Biblical Lexicon

H4525 H4525

Art | N-ms | 7× in 2 senses

A smith or locksmith (metalworker deported with Judah's elite); also a dungeon or prison (a place that is 'shut up').

Derived from the root sagar (to shut, close), this noun branches into two concrete applications. As a craftsman term, masger designates the smiths or locksmiths deported from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar alongside the charashim (craftsmen) — 'all the craftsmen and the smiths' (2 Kgs 24:14, 16; Jer 24:1; 29:2). As a place of confinement, it means a dungeon or prison: 'bring my soul out of prison' (Ps 142:7), 'to bring prisoners out of the dungeon' (Isa 42:7). Spanish captures both poles clearly: 'los herreros' (the blacksmiths) for the artisan sense and 'de la carcel' (from the prison) for the confinement sense.

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Senses

1. smith, locksmith — A smith or locksmith — a metalworker skilled in forging, especially locks and iron implements. Used collectively of the artisan class exiled from Jerusalem: 'all the craftsmen and the masger' (2 Kgs 24:14, 16). Jeremiah echoes this in his vision of the good and bad figs, listing those carried away including 'the craftsmen and the smiths' (Jer 24:1; 29:2). Spanish 'los herreros' (the blacksmiths) and 'y el herrero' (and the smith) reflect the metalworking identity. The connection to the root sagar (to shut) suggests one who makes locks or closures. 4×

PROPERTIES_RELATIONS › Nature, Class, Example › Geography and Space

AR["الْحَدَّادَ", "وَالْحَدَّادَ", "وَالْحَدَّادِ"]·ben["-ধাতুকর্মীদের", "আর-তালা-মারা-সেই", "এবং-কামার"]·DE["[המסגר]", "[והמסגר]", "und-der-smith"]·EN["and-the-smith", "and-the-smiths", "the-smiths"]·FR["[המסגר]", "[והמסגר]", "et-le-smith"]·heb["ה-מסגר", "ו-ה-מסגר"]·HI["और-लोहारों", "लोहारों-को", "वे-ह-लोहार"]·ID["dan-pandai-besi", "para-pandai-besi"]·IT["[המסגר]", "[והמסגר]", "e-il-fabbro"]·jav["lan-pandhe", "pandhe"]·KO["그-대장장이들을", "그리고-그-대장장이가", "그리고-대장장이를"]·PT["e-o-ferreiro", "e-o-serralheiro", "o-ferreiro"]·RU["и-кузнецов", "кузнецов"]·ES["los-herreros", "y-el-herrero", "y-los-herreros"]·SW["na-wafua-chuma", "na-wahunzi", "wahunzi"]·TR["demircileri", "ve-demircinin", "ve-demirciyi"]·urd["اور-لوہار", "اور-لوہاروں", "لوہاروں"]

2 Kgs 24:14, 2 Kgs 24:16, Jer 24:1, Jer 29:2

2. dungeon, prison — A dungeon or prison — a place where people are shut in, drawing directly on the root sagar (to close, confine). The psalmist cries 'bring my soul out of masger' (Ps 142:7), using imprisonment as a metaphor for existential distress. Isaiah 42:7 pairs it with blindness: God's servant will 'bring prisoners out of the dungeon.' In Isa 24:22 the eschatological judgment gathers captives 'into the dungeon.' Spanish 'de la carcel' (from the jail) and 'de prision' (from prison) confirm the carceral reading. 3×

BUILDINGS › Constructions › Prison and Confinement

AR["سِجْنٍ", "مِنَ-السِّجْنِ"]·ben["কারাগার-থেকে", "কারাগারে"]·DE["[ממסגר]", "[מסגר]", "von-prison"]·EN["a-prison", "from-prison", "from-the-prison"]·FR["[ממסגר]", "[מסגר]", "de-serrure"]·heb["מ-מסגר", "מסגר"]·HI["कारागार-से", "बन्दीखाने", "से-बन्दीगृह"]·ID["dari-penjara", "penjara"]·IT["[ממסגר]", "[מסגר]"]·jav["pakunjaran", "saking-pakunjaran"]·KO["감옥-에서", "감옥을", "에서-감옥"]·PT["da-prisão", "de-prisão", "prisão"]·RU["из-заключения", "из-темницы", "темницу"]·ES["de-la-cárcel", "de-prisión", "prisión"]·SW["gereza", "kutoka-gerezani"]·TR["hapishaneden-", "hapishanenin", "zindandan"]·urd["قید-خانے", "قید-سے"]

Ps 142:7, Isa 24:22, Isa 42:7

BDB / Lexicon Reference

† מַסְגֵּר n.[m.] 1. locksmith, smith. 2. dungeon:—always abs.: 1. coll. smiths, וְכָל־הֶחָרָשׁ וְהַמּ׳ 2 K 24:14 cf. v 16, Je 24:1; 29:2. 2. dungeon Is 24:22 (cf. סגר Pu.); fig. of exile 42:7 (הוֹצִיא מִמּ׳); הוֹצִיאָה מִמּ׳ נַפְשִׁי ψ 142:8.