4204. mazor
Lexical Summary
mazor: ambush

Original Word: מָזוֹר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: mazowr
Pronunciation: maw-zore'
Phonetic Spelling: (maw-zore')
KJV: wound
NASB: ambush
Word Origin: [from H2114 (זוּר - To be a stranger) in the sense of turning aside from truth]

1. treachery, i.e. a plot

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
wound

From zuwr in the sense of turning aside from truth; treachery, i.e. A plot -- wound.

see HEBREW zuwr

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
perhaps a net
NASB Translation
ambush (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
II. מָזוֺר noun masculine Obadiah 7 תַּחְתֶּיךָ ׳יָשִׂימוּמ, very dubious, perhaps net (as something extended): ᵐ5 (ἔνεδρα), ᵑ6 ᵑ9 ambush (? מָצוֺד or מְצוֺדָה net, VollersZAW 1884, 16; מָצוֺר siege PrinceJBL xvi.1897, 177), Aq Theod fetter, bond, ᵑ7 (תקלא) stumbling-block; Gr מַכְמֹר, מִכְמָר; We Now leave untranslated; DlProl. 67, HWB 396 compare Assyrian mazûru, apparently a pole with an iron hook, but improbable — 1. מָזוֺר see below II. זוּר, p. 267.

מִזְרֶה see זרה.

Topical Lexicon
Overview

מָזוֹר (mazor) paints a vivid picture of a concealed hurt—whether a literal wound or a figurative snare—inflicted by those once thought friendly. Its single appearance in Obadiah brings the term into sharp relief, emphasizing betrayal that cuts deeply and unexpectedly.

Biblical Occurrence

Obadiah 1:7: “All the men allied with you will drive you to the border; the men at peace with you will deceive and overpower you. Those who eat your bread will set a trap for you, without your awareness of it.”

Here מָזוֹר is rendered “trap” (some translations “wound”), underscoring treachery arising from the closest social circle—table-fellows.

Imagery and Meaning

1. Hidden Pain: A wound can cripple before it is even noticed; likewise, a snare is unseen until it springs. Both pictures fit the prophetic warning.
2. Internal Betrayal: The injury comes from “those who eat your bread,” echoing the agony of a trusted companion’s betrayal (Psalm 41:9; John 13:18).
3. Moral Exposure: Edom’s misplaced confidence in alliances leaves it vulnerable; the wound reveals the folly of trusting flesh rather than the Lord (Jeremiah 17:5).

Historical Setting in Obadiah

Edom, descendant of Esau, had relied on treaties with neighboring powers and prided itself on strategic mountain strongholds (Obadiah 1:3–4). When Babylon advanced, these very allies turned, driving Edom “to the border” and laying the fatal מָזוֹר. The prophecy came to pass when Babylon and its confederates subjugated Edom in the sixth century B.C.

Theological Themes

• Divine Justice: God orchestrates circumstances so that Edom reaps what it has sown against Judah (Obadiah 1:10–15). The hidden wound is part of the divine retribution.
• Sovereign Warning: The Lord exposes the emptiness of human alliances and calls His people to exclusive trust in Him (Isaiah 31:1).
• Foreshadowing of Final Judgment: Obadiah culminates in the kingdom belonging to the Lord (Obadiah 1:21); the wound serves as an early signal of that ultimate reckoning.

Prophetic Parallels

Jeremiah 30:13–14 describes Judah’s “sore” with no earthly healer, yet God Himself promises restoration—highlighting the contrast between human and divine help.
Micah 7:5–6 warns not to trust even a confidant, mirroring Obadiah’s lesson about misplaced reliance.
Zechariah 13:6 depicts wounds “received in the house of my friends,” a striking echo of betrayal imagery fulfilled supremely in Jesus Christ.

Practical Ministry Insights

1. Discernment in Alliances: Churches and believers must weigh partnerships carefully, ensuring alignment with biblical truth rather than convenience.
2. Pastoral Care for Betrayal: Many in the congregation carry hidden “mazor” wounds. Obadiah legitimizes their pain and points to God’s just oversight.
3. Gospel Hope: Christ bore the ultimate betrayal and wound (Isaiah 53:5; Luke 22:48), offering healing for every hidden hurt (1 Peter 2:24).

Summary

מָזוֹר stands as a poignant emblem of covert injury—physical or relational—arising from trusted quarters. In Obadiah it exposes Edom’s arrogant dependence on human pacts and showcases divine justice that turns worldly wisdom into self-inflicted pain. For the believer today, the term summons vigilance, reliance on the Lord, and confidence that every hidden wound is known, judged, and ultimately healed by the God who saves.

Forms and Transliterations
מָזוֹר֙ מזור mā·zō·wr mazOr māzōwr
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Obadiah 1:7
HEB: לַחְמְךָ֗ יָשִׂ֤ימוּ מָזוֹר֙ תַּחְתֶּ֔יךָ אֵ֥ין
NAS: Will set an ambush for you. (There is no
KJV: have laid a wound under thee: [there is] none understanding
INT: your bread will set an ambush Thahash else

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 4204
1 Occurrence


mā·zō·wr — 1 Occ.

4203
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