H4693 H4693
Matsor — poetic name for Egypt, emphasizing its fortifications or boundaries
This Hebrew term appears exclusively in poetic contexts as an alternate name for Egypt. The word likely derives from the root meaning 'siege' or 'fortress,' highlighting Egypt's fortified borders or defensive strength. It appears in prophetic oracles about Egypt's waterways and in Micah's vision of future restoration, where the faithful will come from 'the cities of Matsor.' The multilingual evidence (Spanish 'Egipto,' French 'Matsor,' German 'Belagerung') reflects the dual nature of this term — both as a proper name and as evoking the concept of fortification.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A poetic designation for Egypt found only in prophetic literature. The term appears in Isaiah's oracle about Egypt's failing waterways ('the streams of Matsor,' Isa 19:6) and in parallel passages about Sennacherib's boast (2 Kgs 19:24 = Isa 37:25). Micah 7:12 uses it in an eschatological context, envisioning people coming from Assyria and 'the cities of Matsor.' The Hebrew root connection to 'siege' or 'fortress' may emphasize Egypt as a fortified stronghold, though some translations simply render it as a poetic variant for Egypt itself. 4×
AR["الْحِصْنِ", "مِصْرَ"]·ben["অবরোধের", "মিশর", "মিশরের"]·DE["Belagerung", "Matsor", "[מצור]"]·EN["Egypt", "Matsor", "fortress", "of-Matsor"]·FR["Matsor", "frontière", "siège"]·heb["מצור"]·HI["गढ़", "मिस्र-की", "मिस्र-के"]·ID["Mesir", "benteng", "pertahanan"]·IT["Matsor", "[מצור]"]·jav["Mesir"]·KO["애굴의", "애굽의", "이집트", "이집트의"]·PT["Matsor", "fortaleza"]·RU["Мацора", "Мицраима"]·ES["Egipto", "de-Egipto", "fortaleza"]·SW["Misri", "vya-Misri", "ya-Misri"]·TR["Misir'in", "Mısır'a", "Mısır'ın"]·urd["مصر", "مصر-کی", "مصر-کے"]
Related Senses
G3588 1. definite article (18298×)H0853 1. definite direct object marker (10915×)G2532 1. (8312×)H3068 1. YHWH (the divine name) (6522×)H0834a 1. relative pronoun (who/which/that) (4839×)H3588a 1. causal: because, for (3498×)G1161 1. and (2806×)H3478 1. Israel (proper name and nation) (2507×)G4771 1. you (plural address) (1853×)H1931 1. personal pronoun he/she/it (1431×)G3739 1. relative pronoun who/which/that (1149×)H1732 1. David (proper name) (1075×)H2088 1. this, this one (demonstrative) (1059×)G1063 1. (1047×)G3778 1. this thing, these things (1003×)H???? 2. (1002×)G2424 1. (924×)G3754 1. that (content clause) (881×)H2009 1. presentative particle: behold, look (881×)H0589 1. I (first person singular pronoun) (874×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† מָצוֹר n.pr.terr.=מִצְרַיִם; only poet.: יְאֹרֵי מ׳ Is 19:6 2 K 19:24=Is 37:25; וְעָדֶיךָ יָבוֹא לְמִנִּי אַשּׁוּר וְעָרֵי מ׳ וּלְמִנִּי מ׳ וְעַד נָהָר Mi 7:12 (𝔊 misunderstands everywhere).