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מָצוֹד

𐤌𐤑𐤅𐤃

mâtsôwd

H4685 noun

SILEX Entry

Root צוד to hunt, to catch, to lie in wait, to snare

Definition

A device or structure designed for capturing or restraining, most often referring to a net or trap used for animals or fish, but sometimes metaphorically to a stronghold, fortress, or place of security or entrapment. The word's use may denote both the means of capture (e.g., net, snare) and a place of fortification (e.g., stronghold, fortress).

Semantic Range

net, snare, trap, device for catching animals or fish, stronghold, fortress, place of security, besieged place

Root / Etymology

Root: צוד (ts-w-d), meaning 'to hunt, lie in wait, catch.' מָצוֹד and its variants derive from this root, indicating something used in the act of hunting or catching—originally a snare or net and, by extension, a fortified place for trapping or defense. The feminine forms מְצוֹדָה or מצֹדָה reflect standard Hebrew patterns for place-nouns or implements. Occasionally, by interchange with מְצַד (metzad), the term expands to mean a stronghold or fortress—a semantic broadening likely influenced by similar-sounding terms and overlapping ideas of security or entrapment.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מָצוֹד is a relatively rare term in the Hebrew Bible, appearing primarily in poetic or metaphorical passages. While its most direct meaning relates to a literal net or snare used in hunting, prophetic and poetic books sometimes use the term for places of refuge or fortification, perhaps due to the phonetic and conceptual closeness with מְצָד or מְצוּדָה, which refer to strongholds and fortresses. English translations vary, sometimes emphasizing the physical 'net', other times the defensive or besieging structure based on the context. The overlap with מְצָד is significant for interpretation, as the words are not always clearly distinguished in some textual traditions. Later Jewish literature and Greek Septuagint translation sometimes favor fortress or stronghold, influencing interpretive traditions. The word should be distinguished from other Hebrew terms for net or snare (such as רֶשֶׁת, pach, mocesh), as well as from primary words for fortress (מְצָד, מְצוּדָה). In terms of historical development, the sense of net or snare likely predates the metaphorical use as stronghold.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (feminine) מְצוֹדָה; or מצֹדָה; from צוּד; also (by interchange for מְצַד); a net (for capturing animals or fishes); afastness or (beseiging) tower; bulwark, hold, munition, net, snare.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

צוד (ṣ-w-d) — to hunt, to catch, to lie in wait, to snare

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4679 מְצַד in the mountain stronghold
H6679 צוּד will you hunt?
H6718 צַיִד hunted-game of
H6721 צִידוֹן to Tsidon the Fishing-Town

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4685-04 מְצוֹדִ֧ים metsodim HNcbpa siegeworks hunting-traps 2
H4685-05 וּ/מְצֹ֣דָתָ֔/הּ umetsodatah HC/Ncfsc/Sp3fs and her stronghold and her snare 1
H4685-01 בַּ/מְּצֹד֔וֹת bametsodot HRd/Ncfpa into strongholds in the hunting-nets 1
H4685-02 בִּ/מְצוֹדָ֣ה bimetsodah HR/Ncfsa in a net in a hunting-trap 1
H4685-03 מְצ֣וֹד metsod HNcbsc the net hunting-snare of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4685-05 Isaiah 29:7 וּ/מְצֹ֣דָתָ֔/הּ umetsodatah HC/Ncfsc/Sp3fs and her stronghold and her snare
H4685-01 Ezekiel 19:9 בַּ/מְּצֹד֔וֹת bametsodot HRd/Ncfpa into strongholds in the hunting-nets
H4685-03 Proverbs 12:12 מְצ֣וֹד metsod HNcbsc the net hunting-snare of
H4685-04 Ecclesiastes 7:26 מְצוֹדִ֧ים metsodim HNcbpa hunting-traps
H4685-02 Ecclesiastes 9:12 בִּ/מְצוֹדָ֣ה bimetsodah HR/Ncfsa in a net in a hunting-trap
H4685-04 Ecclesiastes 9:14 מְצוֹדִ֥ים metsodim HNcmpa siegeworks hunting-traps
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