Strong's Lexicon charax: Palisade, rampart, stake Original Word: χάραξ Word Origin: From the Greek verb χαράσσω (charassō), meaning "to sharpen" or "to engrave." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "charax," similar concepts can be found in words like מָצוֹר (matsor, Strong's H4692), meaning "siege" or "fortress." Usage: The term "charax" refers to a pointed stake or a palisade used in fortifications. In a broader sense, it can denote a military rampart or a defensive structure. The word is used metaphorically in the New Testament to describe a siege or encirclement. Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient military practices, a "charax" was a common defensive measure. Armies would construct palisades or ramparts to protect their camps or to besiege a city. These structures were made of sharpened stakes and were crucial in both offensive and defensive strategies. The imagery of a "charax" would have been familiar to the original audience of the New Testament, as it was a common feature in Roman military engineering. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as charagma Definition a pointed stake, a rampart NASB Translation barricade (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5482: χάραξχάραξ, χαρακος, ὁ (χαράσσω); 1. a pale or stake, a palisade ((Aristophanes, Demosthenes, others)). 2. a palisade or rampart (i. e. pales between which earth, stones, trees and timbers are heaped and packed together): Luke 19:43 (Isaiah 37:33; Ezekiel 4:2; Ezekiel 26:8; Polybius; Josephus, Vita43; Arrian exp. Alex. 2, 19, 9; Plutarch, others). From charasso (to sharpen to a point; akin to grapho through the idea of scratching); a stake, i.e. (by implication) a palisade or rampart (military mound for circumvallation in a siege) -- trench. see GREEK grapho |
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