מַסָּח
𐤌𐤎𐤇
maççâch
H4535 adverb
SILEX Entry
Definition
A military barrier or defensive work—specifically, a cordon, rampart, or wall of fortification built to stave off, restrain, or enclose, typically as a siege construct or protective enclosure. In some contexts, the term refers to the physical structure erected during military operations, or more generally to an enclosing defense around a position.
Semantic Range
cordon, rampart, military barrier, defensive work, siege enclosure; by extension—enclosure, barrier
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root נסח (nasach), whose core meaning is 'to remove, tear away, withdraw.' The noun מַסָּח (maṣṣāḥ) denotes something used to separate or cordon off, hence a military barrier or cordon. While the root commonly carries the nuance of removal, the noun's semantic development came to refer specifically to structures set up as boundaries or barriers, often in military contexts.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term מַסָּח appears in a military context in the Hebrew Bible, notably in Isaiah 23:11, where it refers to a defensive work ('rampart' or 'bastion'). The underlying concept is an artificially erected boundary intended to restrain movement into or out of a protected place. This use reflects siege warfare practices in the ancient Near East, where armies would construct barriers or ramparts encircling target cities. מַסָּח is distinct from related terms such as חוֹמָה ('wall') or מָצוֹר ('siegework'), emphasizing the function of surrounding for separation, not simply a permanent city wall. Later translations sometimes rendered it as 'fence' or 'fortification,' and in some English Bibles (e.g., KJV), as 'stronghold' or 'fort.' The sense of being 'broken down' in some translations refers to the removal or breaching of such a barrier, but this is a derived sense, not the core meaning of the word. The term is rare and does not carry religious significance, nor does it refer to a permanent architectural feature, but specifically denotes a military or temporary defensive measure.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from נָסַח in the sense of staving off; a cordon, (adverbially) or (as a) military barrier; broken down.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נסח (n-s-ḥ) — remove, withdraw, tear away, separate
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5255 | נָסַח | and you will be forcibly uprooted |
| H5256 | נְסַח | he will uproot himself |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4535-01 |
מַסָּֽח | masach | HD |
for-defense | as a defensive cordon | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4535-01 |
2 Kings 11:6 | מַסָּֽח | masach | HD |
for-defense | as a defensive cordon |