNcmsa cliff constricted crag 1
H4690-02 מְצֻ֣קֵי metsuqey HNcmpc pillars constrained crags of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4690-02 1 Samuel 2:8 מְצֻ֣קֵי metsuqey HNcmpc pillars constrained crags of
H4690-01 1 Samuel 14:5 מָצ֥וּק matsuq HNcmsa cliff constricted crag
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