Lexical Summary ochuróma: Stronghold, fortress Original Word: ὀχύρωμα Strong's Exhaustive Concordance stronghold. From a remote derivative of echo (meaning to fortify, through the idea of holding safely); a castle (figuratively, argument) -- stronghold. see GREEK echo HELPS Word-studies 3794 o [3794 (oxýrōma) is also used for a prison in antiquity (BAGD). "The word is not common in Classical Greek, but occurs frequently in the Apocrypha. In its use here there may lie a reminiscence of the rock-forts on the coast of Paul's native Cilicia, which were pulled down by the Romans in their attacks on the Cilician pirates. Pompey inflicted a crushing defeat upon their navy off the rocky stronghold of Coracesium on the confines of Cilicia and Pisidia" (WS, 833).] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ochuroó (to fortify) Definition a stronghold, fortress NASB Translation fortresses (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3794: ὀχύρωμαὀχύρωμα, ὀχυρώματος, τό (ὀχυρόω (to make strong, to fortify)); 1. properly, a castle, stronghold, fortress, fastness, the Sept. for מִבְצָר, etc.; very often in 1 and 2 Macc.; Xenophon, Hellen. 3, 2, 3. 2. tropically, anything on which one relies: καθεῖλε τό ὀχύρωμα, ἐφ' ᾧ ἐπεποίθεισαν, Proverbs 21:22; ὀχύρωμα ὁσίου φόβος κυρίου, Proverbs 10:29; in 2 Corinthians 10:4 of the arguments and reasonings by which a disputant endeavors to fortify his opinion and defend it against his opponent. Topical Lexicon Definition and Conceptual Background A stronghold is a fortified place designed for protection against attack. In Scripture, fortresses symbolize both physical security and spiritual or intellectual bastions that resist God’s rule (Psalm 18:2; Nahum 3:12). When Paul employs the term in 2 Corinthians 10:4, the imagery shifts from masonry walls to entrenched patterns of thought that exalt themselves against Christ. Biblical Usage The noun appears a single time in the New Testament, 2 Corinthians 10:4, where Paul writes: “The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” (Berean Standard Bible). Even though the vocabulary is rare, the concept is woven throughout Scripture under related metaphors such as “fortress,” “tower,” and “prison” (Proverbs 18:10; Isaiah 42:7; Luke 4:18). Context in 2 Corinthians 10:4 Paul is defending his apostolic authority against opponents who boasted in outward credentials and persuasive rhetoric. By referring to “strongholds,” he characterizes their pretensions as fortified structures built on human wisdom (2 Corinthians 10:5). The true warfare is ideological and spiritual. The apostle’s “weapons” include the proclamation of the gospel, reliance on the Spirit, prayer, and the authority granted by Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3; Ephesians 6:17–18). Intertestamental and Cultural Background Corinth sat near the Acrocorinth, a massive citadel guarding the city. Paul’s readers lived under the visual reminder of an impregnable fortress. In Greco-Roman military language, taking a stronghold demanded strategy, discipline, and superior power. By claiming “divine power,” Paul declares that only God’s might can breach spiritual fortifications. Theological Significance 1. Total Sufficiency of Divine Weapons: Human ingenuity cannot free captives from deception; only the Spirit-empowered gospel can. Practical Implications for Ministry • Preaching and Teaching: Sound doctrine dismantles false ideologies that enslave. Related Biblical Themes • Armor of God – Ephesians 6:10–18. Historic Christian Exegesis Early fathers like Chrysostom saw the passage as a rebuke to sophistry; Reformation commentators emphasized Scripture over tradition; modern evangelical scholarship highlights worldview transformation. Throughout, the consensus is that spiritual strongholds are ideological more than demonic locales, though demonic influence is not excluded (1 Timothy 4:1). Application in Personal Discipleship Believers identify and confess thought-patterns that obstruct obedience—fear, bitterness, false identity—and apply Scriptural truth through meditation, fellowship, and Spirit-led obedience. The demolition is ongoing until every thought is “made obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Summary Strongholds represent fortified systems of thought opposed to God. Though referenced only once in the Greek New Testament, the term captures a perennial biblical theme: God empowers His people to penetrate and dismantle every barrier to the lordship of Jesus Christ through the Spirit-enabled use of the Word, prayer, and obedient faith. Forms and Transliterations οχύρωμα οχύρωμά οχυρώμασι οχυρώμασί οχυρώμασιν οχυρώματα οχυρώματά οχυρώματι οχυρώματος οχυρωματων οχυρωμάτων ὀχυρωμάτων ochuromaton ochurōmatōn ochyromaton ochyromáton ochyrōmatōn ochyrōmátōnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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