4679. metsad

Lexicon

metsad: Stronghold, fortress, defense

Original Word: מְצַד
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: mtsad
Pronunciation: meh-tsahd'
Phonetic Spelling: (mets-ad')
Definition: Stronghold, fortress, defense
Meaning: a fastness

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

castle, fort, strong hold, munition

Or mtsad {mets-awd'}; or (feminine) mtsadah {mets-aw-daw'}; from tsuwd; a fastness (as a covert of ambush) -- castle, fort, (strong) hold, munition.

see HEBREW tsuwd

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from tsud
Definition
fastness, a stronghold
NASB Translation
impregnable (1), stronghold (3), strongholds (7).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

מְצָד, מְצַד noun feminine^{Jeremiah 48:41} fastness, stronghold (properly hunting-place?); — absolute מְצָד 1 Chronicles 11:7; 1 Chronicles 12:16, מְצַד 1 Chronicles 12:8; plural absolute מְצָדוֺת 1 Samuel 23:14+, construct id. 1 Samuel 23:29 (Gi, 1 Samuel 24:1 van d. H. Baer), Isaiah 33:16; —

1 mounting-fastness Judges 6:2; 1 Samuel 23:14,19,29 (see above), Ezekiel 33:27; 1 Chronicles 12:8; 1 Chronicles 12:16; מְצָדוֺת סְלָעִים Isaiah 33:16.

2 more Generally, stronghold Jeremiah 48:41; Jeremiah 51:30; Ezekiel 19:9 (Baer Gi; van d. H. מְצֹדוֺת id. [II. מְצוֺדָה] Ew Hi-Sm Da and others; nets [1. מְצוֺדָה] Krae; strike out Co Oort Toy); citadel of Jerusalem 1 Chronicles 11:7.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the root verb צוּד (tsud), meaning "to hunt" or "to lie in wait."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G996 (βάσις, basis): Refers to a foundation or base, often used metaphorically for something that provides support or stability.
• G3794 (ὀχύρωμα, ochuroma): Translated as "stronghold" or "fortress," used metaphorically in the New Testament to describe arguments or thoughts that are fortified against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:4).
• G4042 (περιφραγμός, periphragmos): Refers to an enclosure or fence, indicating a protective barrier.
• G4728 (στρατόπεδον, stratopedon): Refers to a military camp or encampment, highlighting the concept of a fortified area for troops.

The concept of a fortress or stronghold is a recurring theme in the Bible, symbolizing both physical and spiritual protection. The Hebrew מְצַד and its Greek counterparts emphasize the importance of security and defense, whether in a literal or metaphorical sense.

Usage: The term מְצַד is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe a physical location that provides protection and security, often in a military context. It is typically translated as "fortress" or "stronghold" in English.

Context: • The Hebrew word מְצַד (Metsad) appears in the context of describing fortified places that offer refuge and protection. These locations are often natural or man-made structures that serve as defensive positions against enemies. The concept of a "fortress" in biblical times was crucial for the survival and defense of cities and territories.
• In the Berean Standard Bible, the term is used to convey the idea of safety and security provided by a stronghold. For example, in 1 Samuel 23:14, David is described as staying in the strongholds in the wilderness, highlighting the strategic importance of such locations for protection against King Saul's pursuit.
• The imagery of a fortress is also used metaphorically in the Psalms to describe God's protection and strength for His people. This metaphorical use underscores the reliability and steadfastness of divine protection, akin to the security offered by a physical stronghold.

Forms and Transliterations

בִּמְצָד֥וֹת בַּמְּצָד֔וֹת בַּמְצָ֑ד בַמְּצָדוֹת֙ במצד במצדות הַמְּצָדֽוֹת׃ המצדות׃ וְהַמְּצָד֖וֹת והמצדות לַמְצַ֨ד לַמְצָ֖ד למצד מְצָד֥וֹת מצדות bam·mə·ṣā·ḏō·wṯ ḇam·mə·ṣā·ḏō·wṯ bam·ṣāḏ bamməṣāḏōwṯ ḇamməṣāḏōwṯ bammetzaDot bamṣāḏ bamTzad bim·ṣā·ḏō·wṯ bimṣāḏōwṯ bimtzaDot ham·mə·ṣā·ḏō·wṯ hamməṣāḏōwṯ hammetzaDot lam·ṣaḏ lam·ṣāḏ lamṣaḏ lamṣāḏ lamTzad mə·ṣā·ḏō·wṯ məṣāḏōwṯ metzaDot vammetzadOt vehammetzaDot wə·ham·mə·ṣā·ḏō·wṯ wəhamməṣāḏōwṯ

Englishman's Concordance

Judges 6:2
HEB: הַמְּעָר֖וֹת וְאֶת־ הַמְּצָדֽוֹת׃
NAS: and the caves and the strongholds.
KJV: and caves, and strong holds.
INT: the mountains and the caves and the strongholds

1 Samuel 23:14
HEB: דָּוִ֤ד בַּמִּדְבָּר֙ בַּמְּצָד֔וֹת וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב בָּהָ֖ר
NAS: in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained
KJV: in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained
INT: David the wilderness the strongholds and remained the hill

1 Samuel 23:19
HEB: מִסְתַּתֵּ֨ר עִמָּ֤נוּ בַמְּצָדוֹת֙ בַּחֹ֔רְשָׁה בְּגִבְעַת֙
NAS: not hiding with us in the strongholds at Horesh,
KJV: hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood,
INT: hiding in the strongholds Horesh the hill

1 Samuel 23:29
HEB: מִשָּׁ֑ם וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב בִּמְצָד֥וֹת עֵֽין־ גֶּֽדִי׃
NAS: and stayed in the strongholds of Engedi.
KJV: from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.
INT: there and stayed the strongholds of Engedi

1 Chronicles 11:7
HEB: וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב דָּוִ֖יד בַּמְצָ֑ד עַל־ כֵּ֥ן
NAS: dwelt in the stronghold; therefore
KJV: dwelt in the castle; therefore they called
INT: dwelt David the stronghold and it was

1 Chronicles 12:9
HEB: אֶל־ דָּוִיד֩ לַמְצַ֨ד מִדְבָּ֜רָה גִּבֹּרֵ֣י
INT: make David castle desert champion

1 Chronicles 12:17
HEB: וִֽיהוּדָ֔ה עַד־ לַמְצָ֖ד לְדָוִֽיד׃
INT: Benjamin Judah castle David

Isaiah 33:16
HEB: מְרוֹמִ֣ים יִשְׁכֹּ֔ן מְצָד֥וֹת סְלָעִ֖ים מִשְׂגַּבּ֑וֹ
NAS: His refuge will be the impregnable rock;
KJV: his place of defence [shall be] the munitions of rocks:
INT: the heights will dwell will be the impregnable rock his refuge

Jeremiah 48:41
HEB: נִלְכְּדָה֙ הַקְּרִיּ֔וֹת וְהַמְּצָד֖וֹת נִתְפָּ֑שָׂה וְֽ֠הָיָה
NAS: has been captured And the strongholds have been seized,
KJV: is taken, and the strong holds are surprised,
INT: has been captured Kerioth and the strongholds have been seized become

Jeremiah 51:30
HEB: לְהִלָּחֵ֗ם יָֽשְׁבוּ֙ בַּמְּצָד֔וֹת נָשְׁתָ֥ה גְבוּרָתָ֖ם
NAS: They stay in the strongholds; Their strength
KJV: they have remained in [their] holds: their might
INT: fighting stay the strongholds is exhausted their strength

10 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4679
10 Occurrences

bam·mə·ṣā·ḏō·wṯ — 2 Occ.
bam·ṣāḏ — 1 Occ.
bim·ṣā·ḏō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
ham·mə·ṣā·ḏō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
lam·ṣaḏ — 2 Occ.
mə·ṣā·ḏō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
ḇam·mə·ṣā·ḏō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
wə·ham·mə·ṣā·ḏō·wṯ — 1 Occ.