or (feminine) מְצוֹדָה; or מצֹדָה; from צוּד; also (by interchange for מְצַד); a net (for capturing animals or fishes); afastness or (beseiging) tower; bulwark, hold, munition, net, snare.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mâtsôwd**, represented by `{{H4685}}`, carries a dual meaning related to both capture and defense. It is defined as a **net** for capturing animals, but also as a **fastness**, **bulwark**, **hold**, or **munition**. Appearing just **6 times** in **6 unique verses**, its usage illustrates two distinct concepts: the act of ensnaring and the structures of military power.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In scripture, `{{H4685}}` is used in both literal and figurative ways. It describes a literal **net** for catching fish to illustrate how humans can be suddenly caught in calamity [[Ecclesiastes 9:12]]. Figuratively, it represents moral and spiritual danger, as when the heart of a treacherous woman is described as **snares** [[Ecclesiastes 7:26]] or when the wicked desire the **net** of evil men [[Proverbs 12:12]]. In a military context, `{{H4685}}` refers to defensive structures like the **munition** of a city under attack [[Isaiah 29:7]] and the **bulwarks** built during a siege [[Ecclesiastes 9:14]]. It is also used to describe a place of confinement, as when a captured king is brought into **holds** [[Ezekiel 19:9]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the contexts in which `{{H4685}}` is used:
* `{{H3920}}` **lâkad**: Meaning **to catch (in a net, trap or pit)**, this verb directly relates to the trapping function of `{{H4685}}`. In [[Ecclesiastes 7:26]], a sinner is said to be **taken** by a woman whose heart is described as snares and nets `{{H4685}}`.
* `{{H5437}}` **çâbab**: This word means **to revolve, surround, or border** and is often used in the context of a siege. It appears in [[Ecclesiastes 9:14]], where a great king **besieged** a city and built great bulwarks `{{H4685}}` against it.
* `{{H6693}}` **tsûwq**: Defined as **to compress, i.e. (figuratively) oppress, distress**, this term highlights the pressure of conflict. It is used to describe the nations that **distress** Ariel while fighting against her and her munition `{{H4685}}` [[Isaiah 29:7]].
### Theological Significance
The use of `{{H4685}}` underscores several key biblical themes:
* **Sudden Vulnerability:** As a net that catches fish unexpectedly, `{{H4685}}` symbolizes the unforeseen nature of disaster and judgment. It shows how men can be snared in an evil time when it falls suddenly upon them [[Ecclesiastes 9:12]].
* **Moral Entrapment:** The word is used metaphorically to represent the dangers that lead to sin. The heart of a tempting woman is a snare `{{H4685}}`, and the desire of the wicked is for the "net of evil men," highlighting the risk of being caught by unrighteousness ([[Ecclesiastes 7:26]], [[Proverbs 12:12]]).
* **Instruments of Power and Conflict:** In its military application, `{{H4685}}` represents the physical means of warfare and control. It can be a defensive **bulwark** or **munition** for a city under attack or an imprisoning **hold** for a captured enemy, illustrating the tangible tools of human conflict ([[Isaiah 29:7]], [[Ezekiel 19:9]]).
### Summary
In summary, **mâtsôwd** `{{H4685}}` is a multifaceted term that encompasses the ideas of both entrapment and fortification. Whether describing a literal fishing net, a metaphorical snare for the soul, or a physical bulwark in a time of war, it consistently points to themes of vulnerability, danger, and the dynamics of power. The word's dual meaning illustrates how the same concept of securing or capturing can apply to both the hunter's prey and the soldier's fortress.
TRV