H4694 H4694
Fortress, fortification, rampart — a defensive stronghold or siege-work, often in the phrase 'fortified cities'
A feminine noun referring to a fortification, rampart, or siege-work — a defensive military installation. It appears most frequently in Chronicles describing Rehoboam's fortification program: he strengthened cities throughout Judah and Benjamin as 'fortified cities' (עָרֵי מְצוּרָה/מְצוּרוֹת, 2 Chr 11:10-11, 23; 12:4; 14:6; 21:3). Nahum 2:2 commands 'Guard the rampart!' as Nineveh faces invasion, and Isaiah 29:3 uses it of siege-works raised against Jerusalem. The word captures both sides of the siege — the defenses and the works built to overcome them.
Senses
1. fortress, fortification — A fortification, rampart, or siege-work — a defensive military structure or the offensive works erected to besiege one. In 2 Chronicles it repeatedly appears in the construct phrase 'fortified cities' describing Rehoboam's defensive building program across Judah (2 Chr 11:10-11, 23; 12:4; 14:6; 21:3). In Nahum 2:2 it denotes the rampart that Nineveh's defenders are urged to guard. Isaiah 29:3 uses it of siege-works God will raise against Jerusalem. Spanish 'fortaleza,' French 'forteresses,' and English 'fortresses/fortification' all capture the defensive-stronghold sense, while the Isaiah passage reveals the secondary siege-works meaning. 8×
AR["الحُصونَ", "الحُصونِ", "الْحِصْنَ", "حُصونٍ", "حِصَارَاتٍ", "مُحَصَّنَةٍ"]·ben["-সুরক্ষিতের", "অবরোধ", "দুর্গকে", "দুর্গগুলি", "দুর্গের"]·DE["[המצרות]", "[מצורה]", "[מצרה]", "[מצרות]", "[מצרת]"]·EN["fortification", "fortresses", "siege-works", "the-fortress", "the-fortresses"]·FR["[מצרת]", "de-la-détresse", "der-forteresses", "forteresse", "forteresses"]·heb["ה-מצרות", "מצורה", "מצורות", "מצרות"]·HI["किलेवालों", "गढ़-को", "गढ़ों", "गढ़ों-के", "गढ़ों-को", "घेराबंदी", "जो"]·ID["benteng", "benteng,", "benteng-benteng", "berbenteng", "dan-menempatkan", "yang"]·IT["[מצרה]", "[מצרת]", "fortezza", "fortezze", "il-fortezze"]·jav["benteng-benteng", "betèng", "bètèng", "bètèng-bètèng", "ingkang-kabètèng", "ingkang-kabèténg"]·KO["그-요새들", "그-요새들-의", "보루들을", "요새", "요새-를", "요새들-의", "요새화된"]·PT["a-fortaleza", "as-fortalezas", "fortaleza", "fortalezas", "fortificações"]·RU["крепость", "осадные-башни", "укрепления", "укреплённые", "укреплёнными"]·ES["fortaleza", "fortaleza!", "fortalezas", "fortificaciones", "fortificadas", "las-fortalezas"]·SW["mazingira", "ngome", "yenye-ngome"]·TR["kaleler", "kaleleri", "kalelerin", "kaleyi", "kusat-kalklari", "surlu"]·urd["قلعوں", "قلعوں-کے", "قلعہ-بند", "قلعے-کی", "محاصرے"]
Related Senses
H1129 1. Qal: build, construct (316×)H2691a 1. court, courtyard, enclosure (142×)G4864 1. synagogue, place of Jewish assembly (56×)G5438 1. prison, place of confinement (41×)H4013 1. fortress, stronghold (37×)H0875 1. well, cistern (dug water source) (35×)H0352b 1. pillar or jamb of gateway (32×)H2474 1. window, opening in wall (32×)H1406 1. roof / rooftop (31×)H4609b 1. steps, stairs, stairway (31×)H1129 2. Nifal: be built, be established (30×)H0361 1. portico, porch (architectural structure) (27×)H1129 3. Qal participle: builder (27×)H1219 1. fortified, inaccessible (25×)H4581 1. fortress, stronghold (25×)H3805 1. capital of a pillar (24×)H4350 1. stand, base, pedestal (24×)H0759 1. palace, royal residence (21×)H4692 1. siege, besiegement (20×)G3618 1. build or construct physically (19×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† מְצוּרָה n.f. siege-works, rampart;—abs. מ׳ Na 2:2 2 Ch 14:5; pl. מְצוּרוֹת 2 Ch 11:11 +, מְצֻרֹת Is 29:3, etc.;— 1. siege-works Is 29:3. 2. rampart נָצוֹר מ׳ Na 2:2 guard the rampart! (‖ צַפֵּה דֶרֶךְ; We Now der. from נצר, i.e. keep watch!), 2 Ch 11:11, עָרֵי מְצוּרָה 14:5 fortified cities, so עָרֵי (הַ)מְצֻרוֹת 11:10, 23; 12:4; 21:3.