What does מָעוֹז (maoz) mean in the Bible?
מָעוֹז (maoz): God alone as humanity's unshakeable refuge; shifts from physical stronghold to divine protection.
Hebrew · H4581
מָעוֹז
A fortified place; figuratively, a defence
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מָעוֹזH4581
Pronunciationmaoz
What does מָעוֹז (maoz) mean in the Bible?
מָעוֹז (maoz): God alone as humanity's unshakeable refuge; shifts from physical stronghold to divine protection.
Full entry for מָעוֹז (H4581) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4581?
The BSB source-word alignment has 36 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include a stronghold (4), fortress (2), is My helmet (2), protection (2), the stronghold (2).
Where does מָעוֹז (maoz) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Judges 6:26. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (10), Psalms (9), Daniel (7), Ezekiel (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Ita stronghold4×Psalms 28:8, Isaiah 25:4, Joel 3:16, Nahum 1:7
fortress2×2 Samuel 22:33, Daniel 11:31
is My helmet2×Psalms 60:7, Psalms 108:8
protection2×Isaiah 30:2, Isaiah 30:3
the stronghold2×Isaiah 23:4, Ezekiel 30:15
. . .1×Daniel 11:39
[He is] their stronghold1×Psalms 37:39
a refuge1×Isaiah 25:4
and my fortress1×Jeremiah 16:19
and protect1×Daniel 11:1
are my refuge1×Psalms 31:4
far as his fortress1×Daniel 11:10
his fortress1×Daniel 11:7
his refuge1×Psalms 52:7
is a refuge1×Proverbs 10:29
is the stronghold1×Psalms 27:1
of fortresses1×Daniel 11:38
of my refuge1×Psalms 43:2
of refuge1×Psalms 31:2
of your refuge1×Isaiah 17:10
refuge1×Nahum 3:11
stronghold1×Judges 6:26
the strongholds1×Isaiah 23:11
their strong1×Isaiah 17:9
their stronghold1×Ezekiel 24:25
to My protection1×Isaiah 27:5
toward the fortresses1×Daniel 11:19
your harbor1×Isaiah 23:14
your strength1×Nehemiah 8:10
Show sample aligned rows
Judges 6:26הַמָּע֛וֹזtostrongholdArticle | Noun - masculine singular2 Samuel 22:33מָעוּזִּ֖יtofortressNoun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularNehemiah 8:10מָֽעֻזְּכֶֽם׃toyour strengthNoun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine pluralPsalms 27:1מָֽעוֹז־tois the strongholdNoun - masculine singular constructPsalms 28:8וּמָ֘ע֤וֹזtoa strongholdConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructPsalms 31:2מָ֭עוֹזtoof refugeNoun - masculine singularPsalms 31:4מָֽעוּזִּֽי׃toare my refugeNoun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularPsalms 37:39מָֽ֝עוּזָּ֗םto[He is] their strongholdNoun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine pluralPsalms 43:2מָֽעוּזִּי֮toof my refugeNoun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularPsalms 52:7מָֽע֫וּזּ֥וֹtohis refugeNoun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowJudges 6:26
Aligned rows36
Books represented11
Judges12 Samuel1Nehemiah1Psalms9Proverbs1Isaiah10Jeremiah1Ezekiel2Daniel7Joel1Nahum2
Source forms
מָע֣וֹז4xmā·‘ō·wzPsalms 60:7, Psalms 108:8, Proverbs 10:29, Ezekiel 30:15
מָע֥וֹז4xmā·‘ō·wzIsaiah 23:4, Isaiah 25:4, Isaiah 30:3
בְּמָע֣וֹז1xbə·mā·‘ō·wzIsaiah 30:2
בְּמָעוֹז֙1xbə·mā·‘ō·wzDaniel 11:7
בְּמָעוּזִּ֔י1xbə·mā·‘ūz·zîIsaiah 27:5
הַמָּע֛וֹז1xham·mā·‘ō·wzJudges 6:26
הַמָּעוֹז֙1xham·mā·‘ō·wzDaniel 11:31
וּלְמָע֖וֹז1xū·lə·mā·‘ō·wzDaniel 11:1
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine singular construct6xPsalms 27:1, Psalms 60:7, Psalms 108:8, Isaiah 23:4
Noun - masculine singular5xPsalms 31:2, Proverbs 10:29, Isaiah 25:4, Nahum 3:11
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular3x2 Samuel 22:33, Psalms 31:4, Psalms 43:2
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular3xPsalms 52:7, Isaiah 17:9, Daniel 11:10
Article | Noun - masculine singular2xJudges 6:26, Daniel 11:31
Noun - masculine plural2xDaniel 11:38, Daniel 11:39
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural2xPsalms 37:39, Ezekiel 24:25
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct2xIsaiah 30:2, Daniel 11:7
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. God alone as humanity's unshakeable refuge; shifts from physical stronghold to divine protection.
Source Gloss
a fortified place; figuratively, a defence
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
God alone as humanity's unshakeable refuge; shifts from physical stronghold to divine protection.
a fortified place; figuratively, a defence BDB: place Usage: force, fort(-ress), rock, strength(-en), (× most) strong (hold).
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
Fortified refuge or strong place.
Fortified refuge or defense.
fortress, refuge, or place of strength
Stronghold; fortress; a place of safety and protection; a functional defense during an attack
Showing 4 selected witnesses from 37 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
מָעוֹז is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
The metaphor highlights the protective nature of God's ways.Isaiah 23:1-7
The destruction of the stronghold exposes false security.Isaiah 25:1-5
God himself functions as protective security for the needy.Proverbs 10:29
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.