Original Word: מִבְצָר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: mibtsar
Pronunciation: mib-TSAHR / mib-tsa-RAH
Phonetic Spelling: (mib-tsawr')
KJV: (de-, most) fenced, fortress, (most) strong (hold)
NASB: fortified, strongholds, fortifications, fortress, besieged, fortified cities, fortified city
Word Origin: [from H1219 (בָּצַר - fortified)]

1. a fortification, castle, or fortified city
2. (figuratively) a defender

most fenced, fortress, most strong hold

Also (in plural) feminine (Dan. 11:15) mibtsarah {mib-tsaw-raw'}; from batsar; a fortification, castle, or fortified city; figuratively, a defender -- (de-, most) fenced, fortress, (most) strong (hold).

see HEBREW 'abeh

see HEBREW batsar

Word Origin
from batsar
Definition
fortification
NASB Translation
besieged (1), fortifications (5), fortified (17), fortified cities (1), fortified city (1), fortress (3), fortresses (1), strongest (1), strongholds (6), tester (1), well-fortified (1).

מִבְצָר noun masculine^{Isaiah 17:3} fortification — מִבְצָר Numbers 32:71 18t.; construct מִבְצַר Joshua 19:29 2t.; plural מִבְצָרִים Numbers 13:19; Daniel 11:24; מִבְצָרוֺת Daniel 11:15; מִבְצְרֵי Lamentations 2:2; Daniel 11:39; suffix מִבְצָרֶיךָ Hosea 10:14 2t.; מִבְצָרַיִךְ Nahum 3:12; מִבְצָרָ֑יִךְ Nahum 3:14; Jeremiah 48:18; מִבְצָרָיו Psalm 89:41; Lamentations 2:5; מִבְצָרֶיהָ Isaiah 34:13; מִבְצְרֵיהֶם 2 Kings 8:12; — fortification, especially in phrase ׅ׳(המ ׳עיר (ערי) מ = fortified city Numbers 32:17,36; Joshua 10:20; Joshua 19:29,35; 1 Samuel 6:18; 2 Kings 3:19; 2 Kings 10:2; 2 Kings 17:9; 2 Kings 18:8; Jeremiah 4:5; Jeremiah 5:17; Jeremiah 8:14; Jeremiah 34:7; Psalm 108:11 (׳עיר מ = עיר מָצוֺר Psalm 60:11), 2Chronicles 17:19; Daniel 11:15 (׳מ in this connection singular except Jeremiah 5:17 & Daniel 11:15 (מבצרות)); Jeremiah 1:18 figurative of prophet, so without עיר Jeremiah 6:27; fortress, stronghold, literal without עיר etc. Numbers 13:19; 2 Kings 8:12; Jeremiah 48:18; Isaiah 17:3; Isaiah 25:12 (משׁגב חומתיך ׳מ) Isaiah 34:13 ("" ארמנת), Lamentations 2:2,5 ("" id.) Psalm 89:41; Hosea 10:14; Amos 5:9; Micah 5:10; Nahum 3:12,14; Habakkuk 1:10; Daniel 11:24,39; followed by proper name צֹד ׳מ 2 Samuel 24:7 (compare Joshua 19:29 צֹר ׳עיר מ).

בַּקְבּוק, בַּקְבֻּק see below בקק.

Scope and Distribution

מִבְצָר appears about thirty-seven times, stretching from the Pentateuch (Numbers 13:19) through the historical narratives (1 Kings, 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles) and into the Major and Minor Prophets (Jeremiah, Amos, Nahum, et al.). The word denotes a fortress, stronghold, or any place rendered inaccessible by design or topography. Its occurrences trace Israel’s military history, expose the folly of misplaced trust, and supply rich figures for divine protection and prophetic confrontation.

Fortifications in the Conquest Era

Before Israel ever crossed the Jordan, the spies assessed Canaanite defenses: “Are the cities in which they dwell open camps or fortifications?” (Numbers 13:19). Deuteronomy twice underscores the same reality (Deuteronomy 3:5; 28:52). These early uses highlight the formidable human barriers Israel would meet—and the greater necessity of trusting the LORD rather than engineering.

Royal Building Projects

After the nation settled in the land, kings fortified strategic locations to consolidate power and guard trade routes. Rehoboam fortified fifteen Judean sites (2 Chronicles 11:5-12). Jehoshaphat “built fortresses and store cities in Judah” (2 Chronicles 17:12). Uzziah, Jotham, and Hezekiah followed suit. Such building campaigns reflect prudence, yet Scripture never presents them as substitutes for covenant loyalty. When Hezekiah trusted the LORD, fortified Jerusalem held (2 Kings 19); when later kings relied on walls without repentance, the same walls crumbled before Babylon (Jeremiah 34:7).

Assyrian and Babylonian Sieges

The eighth-century advance of Assyria marks a turning point. “Sennacherib…captured all the fortified cities of Judah” (2 Kings 18:13). Prophets interpret these events theologically: fortresses fall because covenant breakers lose divine protection. Jeremiah pictures Babylon’s warriors retreating to their fortresses only to find them useless (Jeremiah 51:30). Nahum ridicules Nineveh, whose “fortresses are fig trees with first-ripe figs” that drop at a touch (Nahum 3:12).

Prophetic Metaphors and Warnings

Prophets often move from literal strongholds to figurative critique:
• Amos 3:11: “An adversary will surround the land… and plunder your fortresses.”
• Amos 6:8: The LORD detests “the citadels of Jacob,” a symbol of pride.

Here מִבְצָר becomes shorthand for self-sufficiency; when hearts grow hard, walls become prisons of judgment rather than shelters.

A Symbol of God-Given Resilience

The same term can portray divinely granted stamina. In Jeremiah’s commissioning, the LORD promises, “I have made you a fortified city” (Jeremiah 1:18). The prophet himself becomes an impregnable bastion, not by masonry but by the word of God. This inversion—man as fortress rather than a fortress for man—exalts spiritual over material security.

Theological Themes

1. Human Protection Is Conditional. Fortresses provide real safety only when accompanied by covenant fidelity.
2. Divine Sovereignty over Military Might. God grants or removes security; walls are no match for His decree.
3. Spiritual Fortification. Obedience, truth, and faith are stronger bulwarks than stone (cf. Psalm 18:2, though employing a different Hebrew word).
4. Eschatological Overtones. Prophetic oracles against arrogant “strongholds” prefigure final judgment on proud human structures opposing God’s kingdom.

Ministry Implications

• Leadership: Wise planning is not opposed to faith, yet leaders must keep dependence vertical, not merely structural.
• Preaching: The image of מִבְצָר offers a vivid call to repent of misplaced trust—be it in wealth, technology, or institutions.
• Pastoral Care: Believers embattled by persecution can draw comfort from Jeremiah’s example; God makes His servants “fortified cities” by His presence.
• Discipleship: Encourage spiritual disciplines that build inner ramparts—Scripture meditation, prayer, and fellowship.

Selected Key References

Numbers 13:19; Deuteronomy 3:5; Deuteronomy 28:52; Judges 6:2; 2 Kings 18:13; 2 Chronicles 17:12; Jeremiah 1:18; Jeremiah 34:7; Jeremiah 48:18; Jeremiah 51:30; Amos 3:9-11; Amos 6:8; Nahum 3:12.

Conclusion

מִבְצָר charts a trajectory from tangible Canaanite citadels to spiritual realities fulfilled in lives fortified by God. Stone walls collapse, but hearts established in the Lord stand fast forever.

בְּמִבְצָרִֽים׃ בְּמִבְצָרֶ֑יהָ במבצריה במבצרים׃ הַמִּבְצָ֔ר הַמִּבְצָ֖ר הַמִּבְצָֽר׃ המבצר המבצר׃ וּמִבְצַ֞ר ומבצר לְמִבְצְרֵ֤י למבצרי מִבְצְרֵ֥י מִבְצְרֵיהֶ֞ם מִבְצַר־ מִבְצָ֑ר מִבְצָ֔ר מִבְצָ֖ר מִבְצָ֜ר מִבְצָ֣ר מִבְצָ֥ר מִבְצָֽר׃ מִבְצָר֑וֹת מִבְצָר֙ מִבְצָרִ֛ים מִבְצָרֶ֗יךָ מִבְצָרֶ֣יךָ מִבְצָרֶֽיךָ׃ מִבְצָרַ֔יִךְ מִבְצָרָ֑יִךְ מִבְצָרָ֑יו מִבְצָרָ֣יו מִבְצָרָֽיִךְ׃ מבצר מבצר־ מבצר׃ מבצרות מבצרי מבצריהם מבצריו מבצריך מבצריך׃ מבצרים bə·miḇ·ṣā·re·hā bə·miḇ·ṣā·rîm bəmiḇṣārehā bəmiḇṣārîm bemivtzaReiha bemivtzaRim ham·miḇ·ṣār hammiḇṣār hammivTzar lə·miḇ·ṣə·rê ləmiḇṣərê lemivtzeRei miḇ·ṣā·ra·yiḵ miḇ·ṣā·rā·yiḵ miḇ·ṣā·rāw miḇ·ṣā·re·ḵā miḇ·ṣā·rîm miḇ·ṣā·rō·wṯ miḇ·ṣār miḇ·ṣar- miḇ·ṣə·rê miḇ·ṣə·rê·hem miḇṣār miḇṣar- miḇṣārāw miḇṣārayiḵ miḇṣārāyiḵ miḇṣāreḵā miḇṣārîm miḇṣārōwṯ miḇṣərê miḇṣərêhem mivTzar mivtzaRav mivtzaRayich mivtzaReicha mivtzaRim mivtzaRot mivtzeRei mivtzereiHem ū·miḇ·ṣar ūmiḇṣar umivTzarInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts