מָעוֹז (ma.oz)
ma.oz
security
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 25 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun maʿoz denotes a fortified place or stronghold, serving as a concrete image for safety and protection. Derived from a root meaning "to be strong," it appears in contexts ranging from literal military defenses to spiritual refuge. In the Old Testament, it describes physical cities like Tyre as a "fortress of the sea" (Isaiah 23:4) or specific fortified structures within Israel (Judges 6:26). The word carries a sense of immovable stability, offering shelter against external threats.
Beyond its military usage, maʿoz frequently functions as a metaphor for God Himself. Psalms and Isaiah portray the Lord as a secure refuge where believers find rest from anxiety and enemy attacks (Psalm 31:2; Isaiah 25:4). This figurative use shifts the focus from stone walls to divine power, suggesting that true security comes from reliance on God rather than human alliances. Proverbs 10:29 extends this idea further, describing the way of God as a "stronghold" for the upright, implying that piety itself provides a protective boundary.
Translators often render maʿoz as "strength," "rock," or "fortress," depending on whether the context emphasizes physical location or abstract power. In Daniel 11:38, it even takes on a satirical edge when referring to a foreign deity, highlighting that not all claimed strongholds offer genuine safety. The term consistently points to a source of enduring support that withstands pressure, making it a central concept for understanding biblical trust in times of crisis.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When life feels unstable or threats seem overwhelming, the Hebrew word maʿoz offers a concrete image of safety. It describes a fortified place, like a city wall or a high tower, where one can find shelter from danger. In Scripture, this term often shifts from physical structures to describe God Himself as our refuge. This reminds us that true security does not come from human alliances or political power, but from relying on divine protection.
Psalm 37:39 highlights this truth by stating that the Lord is the stronghold of the righteous in times of trouble. Instead of fearing external pressures, believers are invited to rest in the stability of God’s character. This perspective encourages trust during difficult seasons, knowing that our safety rests in a foundation that cannot be shaken.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 25 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- strongholds2×
- a refuge2×
- to/ [the] strongholds of1×
- the/ stronghold1×
- the/ place of refuge1×
- strongholds/ its1×
- stronghold/ your1×
- stronghold/ his1×
- refuge/ your1×
- refuge/ my1×
- refuge/ his1×
- place of refuge/ their1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מָע֥וֹז4×
- מָעוּזִּ֖/י1×
- מָעֻזּֽ/וֹ\׃1×
- מָעֻזֵּ֖/ךְ1×
- מָעֻזְּ/כֶֽן\׃\ \ס1×
- מָעֻזּ֗/וֹ1×
- מָעֻזְנֶֽי/הָ\׃1×
- מָע֣וֹז1×
- מָֽעוּזִּ/י֮1×
- מָֽעוֹז\־1×
- מָֽעֻזִּים֙1×
- מָֽעֻזִּ֔ים1×
Key Verses
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Psalms 37:39
But the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
This verse explicitly identifies Yahweh as the stronghold for the righteous during times of trouble, linking divine presence directly to safety.
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Isaiah 25:4
For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat, when the blast of the dreaded ones is like a storm against the wall.
Here God is described as a stronghold for the poor and needy, emphasizing protection for the vulnerable against overwhelming storms.
-
Proverbs 10:29
The way of Yahweh is a stronghold to the upright, but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
The text contrasts the upright with evildoers by showing that following God provides a protective boundary, while wickedness leads to destruction.
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Jeremiah 16:19
Yahweh, my strength, my stronghold, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the nations will come to you from the ends of the earth, and will say, “Our fathers have inherited nothing but lies, vanity and things in which there is no profit.
This prayer calls Yahweh a stronghold and refuge specifically in the context of affliction, acknowledging His role as a safe harbor during crisis.