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מִגְדָּל

𐤌𐤂𐤃𐤋

migdâl

H4026 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A structure built to provide elevation, most commonly a tower used for defense, watch, or signal purposes; secondarily, any prominent elevated structure, such as a fortress, stronghold, or lookout post; rarely, an elevated rostrum or platform, and poetically, a raised bed or mound (e.g., of flowers). The term refers primarily to tall edifices characterized by their height, frequently used in military, urban, and cultic contexts in ancient Israelite society.

Semantic Range

tower (military or city watchtower), fortress, lookout post, elevated rostrum or platform, mound or raised structure (including a garden bed); figuratively, security or strength; part of place names signifying a prominent tower or elevated site

Root / Etymology

From the root גָּדַל (g-d-l), meaning 'to be great, grow, become strong or important, increase.' The noun מִגְדָּל (migdâl) is a derivative form indicating a place or object marked by prominence or elevation, developed specifically to refer to tall, upright structures. The feminine form מִגְדָּלָה (migdālâ) exists and is sometimes used in parallel or in place-names.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מִגְדָּל (migdâl) appears in both singular and plural (מִגְדָּלִים migdālîm; feminine מִגְדָּלוֹת migdālôt). In the biblical record, migdâl can refer to military fortifications (e.g., towers along city walls), stand-alone watchtowers in fields or wilderness (for shepherds or sentinels), and occasionally to prominent enclosed structures used for lookout or communication (such as signaling). In cultic poetry or metaphor, migdâl can take on the sense of security or strength ('tower of deliverance'). Sometimes, by analogy, it refers to an elevated rostrum or platform for public address, or (rarely and figuratively) to a pyramidal or mound-like raised bed in a garden. Throughout the monarchic period, migdâl identified key defensive installations in city architecture. In post-exilic usage, the term had become somewhat generalized for any prominent tower-like structure, and is preserved in various place names (e.g., Migdal-gad, Migdal-eder), which may indicate sites known for such features. Later English translations sometimes use 'castle' or 'fortress,' but the underlying Hebrew usually connotes the physical aspect (height, visibility) over the size or luxury implied by 'castle.' In the Septuagint, the translation typically uses πύργος (pyrgos, 'tower').

Translation Consistency

primary "tower" 36 occurrences

'Tower' is the most natural, common English noun that captures the primary sense of מִגְדָּל — a tall, elevated structure used for defense, watching, or signaling. It matches the majority of occurrences and easily covers related senses (watchtower, elevated platform, fortress-like prominence, place names, and figurative senses of strength) while remaining simple and consistent across all forms.

Alternatives (13 occurrences):
"elevated strong-tower" (7x) "elevated strong-tower of" (6x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

also (in plural) feminine מִגְדָּלָה; from גָּדַל; a tower (from its size or height); by analogy, a rostrum; figuratively, a (pyramidal) bed of flowers; castle, flower, tower. Compare the names following.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

גדל (gâdal) — to grow, to become great, to increase, to magnify, to boast

Root גדל to be great, become strong, grow
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1431 גָּדַל I will make great
H1432 גָּדֵל great-ones of
H1434 גְּדִל braided tassels
H1632 גָּרֹל mighty one of

Word Forms

17 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H4026-08 מִגְדָּ֣ל migedal HNcbsa tower elevated strong-tower elevated strong-tower 13
H4026-02 הַ/מִּגְדָּ֜ל hamigedal HTd/Ncbsa the tower the elevated tower the elevated tower 7
H4026-13 וּ/מִגְדָּל֙ umigedal HC/Ncbsa and the tower and tower and tower 5
H4026-06 כְּ/מִגְדַּ֤ל kemigedal HR/Ncbsc like-a-tower like a tower like a tower 3
H4026-10 מִגְדָּלִים֙ migedalim HNcbpa towers elevated towers elevated towers 3
H4026-12 מִ/מִּגְדַּ֥ל mimigedal HR/Ncbsc from watchtower from a tower of from a tower of 3
H4026-03 הַ/מִּגְדָּלִים֙ hamigedalim HTd/Ncbpa the towers the elevated towers the elevated towers 2
H4026-09 מִגְדָּלֶ֔י/הָ migedaleyha HNcbpc/Sp3fs her towers her towers her towers 2
H4026-14 וּ/מִגְדָּלִים֮ umigedalim HC/Ncbpa and towers and towers and towers 2
H4026-17 וְ/הַ/מִּגְדָּ֗ל vehamigedal HC/Td/Ncbsa and the tower and the tower and the tower 2

Occurrences in Scripture

49 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H4026-13 Genesis 11:4 וּ/מִגְדָּל֙ umigedal HC/Ncbsa and a tower and tower and tower
H4026-02 Genesis 11:5 הַ/מִּגְדָּ֑ל hamigedal HTd/Ncbsa the tower the elevated tower the elevated tower
H4026-02 Judges 8:9 הַ/מִּגְדָּ֥ל hamigedal HTd/Ncbsa the tower the elevated tower the elevated tower
H4026-08 Judges 8:17 מִגְדַּ֥ל migedal HNcbsc tower elevated strong-tower elevated strong-tower
H4026-08 Judges 9:46 מִֽגְדַּל migedal HNcbsc tower of elevated strong-tower elevated strong-tower of
H4026-08 Judges 9:47 מִֽגְדַּל migedal HNcbsc the tower of elevated strong-tower elevated strong-tower of
H4026-08 Judges 9:49 מִֽגְדַּל migedal HNcbsc tower elevated strong-tower elevated strong-tower of
H4026-13 Judges 9:51 וּ/מִגְדַּל umigedal HC/Ncbsc and-tower and tower and tower
H4026-02 Judges 9:51 הַ/מִּגְדָּֽל hamigedal HTd/Ncbsa the-tower the elevated tower the elevated tower
H4026-02 Judges 9:52 הַ/מִּגְדָּ֔ל hamigedal HTd/Ncbsa the tower the elevated tower the elevated tower
H4026-02 Judges 9:52 הַ/מִּגְדָּ֖ל hamigedal-2 HTd/Ncbsa of the tower the elevated tower the elevated tower
H4026-02 2 Kings 9:17 הַ/מִּגְדָּ֜ל hamigedal HTd/Ncbsa the tower the elevated tower the elevated tower
H4026-12 2 Kings 17:9 מִ/מִּגְדַּ֥ל mimigedal HR/Ncbsc from watchtower from a tower of from a tower of
H4026-12 2 Kings 18:8 מִ/מִּגְדַּ֥ל mimigedal HR/Ncbsc from watchtower from a tower of from a tower of
H4026-08 Isaiah 2:15 מִגְדָּ֣ל migedal HNcbsa tower elevated strong-tower elevated strong-tower
H4026-08 Isaiah 5:2 מִגְדָּל֙ migedal HNcbsa a tower elevated strong-tower elevated strong-tower
H4026-10 Isaiah 30:25 מִגְדָּלִֽים migedalim HNcbpa towers elevated towers elevated towers
H4026-03 Isaiah 33:18 הַ/מִּגְדָּלִֽים hamigedalim HTd/Ncbpa towers the elevated towers the elevated towers
H4026-12 Jeremiah 31:38 מִ/מִּגְדַּ֥ל mimigedal HR/Ncbsc from the tower from a tower of from the tower
H4026-09 Ezekiel 26:4 מִגְדָּלֶ֔י/הָ migedaleyha HNcbpc/Sp3fs towers-of-her her towers her towers
H4026-15 Ezekiel 26:9 וּ/מִ֨גְדְּלֹתַ֔יִ/ךְ umigedelotayikhe HC/Ncbpc/Sp2fs and-your-towers and your towers and your towers
H4026-01 Ezekiel 27:11 בְּ/מִגְדְּלוֹתַ֖יִ/ךְ bemigedelotayikhe HR/Ncbpc/Sp2fs in your towers in your towering-strongholds in your towers
H4026-08 Micah 4:8 מִגְדַּל migedal HNcbsc tower elevated strong-tower elevated strong-tower
H4026-13 Zechariah 14:10 וּ/מִגְדַּ֣ל umigedal HC/Ncbsc and from the tower and tower and from the tower
H4026-09 Psalms 48:13 מִגְדָּלֶֽי/הָ migedaleyha HNcbpc/Sp3fs her towers her towers her towers
H4026-08 Psalms 61:4 מִגְדַּל migedal HNcbsc a tower elevated strong-tower elevated strong-tower
H4026-08 Proverbs 18:10 מִגְדַּל migedal HNcbsc tower elevated strong-tower elevated strong-tower
H4026-06 Song of Songs 4:4 כְּ/מִגְדַּ֤ל kemigedal HR/Ncbsc like a tower like a tower like a tower
H4026-11 Song of Songs 5:13 מִגְדְּל֖וֹת migedelot HNcbpc towers towers of towers of
H4026-06 Song of Songs 7:5 כְּ/מִגְדַּ֣ל kemigedal HR/Ncbsc like-a-tower like a tower like a tower
H4026-06 Song of Songs 7:5 כְּ/מִגְדַּ֣ל kemigedal-2 HR/Ncbsc like-a-tower like a tower like a tower
H4026-05 Song of Songs 8:10 כַּ/מִּגְדָּל֑וֹת kamigedalot HRd/Ncbpa like towers like elevated towers like towers
H4026-08 Nehemiah 3:1 מִגְדַּ֤ל migedal HNcbsc tower elevated strong-tower elevated strong-tower of
H4026-08 Nehemiah 3:1 מִגְדַּ֥ל migedal-2 HNcbsc tower elevated strong-tower elevated strong-tower of
H4026-08 Nehemiah 3:11 מִגְדַּ֥ל migedal HNcbsc tower elevated strong-tower elevated strong-tower of
H4026-17 Nehemiah 3:25 וְ/הַ/מִּגְדָּ֗ל vehamigedal HC/Td/Ncbsa and the tower and the tower and the tower
H4026-17 Nehemiah 3:26 וְ/הַ/מִּגְדָּ֖ל vehamigedal HC/Td/Ncbsa and the tower and the tower and the tower
H4026-02 Nehemiah 3:27 הַ/מִּגְדָּ֤ל hamigedal HTd/Ncbsa the tower the elevated tower the elevated tower
H4026-08 Nehemiah 8:4 מִגְדַּל migedal HNcbsc pulpit elevated strong-tower elevated strong-tower
H4026-07 Nehemiah 12:38 לְ/מִגְדַּ֣ל lemigedal HR/Ncbsc to-tower to a tower of to the tower
H4026-13 Nehemiah 12:39 וּ/מִגְדַּ֤ל umigedal HC/Ncbsc and the tower and tower and tower
H4026-13 Nehemiah 12:39 וּ/מִגְדַּ֣ל umigedal-2 HC/Ncbsc and the tower and tower and tower
H4026-16 1 Chronicles 27:25 וּ/בַ/מִּגְדָּל֔וֹת uvamigedalot HC/Rd/Ncbpa and-in-towers and in the towers and in the towers
H4026-14 2 Chronicles 14:6 וּ/מִגְדָּלִים֮ umigedalim HC/Ncbpa and towers and towers and towers
H4026-10 2 Chronicles 26:9 מִגְדָּלִים֙ migedalim HNcbpa towers elevated towers elevated towers
H4026-10 2 Chronicles 26:10 מִגְדָּלִ֜ים migedalim HNcbpa towers elevated towers elevated towers
H4026-03 2 Chronicles 26:15 הַ/מִּגְדָּלִים֙ hamigedalim HTd/Ncbpa the towers the elevated towers the elevated towers
H4026-14 2 Chronicles 27:4 וּ/מִגְדָּלִֽים umigedalim HC/Ncbpa and towers and towers and towers
H4026-04 2 Chronicles 32:5 הַ/מִּגְדָּל֗וֹת hamigedalot HTd/Ncbpa the towers the elevated towers the elevated towers
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