Hebrew word · H4694

מְצוּרָה

metzurah

fortress

A fortification, stronghold or rampart, from the root ṣwr "to bind, besiege, confine". Related words are māṣôr, "siege" or "siege-works", and the place-name element "Mizpah" (from the separate watch-root ṣāpâ, a near rhyme). It is used for fortified cities (2 Chronicles 11:11; 12:4).

Appears 8 times in 8 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) siege-works, stronghold, rampart

1a) siege-works

1b) rampart

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Nahum 2:1

Range of meaning

A fortification, stronghold or rampart, from the root ṣwr "to bind, besiege, confine". Related words are māṣôr, "siege" or "siege-works", and the place-name element "Mizpah" (from the separate watch-root ṣāpâ, a near rhyme). It is used for fortified cities (2 Chronicles 11:11; 12:4).

Against the English

KJV has "munition", meaning fortification. ESV has "ramparts" and BSB, WEB and NASB have "fortress".

How it drifted

In 1611 "munition" (Latin munitio, from munire "to fortify") meant a stronghold or defensive work. It now means ammunition and weapons, so modern KJV readers easily picture an arms store instead of the city walls.

Used elsewhere in the period

Nahum 3:14 echoes the scene with the related māṣôr: "Draw water for the siege, strengthen your fortresses!". There too the commands are mocking.

Where it appears

2 Chronicles · 6

  1. 2 Chronicles 11:10 מְצֻרֽוֹת׃ fortifications

    Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, the fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.

  2. 2 Chronicles 11:11 הַמְּצֻר֑וֹת the fortifications

    He strengthened their fortifications and put officers in them, with supplies of food, oil, and wine.

  3. 2 Chronicles 11:23 הַמְּצֻר֔וֹת <the> fortifications

    Rehoboam also acted wisely by dispersing some of his sons throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin, and to all the fortified cities. He gave them abundant provisions and sought many wives for them.

  4. 2 Chronicles 12:4 הַמְּצֻר֖וֹת <the> fortifications

    He captured the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.

  5. 2 Chronicles 14:6 מְצוּרָ֖ה fortification

    Because the land was at peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah. In those days no one made war with him, because the LORD had given him rest.

  6. 2 Chronicles 21:3 מְצֻר֖וֹת fortifications

    Their father had given them many gifts of silver and gold and precious things, as well as the fortified cities in Judah; but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the firstborn.

Isaiah · 1

  1. Isaiah 29:3 מְצֻרֹֽת׃ fortifications

    I will camp in a circle around you; I will besiege you with towers and set up siege works against you.

Nahum · 1

  1. Nahum 2:1 מְצֻרָ֑ה [the] fortification

    One who scatters advances against you, O Nineveh. Guard the fortress! Watch the road! Brace yourselves! Summon all your strength!

    Here: The defensive works: walls, towers and ramparts. "Man the ramparts!"

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.