Lexical Summary migdal or migdalah: Tower Original Word: מִגְדָּל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance castle, flower, tower Also (in plural) feminine migdalah {mig-daw- law'}; from gadal; a tower (from its size or height); by analogy, a rostrum; figuratively, a (pyramidal) bed of flowers -- castle, flower, tower. Compare the names following. see HEBREW gadal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom gadal Definition a tower NASB Translation banks (1), podium (1), Tower (8), tower (23), towers (14), watchtower (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs מִגְדָּל noun masculine tower, Genesis 11:5 11t.; construct מִגְדַּל Judges 8:17 21t.; plural מִגְדָּלִים2Chronicles 26:9 6t.; מִגְדָּלֶיהָ Psalm 48:12; Ezekiel 26:4; pluralf. מִגְדָּלוֺת2Chronicles 32:5 2t.; construct מִגְדְּלוֺת Songs 5:13 (?); suffix מִגְדְּלֹתַיִךְ Ezekiel 26:9; Ezekiel 27:11; — 1 tower Genesis 11:4,5; Judges 8:9; Judges 9:51 (twice in verse); Judges 9:52 (twice in verse); 2 Kings 9:17; 2 Kings 17:9; 2 Kings 18:8; 1 Chronicles 27:25; 2Chron 14:6; 2 Chronicles 26:9,10,11; 27:4; 32:5; Nehemiah 3:25,26,27; Isaiah 2:15; Isaiah 30:25; Isaiah 33:18; Ezekiel 26:4,9; Ezekiel 27:11; Psalm 48:13, watch-tower in vineyard Isaiah 5:2; figurative of God as refuge Psalm 61:4; Proverbs 18:10; beautiful neck like tower of David Songs 4:4; an ivory tower Songs 7:5; breasts Songs 8:10. (compare MI22 מגדלתה, Sabean (more precisely Lihyânian) מגדלנהן, Eut, see DHMEpigr. Denkm. 4, 1. 5). Special towers mentioned on Lebanon Cant 7:5, Penuel Judges 8:17, Shechem Judges 9:46,47,49; and at Jerusalem, the tower of David Cant 4:4 (the arsenal), מֵאָה Nehemiah 3:1, חֲנַנְאֵל Nehemiah 3:1; Nehemiah 12:39; Jeremiah 31:38; Zechariah 14:10, תַּנּוּרִים Nehemiah 3:11; Nehemiah 12:38 (tower of the furnaces). 2 elevated stage, pulpit of wood Nehemiah 8:4. 3 raised bed "" עֲרוּגָה Songs 5:13, but ᵐ5 ᵑ9 Hi Bö De rightly read מְגַדְּלוֺת. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Range of Usage מִגְדָּל denotes any elevated structure built to secure vantage, safety, storage, or prominence. The word embraces fortresses along city walls, stand-alone citadels, vineyard watchtowers, and lofty civic or cultic edifices. Scripture’s forty-nine occurrences reveal its vital role in Israel’s military defense, agricultural economy, urban planning, poetic symbolism, and prophetic hope. Military and Defensive Towers Towers crowned the fortifications of ancient cities, allowing sentries to see danger early and repel assault. Gideon’s era illustrates both their strength and their vulnerability: the “tower of Penuel” (Judges 8:9, 17) was first threatened, then demolished when the town refused assistance to the weary troops of Gideon. Abimelech’s brutal campaign against Shechem turned the “tower of Shechem” into a deathtrap (Judges 9:46-49) and later cost him his life when an unnamed woman dropped a millstone from an upper opening of another tower (Judges 9:51-53). Jezreel’s watchman, peering from a tower, identified Jehu’s furious approach (2 Kings 9:17). These narratives remind readers that human fortifications are limited; victory rests with the Lord of Hosts. Agricultural Watchtowers Isaiah’s parable of the vineyard pictures the owner who “built a watchtower in the midst of it” (Isaiah 5:2). Seasonal huts of field-stone or mud-brick rose above the vines, enabling the vinedresser to guard against thieves and animals. Similar structures likely stood in Israel’s grain fields and orchards (compare Matthew 21:33 where Jesus adapts Isaiah’s imagery). The tower signifies the farmer’s constant vigilance and investment in his crop—an image easily applied to God’s watchful care over His people. Urban and Civic Towers Apart from outright fortresses, towers ornamented cityscapes and water systems. Jerusalem’s “Tower of Hananel” and “Corner Tower” mark prophetic boundaries of a fully restored city (Jeremiah 31:38; Zechariah 14:10). When Nehemiah rebuilt the wall he labored from tower to tower (Nehemiah 3:1; 3:11; 3:25-27). Such structures anchored the defensive line, punctuated the skyline, and acted as points of civic pride. Symbolic and Poetic Imagery Towers embodied height, majesty, and security, making them a favorite metaphor for divine refuge. In Song of Songs, praise of the bride’s beauty borrows tower imagery: “Your neck is like the tower of David, built with rows of stones” (Song of Songs 4:4); “Your neck is like a tower of ivory” (Song of Songs 7:4). Height and elegance converge to convey dignity and noble stature. Prophetic and Messianic Overtones Micah foretells that kingship will return to “the tower of the flock” (Migdal-Eder), a pastoral site south of Bethlehem (Micah 4:8). The passage prepares the reader for the Shepherd-King to arise from that region. Isaiah 33:18 anticipates the day when Judah’s leaders will “ponder the terror—Where is the scribe? Where is the receiver? Where is the one who counted the towers?” Earthly stratagems and tall defenses will fade before the reign of the righteous King. Conversely, arrogant towers will fall when the Lord alone is exalted (Isaiah 2:15). Notable Place Names Derived from the Root • Migdol, a station near the Red Sea (Exodus 14:2), probably owed its name to a frontier watchtower. Such sites confirm how integral towers were to geography and memory. Lessons for Ministry and Faith 1. Vigilance: As farmers built watchtowers, pastors and parents are called to guard their charges with prayerful oversight (Acts 20:28-31). Selected Biblical Occurrences Genesis 11:4-9 – Tower of Babel and the scattering of nations Judges 8:9, 17 – Tower of Penuel threatened and destroyed Judges 9:46-53 – Towers of Shechem and Thebez in Abimelech’s downfall 2 Kings 9:17 – Watchman on the tower of Jezreel sights Jehu Nehemiah 3:1-27 – Multiple towers along Jerusalem’s rebuilt wall Psalm 61:3 – “Strong tower against the enemy” Proverbs 18:10 – “The name of the LORD is a strong tower” Song of Songs 4:4; 7:4 – Tower imagery for beauty and dignity Isaiah 5:2 – Watchtower in the Lord’s vineyard Isaiah 2:15 – Day of the LORD against every lofty tower Jeremiah 31:38 – Tower of Hananel marks future Jerusalem boundary Micah 4:8 – “Tower of the flock” and Messianic hope Zechariah 14:10 – Corner Tower in the eschatological city From its first appearance on the plains of Shinar to its prophetic role in the New Jerusalem, מִגְדָּל traces a trajectory of human ingenuity, divine sovereignty, and redemptive anticipation. Forms and Transliterations בְּמִגְדְּלוֹתַ֖יִךְ במגדלותיך הַמִּגְדָּ֑ל הַמִּגְדָּ֔ל הַמִּגְדָּ֖ל הַמִּגְדָּ֜ל הַמִּגְדָּ֤ל הַמִּגְדָּ֥ל הַמִּגְדָּֽל׃ הַמִּגְדָּל֗וֹת הַמִּגְדָּלִֽים׃ הַמִּגְדָּלִים֙ המגדל המגדל׃ המגדלות המגדלים המגדלים׃ וְהַמִּגְדָּ֖ל וְהַמִּגְדָּ֗ל וּבַמִּגְדָּל֔וֹת וּמִ֨גְדְּלֹתַ֔יִךְ וּמִגְדַּ֣ל וּמִגְדַּ֤ל וּמִגְדַּל־ וּמִגְדָּל֙ וּמִגְדָּלִֽים׃ וּמִגְדָּלִים֮ ובמגדלות והמגדל ומגדל ומגדל־ ומגדלים ומגדלים׃ ומגדלתיך כְּמִגְדַּ֣ל כְּמִגְדַּ֤ל כַּמִּגְדָּל֑וֹת כמגדל כמגדלות לְמִגְדַּ֣ל למגדל מִֽגְדַּל־ מִגְדְּל֖וֹת מִגְדַּ֤ל מִגְדַּ֥ל מִגְדַּל־ מִגְדָּ֣ל מִגְדָּל֙ מִגְדָּלִ֜ים מִגְדָּלִֽים׃ מִגְדָּלִים֙ מִגְדָּלֶ֔יהָ מִגְדָּלֶֽיהָ׃ מִמִּגְדַּ֥ל מגדל מגדל־ מגדלות מגדליה מגדליה׃ מגדלים מגדלים׃ ממגדל bə·miḡ·də·lō·w·ṯa·yiḵ bemigdeloTayich bəmiḡdəlōwṯayiḵ ham·miḡ·dā·lîm ham·miḡ·dā·lō·wṯ ham·miḡ·dāl hammigDal hammiḡdāl hammigdaLim hammiḡdālîm hammigdaLot hammiḡdālōwṯ kam·miḡ·dā·lō·wṯ kammigdaLot kammiḡdālōwṯ kə·miḡ·dal kemigDal kəmiḡdal lə·miḡ·dal lemigDal ləmiḡdal miḡ·dā·le·hā miḡ·dā·lîm miḡ·dal miḡ·dāl miḡ·dal- miḡ·də·lō·wṯ migDal miḡdal miḡdāl miḡdal- miḡdālehā migdaLeiha migdaLim miḡdālîm migdeLot miḡdəlōwṯ mim·miḡ·dal mimigDal mimmiḡdal ū·ḇam·miḡ·dā·lō·wṯ ū·miḡ·dā·lîm ū·miḡ·dal ū·miḡ·dāl ū·miḡ·dal- ū·miḡ·də·lō·ṯa·yiḵ ūḇammiḡdālōwṯ umigDal ūmiḡdal ūmiḡdāl ūmiḡdal- umigdaLim ūmiḡdālîm uMigdeloTayich ūmiḡdəlōṯayiḵ uvammigdaLot vehammigDal wə·ham·miḡ·dāl wəhammiḡdālLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 11:4 HEB: לָּ֣נוּ עִ֗יר וּמִגְדָּל֙ וְרֹאשׁ֣וֹ בַשָּׁמַ֔יִם NAS: for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top KJV: us a city and a tower, whose top INT: build A city tower top heaven Genesis 11:5 Judges 8:9 Judges 8:17 Judges 9:46 Judges 9:47 Judges 9:49 Judges 9:51 Judges 9:51 Judges 9:52 Judges 9:52 2 Kings 9:17 2 Kings 17:9 2 Kings 18:8 1 Chronicles 27:25 2 Chronicles 14:7 2 Chronicles 26:9 2 Chronicles 26:10 2 Chronicles 26:15 2 Chronicles 27:4 2 Chronicles 32:5 Nehemiah 3:1 Nehemiah 3:1 Nehemiah 3:11 Nehemiah 3:25 49 Occurrences |
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