מִגְדָּל (mig.dal)
mig.dal
(Hananel) Tower
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 36 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun migdal refers to a tower, derived from a root meaning "to be large" or "to grow." This etymology highlights that a tower is defined by its height and imposing size. In the Hebrew Bible, it typically denotes a fortified structure within a city wall or a standalone castle used for defense and observation. The word appears frequently in historical books like Judges and Chronicles, describing military strongholds such as the tower of Shechem (Judges 9:46) or the watchtowers built by King Asa (2 Chronicles 14:6).
While its primary sense is architectural, the term extends to other elevated structures. In Nehemiah 8:4, Ezra stands on a wooden platform or pulpit to read the law before the assembly. The word also appears in poetic imagery, such as when Song of Solomon compares cheeks to beds of flowers that rise up (Song 5:13), and Proverbs describes a man’s confidence as a strong tower (Proverbs 18:10). These varied uses show how the concept of height and stability transfers from stone fortresses to places of authority and personal security.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
A tower in ancient Israel was more than just stone; it was a place of safety and observation. When you read about these structures, you see people seeking security in high places. Sometimes this meant trusting in their own strength or military power, like the builders of Babel who wanted to reach the sky on their own terms. Other times, it represented a community coming together to repair what was broken, as the people did when they rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls.
For your faith life, this word invites reflection on where you place your trust. Proverbs 18:10 reminds us that the name of the Lord is a strong tower, offering protection that no enemy can breach. While we build our own lives and communities, we are invited to run to Him for refuge. It is a gentle reminder that true stability comes not from our own height or effort, but from the steadfastness of God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 36 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ tower7×
- [the] tower of7×
- towers3×
- the/ towers3×
- and/ [the] tower of3×
- from/ a tower of2×
- and/ the/ tower2×
- towers of1×
- tower1×
- to/ [the] tower of1×
- from/ [the] tower of1×
- and/ towers1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִגְדַּ֥ל3×
- מִֽגְדַּל\־3×
- מִ/מִּגְדַּ֥ל3×
- מִגְדַּל\־2×
- וּ/מִגְדַּ֣ל2×
- מִגְדָּלִים֙1×
- מִגְדָּלִֽים\׃1×
- מִגְדָּלִ֜ים1×
- מִגְדָּל֙1×
- מִגְדָּ֣ל1×
- מִגְדַּ֤ל1×
- מִגְדְּל֖וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 11:4
They said, “Come, let’s build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top reaches to the sky, and let’s make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad on the surface of the whole earth.”
This verse shows the tower as a symbol of human pride and self-sufficiency, where people sought to make a name for themselves rather than relying on God.
-
Nehemiah 3:1
Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the sheep gate. They sanctified it, and set up its doors. They sanctified it even to the tower of Hammeah, to the tower of Hananel.
Here the tower is part of the communal effort to restore Jerusalem’s defenses, illustrating how rebuilding spiritual and physical walls requires shared labor.
-
Judges 9:51
But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the men and women of the city fled there, and shut themselves in, and went up to the roof of the tower.
This occurrence highlights the tower as a last resort for safety, yet it ultimately fails when the people rely solely on its physical walls rather than divine protection.