מִשְׂגָּב (H4869) — Hebrew Lexicon

מִשְׂגָּב

𐤌𐤔𐤂𐤁

misgâb

H4869 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שׂגב to be high, to be inaccessible, to be exalted

Definition

A high or elevated place, especially one used as a physical or metaphorical refuge. The primary sense refers to an elevated, secure position such as a rocky height, stronghold, or fortress that is difficult to access. Figuratively, the term is often used for a source of safety or protection, such as a divine refuge.

Semantic Range

elevated place, cliff, high fortress, stronghold, secure place, (abstractly) refuge, defense, divine protection, proper name (place: Misgab)

Root / Etymology

From the root שָׂגַב (s-g-b), meaning 'to be high, exalted, or inaccessible.' מִשְׂגָּב is a noun formation with the mem prefix, typically forming nouns denoting place or means, thus indicating 'a place of height' or 'means of elevation.' The lexical form signifies both a concrete high place (like a cliff or fortress) and an abstract concept of safety or protection.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, מִשְׂגָּב most commonly refers to a place of refuge or stronghold, either literal (a rocky height, fortress) or metaphorical (Yahweh as a protective refuge). During the monarchic period, such strongholds provided military security, while in poetry and wisdom literature, the metaphor expands to denote divine protection. The term also occurs as a proper name (Misgab), referring to a Moabite city in prophetic literature (Jeremiah 48:1). English translations such as 'refuge,' 'stronghold,' or 'fortress' capture much but not all of the semantic scope, tending to emphasize defense over the nuance of elevation and inaccessibility present in the Hebrew. In post-exilic and later Jewish literature and liturgy, the term continued to develop its spiritualized sense of divine refuge, notably in references like 'Maoz Tzur.' There is a semantic distinction between מִשְׂגָּב and related terms such as מָעוֹז (ma'oz, 'stronghold, place of strength') and מָצוּד (matzud, 'fortress, net'); מִשְׂגָּב specifically stresses height and inaccessibility as facets of its protective character.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׂגַב; properly, a cliff (or other lofty or inaccessible place); abstractly, altitude; figuratively, a refuge; defence, high fort (tower), refuge, Misgab, a place in Moab; Misgab.

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Root Family

שׂגב (s-g-b) — to be high, to be inaccessible, to be exalted

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H7682	שָׂגַב	I will set him high and secure
H7687	שְׂגוּב	Exalted One

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H4869-03`	מִשְׂגַּבִּ/י֙	misegabi	`HNcmsc/Sp1cs`	my stronghold	my high stronghold	7
`H4869-05`	מִשְׂגַּ֣ב	misegav	`HNcmsc`	refuge	high stronghold of	6
`H4869-02`	לְ/מִשְׂגָּֽב	lemisegav	`HR/Ncmsa`	stronghold	to a high stronghold	2
`H4869-01`	הַ/מִּשְׂגָּ֖ב	hamisegav	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the fortress	the lofty stronghold	1
`H4869-04`	מִשְׂגַּבּ֑/וֹ	misegabo	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his refuge	his lofty stronghold	1

Occurrences in Scripture

17 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H4869-03`	2 Samuel 22:3	מִשְׂגַּבִּ/י֙	misegabi	`HNcmsc/Sp1cs`	my stronghold	my high stronghold
`H4869-05`	Isaiah 25:12	מִשְׂגַּ֣ב	misegav	`HNcmsc`	of-high-place	high stronghold of
`H4869-04`	Isaiah 33:16	מִשְׂגַּבּ֑/וֹ	misegabo	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his refuge	his lofty stronghold
`H4869-01`	Jeremiah 48:1	הַ/מִּשְׂגָּ֖ב	hamisegav	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the fortress	the lofty stronghold
`H4869-05`	Psalms 9:10	מִשְׂגָּ֣ב	misegav	`HNcmsa`	refuge	high stronghold of
`H4869-05`	Psalms 9:10	מִ֝שְׂגָּ֗ב	misegav-2	`HNcmsa`	refuge	high stronghold of
`H4869-03`	Psalms 18:3	מִשְׂגַּבִּֽ/י	misegabi	`HNcmsc/Sp1cs`	my stronghold	my high stronghold
`H4869-05`	Psalms 46:8	מִשְׂגָּֽב	misegav	`HNcmsa`	a refuge	high stronghold of
`H4869-05`	Psalms 46:12	מִשְׂגָּֽב	misegav	`HNcmsa`	stronghold	high stronghold of
`H4869-02`	Psalms 48:4	לְ/מִשְׂגָּֽב	lemisegav	`HR/Ncmsa`	as a stronghold	to a high stronghold
`H4869-03`	Psalms 59:10	מִשְׂגַּבִּֽ/י	misegabi	`HNcmsc/Sp1cs`	my stronghold	my high stronghold
`H4869-05`	Psalms 59:17	מִשְׂגָּ֣ב	misegav	`HNcmsa`	a stronghold	high stronghold of
`H4869-03`	Psalms 59:18	מִ֝שְׂגַּבִּ֗/י	misegabi	`HNcmsc/Sp1cs`	my fortress	my high stronghold
`H4869-03`	Psalms 62:3	מִ֝שְׂגַּבִּ֗/י	misegabi	`HNcmsc/Sp1cs`	my stronghold	my high stronghold
`H4869-03`	Psalms 62:7	מִ֝שְׂגַּבִּ֗/י	misegabi	`HNcmsc/Sp1cs`	my stronghold	my high stronghold
`H4869-02`	Psalms 94:22	לְ/מִשְׂגָּ֑ב	lemisegav	`HR/Ncmsa`	stronghold	to a high stronghold
`H4869-03`	Psalms 144:2	מִשְׂגַּבִּ֪/י	misegabi	`HNcmsc/Sp1cs`	my stronghold	my high stronghold

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