Lexical Summary metsad: Stronghold, fortress, defense Original Word: מְצַד 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 Originfrom tsud Definition fastness, a stronghold NASB Translation impregnable (1), stronghold (3), strongholds (7). Brown-Driver-Briggs מְצָד, מְצַד noun feminineJeremiah 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 Meaning in Context מְצַד consistently denotes a physical stronghold — a fortified, elevated, defensible place often hewn from rock. The term evokes images of mountain fortresses, natural caves reinforced for security, and man-made citadels overlooking strategic terrain. By extension it comes to represent safety, refuge, and durability. Historical Geography Israel’s varied topography furnishes countless sites that match the sense of מְצַד: the limestone caves of the Shephelah, the crags of the Judean Wilderness, and volcanic ridges east of the Jordan. The famous desert fortress later called “Masada” (a modern form of the root) exemplifies the kind of location the word evokes—remote, elevated, exceedingly hard to assault. Judges and the Era of Oppression During Midianite domination “the Israelites hid themselves in mountain clefts, caves, and strongholds” (Judges 6:2). The passage shows מְצַד as a desperate refuge of an oppressed people, underscoring both their vulnerability and God’s subsequent deliverance through Gideon. The word therefore becomes a silent witness to covenant chastisement and grace. David’s Wilderness Years No figure is more closely linked with מְצַד than David. Fleeing Saul, he “stayed in the wilderness strongholds” (1 Samuel 23:14); his location was well known: “Is not David hiding with us in the strongholds in the wilderness?” (1 Samuel 23:19). From such refuges he wrote psalms extolling the LORD as “my fortress,” translating his physical experience into spiritual theology. When David later captured Jerusalem, “David took up residence in the stronghold” (1 Chronicles 11:7), turning a once-Jebusite citadel into the City of David—the political and worship center of the kingdom. Thus מְצַד charts David’s journey from fugitive to king. Gathering Place for Mighty Men In the chronicler’s record, Gadites and others “defected to David at his stronghold in the wilderness” (1 Chronicles 12:8; cf. 12:17). The fortress functioned as a rallying point for loyal warriors, shaping a community marked by courage and covenant faithfulness. Ministry parallels emerge: God’s people still gather around a shared refuge—now the Risen Christ—to unite for spiritual battle. Symbol of Divine Protection Isaiah promises the righteous: “He will dwell on the heights; his refuge will be the mountain fortress” (Isaiah 33:16). In prophetic idiom the physical image turns into a pledge of divine preservation. Bread and water are “sure” because the LORD himself guarantees supply within the impregnable walls of salvation. Instrument of Judgment Conversely, Moab’s and Babylon’s defenses cannot save them. “Kerioth will be captured, and the strongholds taken” (Jeremiah 48:41). “They sit in their strongholds… their strength is exhausted” (Jeremiah 51:30). What humans deem secure crumbles under God’s decree, reminding every age that true safety lies only in Him. Spiritual Application 1. Earthly fortifications picture, but cannot replace, the ultimate refuge found in God (Psalm 18:2). Eschatological Glimpse Isaiah’s vision of secure bread and water within a mountain fortress foreshadows the New Jerusalem—an unassailable dwelling where God’s people will lack nothing (Revelation 21:3–4). מְצַד thereby points beyond itself to the consummate kingdom. Summary of Occurrences Judges 6:2; 1 Samuel 23:14, 23:19, 23:29; 1 Chronicles 11:7; 1 Chronicles 12:9; 1 Chronicles 12:17; Isaiah 33:16; Jeremiah 48:41; Jeremiah 51:30. Across these passages מְצַד moves from human refuge to divine metaphor—always reinforcing that the LORD alone is the ultimate 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 wəhamməṣāḏōwṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman'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 1 Samuel 23:19 1 Samuel 23:29 1 Chronicles 11:7 1 Chronicles 12:9 1 Chronicles 12:17 Isaiah 33:16 Jeremiah 48:41 Jeremiah 51:30 10 Occurrences |
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