stronghold, fortification, fortress, citadel

Definition

The terms “stronghold” and “fortress” both refer to places that are well protected against an attack by enemy soldiers. A “citadel” is a fortress inside a city. The term “fortified” describes a city or other place that has been made safe from attack.

• Often, strongholds and fortresses were manmade structures with defensive walls. They could also have been places with natural protective barriers such as rocky cliffs or high mountains.
• People fortified strongholds by building thick walls or other structures that made it difficult for an enemy to break through.
• “Stronghold” or “fortress” could be translated as “securely strong place” or “strongly protected place.”
• The term “fortified city” could be translated as “securely protected city” or “strongly built city.”
• Another figurative meaning for the term “stronghold” referred to something that someone wrongly trusted in for security, such as a false god or other thing that was worshiped instead of Yahweh. This could be translated as “false strongholds.”
• This term should be translated differently from “refuge,” which emphasizes safety more than the concept of being fortified.

(See also: false god, false god, refuge, Yahweh)

Bible References

• 2 Corinthians 10:4
• 2 Kings 8:10-12
• 2 Samuel 5:8-10
• Acts 21:35
• Habakkuk 1:10-11

Word Data

• Strong’s: H0490, H0553, H0759, H1001, H1002, H1003, H1219, H1225, H2388, H4013, H4026, H4581, H4526, H4679, H4685, H4686, H4692, H4694, H4869, H5794, H5797, H5800, H6438, H6877, H7682, G37940, G39250