מַעְצוֹר (ma.tsor)
ma.tsor
restraint
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun ma’tsor means a restraint or hindrance that blocks movement. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Samuel 14:6, where Jonathan speaks to his armor-bearer about attacking the Philistine outpost.
In this context, Jonathan uses the word to describe the physical barrier of the pass between the two armies. He suggests that if God grants them victory, it will serve as a "sign" or evidence of His presence. The term highlights how geographical features can act as obstacles, yet also as opportunities for divine demonstration.
Though rare, this single usage anchors the word in a narrative of faith and action. Jonathan’s confidence in God’s power transforms a potential hindrance into a moment of spiritual significance. The word reminds readers that what seems like an obstacle can become a platform for witnessing God’s intervention.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When you face a situation that feels completely blocked, it is easy to assume that God is also stuck. Jonathan’s words in 1 Samuel remind us that physical barriers do not limit divine power. The Hebrew word for restraint here describes a tight squeeze or a chokehold, yet Jonathan declares that there is no such thing on Yahweh. He recognized that what looked like an impossible obstacle was actually a stage for God’s intervention.
This truth offers great comfort when your path seems closed. You might feel trapped by circumstances that appear to have the final say. Yet the narrative shows us that faith does not ignore reality; it looks past it. When you trust in God’s unlimited ability, even the tightest pass can become a place where His strength is displayed. Your current challenge may be the very setting for a testimony of hope.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a limitation1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַעְצ֔וֹר1×
Key Verses
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I Samuel 14:6
Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come! Let’s go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that Yahweh will work for us, for there is no restraint on Yahweh to save by many or by few.”
Jonathan uses this term to assert that God’s power is not constrained by physical barriers or numerical odds, framing the battle as an opportunity for divine demonstration.