### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **maçgêr**, represented by `{{H4525}}`, is derived from a root meaning to shut up or enclose. Its definition as a **fastener** gives rise to two distinct meanings in scripture: a **prison**, a place of confinement, or a **smith**, a person who works with and fastens metal. It appears **7 times** across **7 unique verses**, with the specific meaning determined entirely by its context.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical usage, `{{H4525}}` carries both a literal and a metaphorical weight. In the historical accounts of the Babylonian exile, it refers to skilled artisans. Nebuchadnezzar is recorded as carrying away the craftsmen and **smiths** from Jerusalem, a strategic act to cripple the nation's ability to forge weapons or rebuild ([[2 Kings 24:14]]; [[Jeremiah 24:1]]; [[Jeremiah 29:2]]). In prophetic and poetic contexts, `{{H4525}}` signifies a **prison**. It is used metaphorically for a state of spiritual bondage in Isaiah, where the Lord's servant is tasked to bring prisoners from the **prison** [[Isaiah 42:7]]. Similarly, the psalmist cries out, "Bring my soul out of **prison**" [[Psalms 142:7]], illustrating a state of deep personal distress and confinement.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words illuminate the core concepts of confinement and liberation associated with `{{H4525}}`:
* `{{H5462}}` **çâgar** (to shut up): This primitive root is the direct source for `{{H4525}}`. It means to close up, deliver up, or inclose, and is used to describe God delivering enemies into Israel's hand [[Deuteronomy 32:30]] or shutting people up in a prison [[Isaiah 24:22]].
* `{{H1540}}` **gâlâh** (to exile): This root, meaning to denude or carry into captivity, is used in the very verses that list the **smiths** `{{H4525}}` among those exiled to Babylon ([[2 Kings 24:14]]; [[Jeremiah 24:1]]). It also has a figurative meaning of "to reveal" [[Isaiah 53:1]].
* `{{H3318}}` **yâtsâʼ** (to go out): This word, meaning to bring out or go forth, is frequently paired with `{{H4525}}` in passages about liberation. It describes the act of bringing prisoners **out** of the prison [[Isaiah 42:7]] and bringing a soul **out** of a state of confinement [[Psalms 142:7]].
* `{{H3608}}` **keleʼ** (prison): This term for a prison is used in parallel with `{{H4525}}` in [[Isaiah 42:7]], where the mission is to free those in darkness from the "**prison** house."
### Theological Significance
The dual meaning of `{{H4525}}` carries significant thematic weight.
* **The Value of Skilled Labor:** The specific mention of **smiths** being exiled underscores their importance to a nation's strength and sovereignty. Their removal signifies a complete and strategic dismantling of Judah's society by Babylon [[2 Kings 24:16]].
* **Spiritual Captivity:** As a **prison**, the word serves as a powerful metaphor for sin, despair, and spiritual darkness. It represents a state from which humanity cannot free itself, as seen in the gathering of prisoners to be "shut up in the **prison**" [[Isaiah 24:22]].
* **Divine Liberation:** The use of `{{H4525}}` is often linked to a promise of divine intervention and freedom. God's power is shown in His ability to "bring out the prisoners from the **prison**" [[Isaiah 42:7]], turning a symbol of hopelessness into an occasion for demonstrating His redemptive might.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4525}}` is a multifaceted word that illustrates how a single term can denote both a skilled artisan, the **smith**, and a place of confinement, the **prison**. Its meaning is drawn from the root concept of enclosing or fastening. In historical narratives, it points to the crippling loss of national assets during the exile, while in prophetic literature, it becomes a potent symbol for spiritual bondage and the corresponding hope of God's powerful deliverance.
TRV