Lexical Summary
migdal or migdalah: Tower
Original Word:מִגְדָּל
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:migdal
Pronunciation:mig-DAWL or mig-daw-LAW
Phonetic Spelling:(mig-dawl')
KJV: castle, flower, tower
NASB:tower, towers, watchtower, banks, podium
Word Origin:[fromH1431 (גָּדַל - grew)]
1. a tower (from its size or height)
2. by analogy, a rostrum
3. (figuratively) a (pyramidal) bed of flowers
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
castle, flower, tower
Also (in plural) feminine migdalah {mig-daw- law'}; fromgadal; a tower (from its size or height); by analogy, a rostrum; figuratively, a (pyramidal) bed of flowers -- castle, flower, tower. Compare the names following.
see HEBREWgadal
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
gadalDefinitiona tower
NASB Translationbanks (1), podium (1), Tower (8), tower (23), towers (14), watchtower (2).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
,
Genesis 11:5 11t.; construct
Judges 8:17 21t.; plural 2Chronicles 26:9 6t.;
Psalm 48:12;
Ezekiel 26:4; pluralf. 2Chronicles 32:5 2t.; construct
Songs 5:13 (?); suffix
Ezekiel 26:9;
Ezekiel 27:11; —
towerGenesis 11:4,5;Judges 8:9;Judges 9:51 (twice in verse);Judges 9:52 (twice in verse);2 Kings 9:17;2 Kings 17:9;2 Kings 18:8;1 Chronicles 27:25; 2Chron 14:6; 2 Chronicles 26:9,10,11; 27:4; 32:5;Nehemiah 3:25,26,27;Isaiah 2:15;Isaiah 30:25;Isaiah 33:18;Ezekiel 26:4,9;Ezekiel 27:11;Psalm 48:13, watch-tower in vineyardIsaiah 5:2; figurative of God as refugePsalm 61:4;Proverbs 18:10; beautiful neck like tower of DavidSongs 4:4; an ivory towerSongs 7:5; breastsSongs 8:10. (compare MI22 , Sabean (more precisely Lihyânian) , Eut, see DHMEpigr. Denkm. 4, 1. 5). Special towers mentioned on Lebanon Cant 7:5, PenuelJudges 8:17, ShechemJudges 9:46,47,49; and at Jerusalem, the tower of David Cant 4:4 (the arsenal),Nehemiah 3:1,Nehemiah 3:1;Nehemiah 12:39;Jeremiah 31:38;Zechariah 14:10,Nehemiah 3:11;Nehemiah 12:38 (tower of the furnaces).
elevated stage, pulpit of woodNehemiah 8:4.
raised bed ""Songs 5:13, but Hi Bö De rightly read .
Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Range of Usageמִגְדָּל denotes any elevated structure built to secure vantage, safety, storage, or prominence. The word embraces fortresses along city walls, stand-alone citadels, vineyard watchtowers, and lofty civic or cultic edifices. Scripture’s forty-nine occurrences reveal its vital role in Israel’s military defense, agricultural economy, urban planning, poetic symbolism, and prophetic hope.
Military and Defensive Towers
Towers crowned the fortifications of ancient cities, allowing sentries to see danger early and repel assault. Gideon’s era illustrates both their strength and their vulnerability: the “tower of Penuel” (Judges 8:9, 17) was first threatened, then demolished when the town refused assistance to the weary troops of Gideon. Abimelech’s brutal campaign against Shechem turned the “tower of Shechem” into a deathtrap (Judges 9:46-49) and later cost him his life when an unnamed woman dropped a millstone from an upper opening of another tower (Judges 9:51-53). Jezreel’s watchman, peering from a tower, identified Jehu’s furious approach (2 Kings 9:17). These narratives remind readers that human fortifications are limited; victory rests with the Lord of Hosts.
Agricultural Watchtowers
Isaiah’s parable of the vineyard pictures the owner who “built a watchtower in the midst of it” (Isaiah 5:2). Seasonal huts of field-stone or mud-brick rose above the vines, enabling the vinedresser to guard against thieves and animals. Similar structures likely stood in Israel’s grain fields and orchards (compareMatthew 21:33 where Jesus adapts Isaiah’s imagery). The tower signifies the farmer’s constant vigilance and investment in his crop—an image easily applied to God’s watchful care over His people.
Urban and Civic Towers
Apart from outright fortresses, towers ornamented cityscapes and water systems. Jerusalem’s “Tower of Hananel” and “Corner Tower” mark prophetic boundaries of a fully restored city (Jeremiah 31:38;Zechariah 14:10). When Nehemiah rebuilt the wall he labored from tower to tower (Nehemiah 3:1; 3:11; 3:25-27). Such structures anchored the defensive line, punctuated the skyline, and acted as points of civic pride.
Symbolic and Poetic Imagery
Towers embodied height, majesty, and security, making them a favorite metaphor for divine refuge.
• “For You have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy” (Psalm 61:3).
• “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (Proverbs 18:10).
In Song of Songs, praise of the bride’s beauty borrows tower imagery: “Your neck is like the tower of David, built with rows of stones” (Song of Songs 4:4); “Your neck is like a tower of ivory” (Song of Songs 7:4). Height and elegance converge to convey dignity and noble stature.
Prophetic and Messianic Overtones
Micah foretells that kingship will return to “the tower of the flock” (Migdal-Eder), a pastoral site south of Bethlehem (Micah 4:8). The passage prepares the reader for the Shepherd-King to arise from that region.Isaiah 33:18 anticipates the day when Judah’s leaders will “ponder the terror—Where is the scribe? Where is the receiver? Where is the one who counted the towers?” Earthly stratagems and tall defenses will fade before the reign of the righteous King. Conversely, arrogant towers will fall when the Lord alone is exalted (Isaiah 2:15).
Notable Place Names Derived from the Root
• Migdol, a station near the Red Sea (Exodus 14:2), probably owed its name to a frontier watchtower.
• Migdal-Eder (“Tower of the Flock”) between Bethlehem and Hebron (Genesis 35:21) foreshadows shepherd imagery in Messianic prophecy.
Such sites confirm how integral towers were to geography and memory.
Lessons for Ministry and Faith
1. Vigilance: As farmers built watchtowers, pastors and parents are called to guard their charges with prayerful oversight (Acts 20:28-31).
2. Refuge: Believers run to the LORD, not to human structures, for ultimate security (Hebrews 6:18).
3. Humility: The collapse of Babel’s tower (Genesis 11:4-9) warns against prideful projects that ignore divine mandate.
4. Expectation: Prophetic references to towers stir hope for the coming kingdom where Christ Himself is both Cornerstone and High Tower (Ephesians 2:20-22).
Selected Biblical Occurrences
Genesis 11:4-9 – Tower of Babel and the scattering of nations
Judges 8:9, 17 – Tower of Penuel threatened and destroyed
Judges 9:46-53 – Towers of Shechem and Thebez in Abimelech’s downfall
2 Kings 9:17 – Watchman on the tower of Jezreel sights Jehu
Nehemiah 3:1-27 – Multiple towers along Jerusalem’s rebuilt wall
Psalm 61:3 – “Strong tower against the enemy”
Proverbs 18:10 – “The name of the LORD is a strong tower”
Song of Songs 4:4; 7:4 – Tower imagery for beauty and dignity
Isaiah 5:2 – Watchtower in the Lord’s vineyard
Isaiah 2:15 – Day of the LORD against every lofty tower
Jeremiah 31:38 – Tower of Hananel marks future Jerusalem boundary
Micah 4:8 – “Tower of the flock” and Messianic hope
Zechariah 14:10 – Corner Tower in the eschatological city
From its first appearance on the plains of Shinar to its prophetic role in the New Jerusalem, מִגְדָּל traces a trajectory of human ingenuity, divine sovereignty, and redemptive anticipation.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּמִגְדְּלוֹתַ֖יִךְ במגדלותיך הַמִּגְדָּ֑ל הַמִּגְדָּ֔ל הַמִּגְדָּ֖ל הַמִּגְדָּ֜ל הַמִּגְדָּ֤ל הַמִּגְדָּ֥ל הַמִּגְדָּֽל׃ הַמִּגְדָּל֗וֹת הַמִּגְדָּלִֽים׃ הַמִּגְדָּלִים֙ המגדל המגדל׃ המגדלות המגדלים המגדלים׃ וְהַמִּגְדָּ֖ל וְהַמִּגְדָּ֗ל וּבַמִּגְדָּל֔וֹת וּמִ֨גְדְּלֹתַ֔יִךְ וּמִגְדַּ֣ל וּמִגְדַּ֤ל וּמִגְדַּל־ וּמִגְדָּל֙ וּמִגְדָּלִֽים׃ וּמִגְדָּלִים֮ ובמגדלות והמגדל ומגדל ומגדל־ ומגדלים ומגדלים׃ ומגדלתיך כְּמִגְדַּ֣ל כְּמִגְדַּ֤ל כַּמִּגְדָּל֑וֹת כמגדל כמגדלות לְמִגְדַּ֣ל למגדל מִֽגְדַּל־ מִגְדְּל֖וֹת מִגְדַּ֤ל מִגְדַּ֥ל מִגְדַּל־ מִגְדָּ֣ל מִגְדָּל֙ מִגְדָּלִ֜ים מִגְדָּלִֽים׃ מִגְדָּלִים֙ מִגְדָּלֶ֔יהָ מִגְדָּלֶֽיהָ׃ מִמִּגְדַּ֥ל מגדל מגדל־ מגדלות מגדליה מגדליה׃ מגדלים מגדלים׃ ממגדל bə·miḡ·də·lō·w·ṯa·yiḵ bemigdeloTayich bəmiḡdəlōwṯayiḵ ham·miḡ·dā·lîm ham·miḡ·dā·lō·wṯ ham·miḡ·dāl hammigDal hammiḡdāl hammigdaLim hammiḡdālîm hammigdaLot hammiḡdālōwṯ kam·miḡ·dā·lō·wṯ kammigdaLot kammiḡdālōwṯ kə·miḡ·dal kemigDal kəmiḡdal lə·miḡ·dal lemigDal ləmiḡdal miḡ·dā·le·hā miḡ·dā·lîm miḡ·dal miḡ·dāl miḡ·dal- miḡ·də·lō·wṯ migDal miḡdal miḡdāl miḡdal- miḡdālehā migdaLeiha migdaLim miḡdālîm migdeLot miḡdəlōwṯ mim·miḡ·dal mimigDal mimmiḡdal ū·ḇam·miḡ·dā·lō·wṯ ū·miḡ·dā·lîm ū·miḡ·dal ū·miḡ·dāl ū·miḡ·dal- ū·miḡ·də·lō·ṯa·yiḵ ūḇammiḡdālōwṯ umigDal ūmiḡdal ūmiḡdāl ūmiḡdal- umigdaLim ūmiḡdālîm uMigdeloTayich ūmiḡdəlōṯayiḵ uvammigdaLot vehammigDal wə·ham·miḡ·dāl wəhammiḡdāl
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