What does מְצוּרָה (māṣôr) mean in the Bible?
מְצוּרָה (māṣôr): Fortified enclosure functioning ambivalently as either siege weapon or protective rampart depending on perspective
Hebrew · H4694
מְצוּרָה
A hemming in, i.e. (objectively) a mound (of siege), or (subjectively) a rampart (of protection), (abstractly) fortification
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מְצוּרָהH4694
Pronunciationmāṣôr
What does מְצוּרָה (māṣôr) mean in the Bible?
מְצוּרָה (māṣôr): Fortified enclosure functioning ambivalently as either siege weapon or protective rampart depending on perspective
Full entry for מְצוּרָה (H4694) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4694?
The BSB source-word alignment has 8 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include the fortified (4), fortified (1), siege works (1), the fortress (1), their fortifications (1).
Where does מְצוּרָה (māṣôr) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at 2 Chronicles 11:10. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Chronicles (6), Isaiah (1), Nahum (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itthe fortified4×2 Chronicles 11:10, 2 Chronicles 11:23, 2 Chronicles 12:4, 2 Chronicles 21:3
fortified1×2 Chronicles 14:6
siege works1×Isaiah 29:3
the fortress1×Nahum 2:1
their fortifications1×2 Chronicles 11:11
Show sample aligned rows
2 Chronicles 11:10מְצֻרֽוֹת׃tothe fortifiedNoun - feminine plural2 Chronicles 11:11הַמְּצֻר֑וֹתtotheir fortificationsArticle | Noun - feminine plural2 Chronicles 11:23הַמְּצֻר֔וֹתtothe fortifiedArticle | Noun - feminine plural2 Chronicles 12:4הַמְּצֻר֖וֹתtothe fortifiedArticle | Noun - feminine plural2 Chronicles 14:6מְצוּרָ֖הtofortifiedNoun - feminine singular2 Chronicles 21:3מְצֻר֖וֹתtothe fortifiedNoun - feminine pluralIsaiah 29:3מְצֻרֹֽת׃tosiege worksNoun - feminine pluralNahum 2:1מְצֻרָ֑הtothe fortressNoun - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row2 Chronicles 11:10
Aligned rows8
Books represented3
2 Chronicles6Isaiah1Nahum1
Source forms
הַמְּצֻר֑וֹת1xham·mə·ṣu·rō·wṯ2 Chronicles 11:11
הַמְּצֻר֔וֹת1xham·mə·ṣu·rō·wṯ2 Chronicles 11:23
הַמְּצֻר֖וֹת1xham·mə·ṣu·rō·wṯ2 Chronicles 12:4
מְצוּרָ֖ה1xmə·ṣū·rāh2 Chronicles 14:6
מְצֻרָ֑ה1xmə·ṣu·rāhNahum 2:1
מְצֻר֖וֹת1xmə·ṣu·rō·wṯ2 Chronicles 21:3
מְצֻרֽוֹת׃1xmə·ṣu·rō·wṯ2 Chronicles 11:10
מְצֻרֹֽת׃1xmə·ṣu·rōṯIsaiah 29:3
Parsing patterns
Article | Noun - feminine plural3x2 Chronicles 11:11, 2 Chronicles 11:23, 2 Chronicles 12:4
Noun - feminine plural3x2 Chronicles 11:10, 2 Chronicles 21:3, Isaiah 29:3
Noun - feminine singular2x2 Chronicles 14:6, Nahum 2:1
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Fortified enclosure functioning ambivalently as either siege weapon or protective rampart depending on perspective
Source Gloss
a hemming in, i.e. (objectively) a mound (of siege), or (subjectively) a rampart (of protection), (abstractly) fortification
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Fortified enclosure functioning ambivalently as either siege weapon or protective rampart depending on perspective
a hemming in, i.e. (objectively) a mound (of siege), or (subjectively) a rampart (of protection), (abstractly) fortification BDB: siege-works Usage: fenced (city, fort, munition, strong hold.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
Encirclement or fortified attack.
Showing 1 selected witness from 8 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
Why This Word Matters
Expresses the intensity of covenant judgment.Isaiah 29:1-8