מָצוֹר
ma.tsor (H4692)
siege
AI Word Study
# מָצוֹר (Siege): A Military and Metaphorical Term The Hebrew word מָצוֹר (matsór) denotes a siege—the military strategy of surrounding and isolating a fortified location to force its surrender. Appearing 25 times throughout the Bible, this term reflects a common military practice in the ancient Near East. The word carries a literal, concrete meaning rooted in ancient warfare tactics rather than abstract theological concepts. The frequency of this term across 25 biblical occurrences suggests that siege warfare was a significant reality in Israel's historical and literary experience. The word appears consistently enough to indicate that readers of biblical texts would have been familiar with siege conditions—the encirclement of cities, the cutting off of supplies, and the resulting hardship for those trapped within fortified walls. This prevalence underscores how central military conflict, particularly siege operations, was to the biblical narrative and Israel's understanding of its own history. The inclusion of this term in the biblical lexicon reflects the practical, military dimensions of ancient life. Whether describing actual historical sieges or serving as imagery in poetic and prophetic texts, מָצוֹר represents a word grounded in the material realities of ancient warfare rather than in purely religious or theological abstractions.
AI synthesis uses only provided lexicon data -- never training knowledge.
When you shall besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an ax against them; for you may eat of them. You shall not cut them down, for is the tree of the field man, that it should be besieged by you?
Only the trees that you know are not trees for food, you shall destroy and cut them down. You shall build bulwarks against the city that makes war with you, until it falls.
You will eat the fruit of your own body, the flesh of your sons and of your daughters, whom Yahweh your God has given you, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemies will distress you.
so that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he will eat, because he has nothing left to him, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemy will distress you in all your gates.
toward her young one who comes out from between her feet, and toward her children whom she bears; for she will eat them secretly for lack of all things in the siege and in the distress with which your enemy will distress you in your gates.
At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up to Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.
So the city was besieged until the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.
Also he built Beth Horon the upper and Beth Horon the lower, fortified cities, with walls, gates, and bars;
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.
Sennacherib king of Assyria says, “In whom do you trust, that you remain under siege in Jerusalem?
Praise be to Yahweh, for he has shown me his marvelous loving kindness in a strong city.
Who will bring me into the strong city? Who has led me to Edom?
Gather up your wares out of the land, you who live under siege.
I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters. They will each eat the flesh of his friend in the siege and in the distress, with which their enemies, and those who seek their life, will distress them.” ’
So the city was besieged to the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.
Lay siege against it, build forts against it, and cast up a mound against it. Also set camps against it and plant battering rams against it all around.
Take for yourself an iron pan, and set it for a wall of iron between you and the city. Then set your face toward it. It will be besieged, and you shall lay siege against it. This shall be a sign to the house of Israel.
You shall set your face toward the siege of Jerusalem, with your arm uncovered; and you shall prophesy against it.
Behold, I put ropes on you, and you shall not turn yourself from one side to the other, until you have accomplished the days of your siege.
A third part you shall burn in the fire in the middle of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled. You shall take a third part, and strike with the sword around it. A third part you shall scatter to the wind, and I will draw out a sword after them.
Now you shall gather yourself in troops, daughter of troops. He has laid siege against us. They will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek.
Draw water for the siege. Strengthen your fortresses. Go into the clay, and tread the mortar. Make the brick kiln strong.
I will stand at my watch, and set myself on the ramparts, and will look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.
Tyre built herself a stronghold, and heaped up silver like the dust, and fine gold like the mire of the streets.
“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of reeling to all the surrounding peoples, and it will also be on Judah in the siege against Jerusalem.