4693. Matsor

Lexicon

Matsor: Siege, distress, confinement

Original Word: מָצוֹר
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: matsowr
Pronunciation: maw-tsore'
Phonetic Spelling: (maw-tsore')
Definition: Siege, distress, confinement
Meaning: Egypt

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

besieged places, defense, fortified

The same as matsowr in the sense of a limit; Egypt (as the border of Palestine) -- besieged places, defense, fortified.

see HEBREW matsowr

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from the same as Mitsrayim
Definition
a country S.W. of the Red Sea
NASB Translation
Egypt (5).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

מָצוֺר proper name, of a territory = מִצְרַיִם; only in poetry: ׳יֶאֹרֵי מ Isaiah 19:6; 2 Kings 19:24 = Isaiah 37:25; וְעָדֶיךָ יָבוֺא לְמִנִּי וְעַד נָהָר ׳וּלְמִנִּי מ ׳אַשּׁוּד וְעָרֵי מ Micah 7:12 (ᵐ5 misunderstands everywhere).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the root verb צוּר (tsur), which means "to besiege" or "to confine."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • The Greek equivalent for Egypt in the Septuagint and the New Testament is Αἴγυπτος (Aigyptos), corresponding to Strong's Greek Number 125. This term is used consistently to refer to the nation of Egypt in both historical and symbolic contexts within the Greek Scriptures.

Usage: The term מָצוֹר (Matsor) is used in the Hebrew Bible to denote Egypt, particularly in contexts that emphasize its role as a place of confinement or oppression. It is often used in prophetic literature to symbolize a place of bondage or a nation under judgment.

Context: • מָצוֹר (Matsor) is a poetic and symbolic name for Egypt, appearing in the Hebrew Bible to evoke themes of siege, confinement, and oppression. The name is derived from the root צוּר (tsur), which conveys the idea of being besieged or enclosed, reflecting Egypt's historical role as a place of bondage for the Israelites.
• In the prophetic books, מָצוֹר (Matsor) is often used to highlight Egypt's impending judgment or downfall. For example, in Isaiah 19:6, the drying up of the Nile is a metaphor for Egypt's desolation: "The streams of Egypt will dwindle and dry up; the reeds and rushes will wither."
• The use of מָצוֹר (Matsor) underscores the dual nature of Egypt as both a place of refuge and a place of enslavement, reflecting the complex relationship between Israel and Egypt throughout biblical history.
• The term is distinct from מִצְרַיִם (Mitzrayim), the more common name for Egypt, which is used in historical and narrative contexts. מָצוֹר (Matsor) is reserved for more symbolic or poetic references, often in the context of divine judgment or prophetic imagery.

Forms and Transliterations

מָצ֑וֹר מָצֽוֹר׃ מָצוֹר֙ מצור מצור׃ mā·ṣō·wr māṣōwr maTzor

Englishman's Concordance

2 Kings 19:24
HEB: כֹּ֖ל יְאֹרֵ֥י מָצֽוֹר׃
NAS: up All the rivers of Egypt.
KJV: up all the rivers of besieged places.
INT: All the rivers of Egypt

Isaiah 19:6
HEB: וְחָרְב֖וּ יְאֹרֵ֣י מָצ֑וֹר קָנֶ֥ה וָס֖וּף
NAS: The streams of Egypt will thin
KJV: [and] the brooks of defence shall be emptied
INT: and dry the streams of Egypt the reeds and rushes

Isaiah 37:25
HEB: כֹּ֖ל יְאֹרֵ֥י מָצֽוֹר׃
NAS: up All the rivers of Egypt.'
KJV: all the rivers of the besieged places.
INT: All the rivers places

Micah 7:12
HEB: מָצ֑וֹר וּלְמִנִּ֤י מָצוֹר֙ וְעַד־ נָהָ֔ר
NAS: and the cities of Egypt, From Egypt even to the Euphrates,
KJV: even to thee from Assyria, and [from] the fortified cities,
INT: besieged at of Egypt even to the Euphrates

4 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4693
4 Occurrences

mā·ṣō·wr — 4 Occ.