English · KJV
H4685

מָצוֹד

mâtsôwd /maw-tsode'/ Ask about this word
Rootor (feminine) מְצוֹדָה · or מצֹדָה · from צוּד
Meaningalso (by interchange for מְצַד); a net (for capturing animals or fishes); afastness or (beseiging) tower
KJV usagebulwark, hold, munition, net, snare.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of mâtsôwd — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

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.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 7 occurrences, inflected in 5 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • מְצוֹדִים
  • מְצוּד
  • מְּצֹדוֹת
  • מְצוֹדָה
  • מְצֹדָתָ

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H3920 לָכַד a primitive root; to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot); figurative H5437 סָבַב a primitive root; to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively; bring, cast H6693 צוּק a primitive root; to compress, i.e. (figuratively) oppress, distress; constrain, distress, lie sore, (op-) press(-or), s

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 6 verses across 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Ecclesiastes (3 verses); never once in the other 35.

1
Proverbs
3
Ecclesiastes
1
Isaiah
1
Ezekiel

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.