metsura · fortification, stronghold

What it means

metsura (מְצוּרָה) is a Hebrew word of the Bible that means “fortification, stronghold”.

Fortress, fortification: a place protected with walls to withstand an attack. "Fortified cities" are cities with such defenses; also a siege work.

How to say it

Approximate pronunciation. Vowels sound as in Spanish (a as in father, e as in bed, i as in machine, o as in note, u as in rule); the syllable in bold is stressed. The voice is your device's.

Its senses in the Bible

1. What is built to attack a city's walls, such as siegeworks.
2. A city guarded by walls, a protected place.

From Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906)

How it is translated

The words this translation uses for it, most frequent first.

• fortified ×5
• fortification ×1
• fortresses ×1
• siege works ×1

Where it appears

• 2 Chronicles×6
• Isaiah×1
• Nahum×1

• 2 Chronicles 11:10

  Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin, fortified cities.

• 2 Chronicles 11:11

  He strengthened the fortresses and put in them leaders, and stores of food, oil, and wine.

• 2 Chronicles 11:23

  He acted with understanding and distributed all his sons through all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to all the fortified cities, and he gave them provisions in abundance, and he asked for a multitude of wives for them.

• 2 Chronicles 12:4

  He captured the fortified cities that belonged to Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.

• 2 Chronicles 14:6

  He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land was quiet, and there was no war against him in those years, because YHWH had given him rest.

• 2 Chronicles 21:3

  Their father gave them many gifts of silver and of gold and of precious things, with fortified cities in Judah; but the kingdom he gave to Joram, because he was the firstborn.

• Isaiah 29:3

  And I will encamp in a circle against you, and I will besiege you with a guard post, and I will raise against you siege works.

• Nahum 2:1

  The scatterer has come up against you; guard the fortification; watch the road; strengthen your waist; make strong your power greatly.