H6877 H6877
stronghold, underground chamber, fortified place of refuge
A term of uncertain meaning, likely designating either a stronghold, fortified place, or possibly an underground chamber or cave used as refuge. Judges 9:46, 49 mention the 'stronghold of the temple of El-berith' where Shechemites took shelter (unsuccessfully) from Abimelech. First Samuel 13:6 lists it among various hiding places where Israelites fled from the Philistines (caves, thickets, rocks, tombs, cisterns). Ancient versions translated it as 'stronghold' or 'tower,' but the exact architectural referent remains uncertain.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Judges 9:46 and 9:49 both reference the 'stronghold of the house/temple of El-berith' (צְרִיחַ בֵּית אֵל בְּרִית) where the leaders of Shechem took refuge before Abimelech burned it down. First Samuel 13:6 lists 'caves, thickets, rocks, tombs, and underground chambers' (צְרִחִים) as hiding places. Spanish fortaleza/torres (fortress/towers) and French forteresse reflect the defensive, refuge function whether above-ground strongholds or underground shelters. 4×
AR["الـ-حِصْن", "حِصْن", "وَ-بِـ-الـ-حُصُونِ"]·ben["আর-দুর্গগুলিতে", "গোপন-কক্ষে"]·DE["Festung-von", "der-Festung", "und-in-der-strongholds"]·EN["and-in-the-strongholds", "stronghold-of", "the-stronghold"]·FR["et-dans-le-strongholds", "forteresse-de", "le-forteresse"]·heb["ה-צריח", "ו-ב-צריחים", "צריח"]·HI["और-मीनारों-में", "गढ़", "गढ़को"]·ID["dan-di-menara-menara", "ruang-bawah-tanah"]·IT["e-in-il-fortezze", "il-stronghold", "stronghold-di"]·jav["betèng", "lan-ing-menara"]·KO["그-지하실", "그리고-그-요새들에", "지하실-"]·PT["a-fortaleza", "e-nas-fortalezas", "fortaleza-de"]·RU["и-в-башнях", "крепость"]·ES["fortaleza-de", "la-fortaleza", "y-en-las-torres"]·SW["na-shimoni", "ngome"]·TR["sığınağa", "sığınağı", "ve-kalelerde"]·urd["اور-گڑھوں-میں", "قلعہ", "قلعے-کو", "قلعے-کے"]
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
† צְרִיחַ n.[m.] perhaps excavation, underground chamber;—צ׳ abs. Ju 9:49, cstr. v 46; pl. צְרִחִים 1 S 13:6;—used as hiding-places 1 S 13:6 (+ מְעָרוֹת, חֲוָחִים, סְלָעִים, בֹּרוֹת); as refuge Ju 9:46 (where connected with shrine), v 49 (Vrss stronghold; on uncertainty of meaning v. GFM).