Original Word: מִבְצָר
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Mibtsar
Pronunciation: MIB-tsar
Phonetic Spelling: (mib-tsawr')
KJV: Mibzar
NASB: Mibzar
Word Origin: [the same as H4013 (מִבצָּר מִבצָּרָה - fortified)]

1. Mibtsar, an Idumaean

Mibzar

The same as mibtsar; Mibtsar, an Idumaean -- Mibzar.

see HEBREW mibtsar

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
an Edomite chief
NASB Translation
Mibzar (2).

II. מִבְצָר proper name, masculine Edomite chief Genesis 36:42 = 1 Chronicles 1:53; A ᵐ5^L Μαζαρ, A (in Chronicles) Μαβσαρ; — on proper name, of a location Mabsar (Onom.^{277, 63; 137, 11}) compare Buhl^{Edom. 38}).

[מִבְרָח] see ברח. מִבְשָׂם see בשׂם.

[מְבֻשִׁים] see בושׁ. מְבַשְּׁלוֺת see בשׁל.

Meaning in Context

The personal name מִבְצָר (Mibzar) is built from the same Hebrew root that often denotes a fortified stronghold. When applied to an individual, the name evokes the idea of a “fortress-like one,” suggesting either personal strength or a family associated with a secure location. In the patriarchal world of Edom, names frequently conveyed social identity and projected leadership qualities, making “Mibzar” an apt designation for a tribal chief whose clan likely occupied or controlled a strategic defensive site.

Biblical Occurrences

Genesis 36:42 and its parallel in 1 Chronicles 1:53 place Mibzar among the chiefs (ʾallûp) of Edom descended from Esau. The Berean Standard Bible reads, “Chief Kenaz, Chief Teman, Chief Mibzar.” Though the text offers no narrative about him, the repetition in both the Torah and the Chronicler’s genealogical record underscores his recognized standing in Edomite society.

Historical Setting

The Edomite list in Genesis 36 documents a transition from patriarchal households to settled chiefs who ruled over districts rather than nomadic encampments. Archaeological surveys of southern Jordan reveal numerous Iron Age fortifications perched on sandstone ridges; such sites illustrate why a clan might adopt (or be given) a name linked to a fortress. Mibzar’s generation would have lived centuries before Israel’s monarchy, yet his people retained sufficient cohesion to be remembered when the Chronicler revisited Israel’s and Edom’s early histories after the exile.

Relation to Esau and the Edomite Chiefs

Edom’s chiefs collectively represent the fulfillment of Genesis 25:23, where Rebekah was told, “two nations are in your womb.” Mibzar’s inclusion shows how rapidly Esau’s descendants matured into a confederation of district leaders. While the line of promise ran through Jacob, Scripture still records Esau’s lineage to demonstrate God’s faithfulness to His word concerning both brothers. The chronicling of Edomite chiefs also functions as a backdrop against which later conflicts (for example, Numbers 20:14-21; Obadiah 10-14) must be read. Knowing that figures like Mibzar once governed formidable enclaves highlights why Edom could feel invulnerable—an attitude the prophets would later confront.

Theological and Prophetic Implications

The very name “fortress” invites comparison with the true refuge found in the LORD alone: “The LORD is my fortress” (Psalm 18:2). Edom’s rocky citadels fostered confidence in human defenses, yet Obadiah warns, “Though you make your home in the clefts of the rocks… I will bring you down” (Obadiah 3-4). Mibzar, as a historical reminder of Edom’s strongholds, foreshadows this prophetic critique: earthly fortresses, however imposing, cannot withstand divine judgment.

Ministry Applications

1. Security’s true source: Like Mibzar’s clan, believers may be tempted to equate safety with visible structures—wealth, status, or institutions. Scripture redirects trust to the Lord, the only impregnable refuge.
2. Genealogies and divine faithfulness: The appearance of Mibzar in parallel genealogies encourages confidence that God oversees history meticulously; not one person or promise is overlooked.
3. Loving adversaries: Remembering that Edom sprang from the same patriarchal house as Israel challenges Christians to view present-day opponents through the lens of shared humanity and God’s redemptive plan.

Key References for Further Study

Genesis 36:40-43; 1 Chronicles 1:51-54; Psalm 18:2; Obadiah 3-4; Numbers 20:14-21.

מִבְצָֽר׃ מבצר׃ miḇ·ṣār miḇṣār mivTzarInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts