Original Word: מָצוּק
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: matsuwq
Pronunciation: maw-tsooq'
Phonetic Spelling: (maw-tsook')
KJV: pillar, situate
NASB: pillars, rose
Word Origin: [from H6693 (צּוּק - oppress)]

1. something narrow, i.e. a column or hilltop

pillar, situate

Or matsuq {maw-tsook'}; from tsuwq; something narrow, i.e. A column or hilltop -- pillar, situate.

see HEBREW tsuwq

Word Origin
from tsuq
Definition
molten support, pillar
NASB Translation
pillars (1), rose (1).

[מָצוּק] noun masculine molten support, pillar; — plural construct מְצֻקֵי אֶרֶץ 1 Samuel 2:8 the supports of the earth are ׳יs; — מָצוּק 1 Samuel 14:5 ('as a pillar,' 'steep,' etc.) is difficult (compare HPS); strike out with ᵐ5 Th Dr Bu.

I. צור (√of following; compare possibly Arabic () cause to incline, learn; Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew (rare), so Aramaic (compare Kö^{ii.1, 90}), צַוְּרָא).

Definition and Scope

מָצוּק (matsuq) denotes a fixed, massive, and often precipitous structure such as a crag, cliff, or foundational pillar. The word conveys weight, durability, and immovability—qualities that illustrate both the literal geology of the land and the figurative stability supplied by God.

Occurrences and Historical Setting

1 Samuel 2:8 appears in Hannah’s song, where she celebrates the Lord’s exaltation of the lowly: “For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and on them He has set the world”. The term pictures the earth as resting on immovable supports belonging to God alone.

1 Samuel 14:5 sets matsuq in the rugged topography surrounding Michmash and Geba during Jonathan’s surprise attack on the Philistine outpost. Two opposing cliffs—one of them designated by matsuq—frame the narrow pass, highlighting both the natural fortification of the region and Jonathan’s courageous faith.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Ownership of Creation
• The “pillars of the earth” emphasize that the planet’s stability is neither random nor autonomous; it is God-anchored. Matsuq supplies a concrete image of the Lord’s sustaining power, reinforcing doctrines of creation and providence (Psalm 24:1).
2. Reversal of Human Status
• Hannah’s usage links the security symbolized by matsuq with God’s ability to lift the poor from the dust and to seat them with princes. The same God who laid earth’s foundations can overturn social strata.
3. Strategic Strongholds
• In 1 Samuel 14 the cliff functions tactically. Jonathan’s maneuver demonstrates that human strength is not in terrain or numbers but in reliance on the Lord who “is not restrained to save by many or by few” (1 Samuel 14:6). Matsuq therefore becomes a stage for faith rather than a mere geological obstacle.

Historical and Geographical Insights

The Michmash pass is a narrow gorge in the central highlands of Benjamin. Steep rock faces run roughly north-south, forcing travelers through restricted channels easily defendable by occupying forces. Archaeological surveys confirm the presence of sheer limestone formations consistent with the narrative. The readability of matsuq as “crag” fits both modern topography and ancient military strategy.

Practical and Ministry Implications

• Assurance of God’s Stability: Believers facing uncertainty may turn to matsuq imagery to recall that the same God who upholds the planet upholds their lives (Isaiah 54:10).
• Courage in Spiritual Warfare: Jonathan’s ascent invites Christians to scale their own “cliffs” of opposition in dependence on the Lord’s power rather than on favorable circumstances (Ephesians 6:10-13).
• Social Justice Rooted in Theology: Hannah’s song warns against arrogance and motivates care for the marginalized, grounding ethics in the unshakable character of God.

Christological and Eschatological Connections

New Testament writers present Jesus Christ as both the “cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20) and the Rock that accompanied Israel (1 Corinthians 10:4). Matsuq foreshadows this imagery: a steadfast, God-given foundation upon which salvation history rests. Revelation’s vision of a new heaven and earth built upon divine faithfulness ultimately fulfills the stabilizing symbolism introduced by matsuq.

Key References

1 Samuel 2:8; 1 Samuel 14:5; Psalm 24:1; Isaiah 54:10; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 10:4; Revelation 21:1.

מְצֻ֣קֵי מָצ֥וּק מצוק מצקי mā·ṣūq māṣūq maTzuk mə·ṣu·qê məṣuqê meTzukeiInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts