Lexical Summary matsuwd: Fortress, stronghold, net, bulwark Original Word: מָצוּד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance castle, defense, fortress, strong hold, be hunted, net, snare, strong placeOr (feminine) mtsuwdah {mets-oo-daw'}; or mtsudah {mets-oo-daw'}; for matsowd; a net, or (abstractly) capture; also a fastness; --castle, defense, fort(-ress), (strong) hold, be hunted, net, snare, strong place. see HEBREW matsowd Brown-Driver-Briggs I. מְצוּדָה noun feminine net, prey; — absolute ׳מ Ezekiel 13:21; Psalm 66:11; suffix מְצוּדָתִי Ezekiel 12:13; Ezekiel 17:20 ; — 1 net, in figureof ׳יs judgment, Ezekiel 12:13; Ezekiel 17:20 (both "" רֶשֶׁת), Psalm 66:11. 2 prey Ezekiel 13:21 (figurative). II. מְצוּדָה noun feminine fastness, stronghold; — absolute ׳מ 1 Samuel 22:4 +, מְצֻדֶה 2 Samuel 5:9, construct מְצֻדַת 2 Samuel 5:7; suffix מְצוּדָתִי Psalm 18:3 +, מְצֻדָתִי 2 Samuel 22:2; plural מְצוּדוֺת Psalm 31:3; — fastness of David, 1 Samuel 22:4,5; 1 Samuel 24:23 (Gi v.1 Samuel 24:22) 2 Samuel 5:17; 2 Samuel 23:14 = 1 Chronicles 11:16; read also מְצֻדַת עֲדֻלָּם 1 Samuel 22:1; 2 Samuel 23:13; 1 Chronicles 11:15, for ᵑ0 מְעָדַת (see מְעָרָה p. 1Chron 79:2b); of Jerusalem, מְצֻדַת צִיּוֺן 2 Samuel 5:7 = 1 Chronicles 11:5, compare 2 Samuel 5:9; home of eagle Job 39:28 (+ שֶׁןסֶֿלַע); elsewhere figurative of ׳י Psalm 18:3=2Samuel 22:2; Psalm 31:4; Psalm 71:3 (all + סַלְעִי), Psalm 91:2 (+ מַחְסִי), Psalm 144:2 (+חַסְדִּי, but this dubious, Krochm Gr Che חִסְנִי, Dy חִזְקִ, Du סַלְעִי; possibly is מַתְסִי); also כֵּית מְצוּדוֺת Psalm 31:8. II. צוד (√ of following; relation to I. צוד dubious; compare Assyrian sîdîtu, Arabic Topical Lexicon Range of Meaning מָצוּד is used in two primary senses: 1. A place of security—fortress, stronghold, citadel. The contexts fall naturally into two thematic clusters: shelter and entrapment. Physical Strongholds in Ancient Israel The term first appears in narratives about David’s life. Adullam Cave and other rocky refuges in the Judean wilderness are called “the stronghold” (1 Samuel 22:4–5; 23:14 use a synonym but the setting is the same). These sites offered natural defenses and strategic height against Saul’s pursuit. After the capture of “the stronghold of Zion” (2 Samuel 5:7; 1 Chronicles 11:5), the word designates the fortified ridge that became the City of David. From there David “built up the surrounding area, from the Millo inward” (2 Samuel 5:9), illustrating how a מָצוּד could evolve from a simple refuge into the political and worship center of the kingdom. David’s Reliance on Strongholds David’s repeated retreats to a מָצוּד (1 Samuel 24:22; 2 Samuel 5:17; 23:14; 1 Chronicles 11:16) reveal his tactical acumen and his awareness of human limitation. Even a divinely anointed king needed a safe place. Yet the prophet Gad eventually commanded, “Do not stay in the stronghold” (1 Samuel 22:5). Security was never to replace obedience. God as Fortress Out of these historical experiences grew the enduring theology of God as the ultimate מָצוּד: The physical imagery of impregnable walls, commanding heights, and secure supply lines is transferred to the character of God—unassailable sovereignty, covenant faithfulness, and unfailing provision. This metaphor prepares the way for New Testament affirmations of Christ as the believer’s strong tower (compare Proverbs 18:10 with John 10:28–29). Nets and Traps: A Sobering Counter-Image The same noun can denote that which ensnares. Job laments, “Know that God has wronged me and drawn His net around me” (Job 19:6). The psalmist recalls corporate testing: “You brought us into the net” (Psalm 66:11). Ecclesiastes warns that “man does not know his time: like fish caught in a cruel net” (Ecclesiastes 9:12). In each passage, מָצוּד depicts unforeseen confinement imposed by a higher power. Prophetic Announcements of Judgment Ezekiel employs the image for divine retribution on rebellious leaders: The stronghold becomes a prison when God’s judgment falls; no human fortress can withstand His decrees. Wisdom Literature Reflections Job 39:28 pictures the eagle dwelling “on the rocky crag, its stronghold”—a note of majesty and assurance embedded in creation. Humanity longs for similar security, yet the same word in Ecclesiastes exposes the fragility of human plans. Theological Synthesis 1. Genuine refuge resides in the LORD; every earthly מָצוּד is provisional. Ministry and Discipleship Implications • Personal assurance: Believers may echo David—“My fortress”—with confidence amid persecution and uncertainty. Prayer that appropriates this name of God fosters stability. Summary מָצוּד stands at the intersection of hope and hazard. It points to the unshakable shelter God provides and warns that what humans build for security can become an instrument of divine judgment. In Christ the promise of true refuge is fulfilled, inviting all to dwell in the everlasting stronghold that no snare can breach. Forms and Transliterations בִּמְצֽוּדָתִ֑י בִּמְצוֹדָ֣ה בַּמְּצָד֥וֹת בַּמְּצֹד֔וֹת בַּמְּצֻדָ֔ה בַּמְּצוּדָ֑ה בַּמְּצוּדָ֔ה בַּמְּצוּדָֽה׃ בַמְּצוּדָ֑ה במצדה במצדות במצודה במצודה׃ במצודתי הַמְּצוּדָֽה׃ המצודה׃ וּ֝מְצוּד֗וֹ וּמְצֻדָתִ֖י וּמְצוּדָֽה׃ וּמְצוּדָתִ֑י וּמְצוּדָתִ֗י וּמְצוּדָתִ֣י וּמְצוּדָתִי֮ ומצדתי ומצודה׃ ומצודו ומצודתי לִמְצוּדָ֑ה למצודה מְצֻדַ֣ת מְצוּד֗וֹת מצדת מצודות bam·mə·ṣā·ḏō·wṯ bam·mə·ṣō·ḏō·wṯ bam·mə·ṣu·ḏāh bam·mə·ṣū·ḏāh ḇam·mə·ṣū·ḏāh bamməṣāḏōwṯ bamməṣōḏōwṯ bamməṣuḏāh bamməṣūḏāh ḇamməṣūḏāh bammetzaDot bammetzoDot bammetzuDah bim·ṣō·w·ḏāh bim·ṣū·ḏā·ṯî bimṣōwḏāh bimṣūḏāṯî bimtzoDah bimtzudaTi ham·mə·ṣū·ḏāh hamməṣūḏāh hammetzuDah lim·ṣū·ḏāh limṣūḏāh limtzuDah mə·ṣu·ḏaṯ mə·ṣū·ḏō·wṯ məṣuḏaṯ məṣūḏōwṯ metzuDat metzuDot ū·mə·ṣu·ḏā·ṯî ū·mə·ṣū·ḏā·ṯî ū·mə·ṣū·ḏāh ū·mə·ṣū·ḏōw ūməṣūḏāh ūməṣuḏāṯî ūməṣūḏāṯî ūməṣūḏōw umetzuDah umetzudaTi umetzuDo vammetzuDahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 22:4 HEB: הֱיוֹת־ דָּוִ֖ד בַּמְּצוּדָֽה׃ ס NAS: that David was in the stronghold. KJV: that David was in the hold. INT: become David the stronghold 1 Samuel 22:5 1 Samuel 24:22 2 Samuel 5:7 2 Samuel 5:9 2 Samuel 5:17 2 Samuel 22:2 2 Samuel 23:14 1 Chronicles 11:5 1 Chronicles 11:16 Job 19:6 Job 39:28 Psalm 18:2 Psalm 31:2 Psalm 31:3 Psalm 66:11 Psalm 71:3 Psalm 91:2 Psalm 144:2 Ecclesiastes 9:12 Ezekiel 12:13 Ezekiel 13:21 Ezekiel 17:20 Ezekiel 19:9 Ezekiel 33:27 25 Occurrences |
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), Aramaic זְוָדָה, 
, Palmyrene זוד, all provisions (especially for journey); in Thes = I. צוד; on game as early food of nomads see RSSemitic i. 205; 2nd ed. 222f. compare DoughtyArab. Des. i. 70, 326, 562; ז (Arabic Aramaic) is then secondary).