Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, the concept of a "castle" as understood in the medieval European sense did not exist. However, the term is often used in English translations of the Bible to describe fortified structures or strongholds that served as places of defense and refuge. These structures were integral to the military and social landscapes of ancient Near Eastern cultures, including those of the Israelites.
Hebrew and Greek TermsThe Hebrew word often translated as "castle" is "מִבְצָר" (mivtsar), which more accurately refers to a fortress or stronghold. This term is used to describe fortified cities or defensive structures that provided protection against enemy attacks. In the Greek New Testament, the concept of a stronghold is captured by the word "ὀχύρωμα" (ochyrōma), though it is not directly translated as "castle."
Biblical References1.
Judges 9:46-49: In this passage, the term "stronghold" is used to describe the tower of Shechem, where the leaders of the city sought refuge from Abimelech. The Berean Standard Bible states: "When all the leaders of the tower of Shechem heard about this, they entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith."
2.
1 Chronicles 11:7: David's capture of the fortress of Zion, which became the City of David, is a significant event. The BSB records: "David took up residence in the fortress; that is why it was called the City of David."
3.
2 Samuel 22:2-3: Here, David uses the imagery of a fortress to describe God's protection: "The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my Savior—You save me from violence."
Symbolic MeaningIn the Bible, castles or fortresses often symbolize strength, protection, and divine refuge. They are metaphors for God's protection over His people. The imagery of God as a fortress is prevalent in the Psalms, where the psalmists frequently describe God as a place of safety and security in times of trouble.
Historical ContextFortified cities and strongholds were common in the ancient Near East due to the constant threat of warfare and invasion. These structures were typically built on elevated ground and surrounded by thick walls. They served not only as military defenses but also as administrative centers and places of refuge for the local population during sieges.
Archaeological InsightsArchaeological excavations have uncovered numerous fortified sites throughout Israel and surrounding regions, providing insight into the construction and strategic importance of these structures. Notable examples include the ancient cities of Jericho, Lachish, and Hazor, which featured massive walls and defensive towers.
Theological ImplicationsThe use of fortress imagery in Scripture underscores the theme of divine protection and the believer's reliance on God as a source of strength. It reflects the biblical worldview that ultimate security is found not in human fortifications but in the Lord, who is the true stronghold for His people.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Castle[FENCED CITIES CITIES]
Easton's Bible Dictionary
A military fortress (
1 Chronicles 11:7), also probably a kind of tower used by the priests for making known anything discovered at a distance (
1 Chronicles 6:54). Castles are also mentioned (
Genesis 25:16) as a kind of watch-tower, from which shepherds kept watch over their flocks by night. The "castle" into which the chief captain commanded Paul to be brought was the quarters of the Roman soldiers in the fortress of Antonia (so called by Herod after his patron Mark Antony), which was close to the north-west corner of the temple (
Acts 21:34), which it commanded.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A fortified residence, especially that of a prince or nobleman; a fortress.
2. (n.) Any strong, imposing, and stately mansion.
3. (n.) A small tower, as on a ship, or an elephant's back.
4. (n.) A piece, made to represent a castle, used in the game of chess; a rook.
5. (v. i.) To move the castle to the square next to king, and then the king around the castle to the square next beyond it, for the purpose of covering the king.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
CASTLEkas'-'-l.
SeeFORTIFICATION.
Greek
3925. parembole -- to put in beside or between, interpose... parembole Phonetic Spelling: (par-em-bol-ay') Short Definition: a camp, barracks,
army in battle array Definition: a camp, fort,
castle, barracks, army in
...3794. ochuroma -- a stronghold, fortress
... stronghold. From a remote derivative of echo (meaning to fortify, through the idea
of holding safely); acastle (figuratively, argument) -- stronghold....
4444. purgos -- a tower
... word Definition a tower NASB Word Usage tower (4). tower. Apparently a primary word
("burgh"); a tower orcastle -- tower. (purgon) -- 3 Occurrences....
Strong's Hebrew
1002. birah -- acastle, palace... birah. 1003 . a
castle, palace. Transliteration: birah Phonetic Spelling:
(bee-raw') Short Definition: citadel.
... Of foreign origin; a
castle or palace -- palace
...1003b. biretha -- acastle
... acastle. Transliteration: biretha Short Definition: fortress. Word Origin (Aramaic)
corresponding to birah Definition acastle NASB Word Usage fortress (1)....
759. armon -- a citadel
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition a citadel NASB Word Usagecastle
(1), citadel (2), citadels (13), fortified buildings (1), fortified towers (1...
4686. matsuwd -- net, prey
... 4685d, 4686. matsuwd. 4686a . net, prey. Transliteration: matsuwd Phonetic
Spelling: (maw-tsood') Short Definition:castle.castle...
1003. biyraniyth -- a fortress, fortified place
... a fortress, fortified place. Transliteration: biyraniyth Phonetic Spelling:
(bee-raw-neeth') Short Definition:castle.castle From biyrah; a fortress --castle....
2918. tirah -- encampment, battlement
... goodlycastle, habitation, palace, row. Feminine of (an equivalent to) tuwr; a wall;
hence, a fortress or a hamlet -- (goodly)castle, habitation, palace, row....
4026. migdal -- a tower
... Word Origin from gadal Definition a tower NASB Word Usage banks (1), podium (1),
Tower (8), tower (23), towers (14), watchtower (2).castle, flower, tower....
4679. metsad -- fastness, a stronghold
... Word Origin from tsud Definition fastness, a stronghold NASB Word Usage impregnable
(1), stronghold (3), strongholds (7).castle, fort, strong hold, munition....
2038. Harmon -- a place name
... palace. From the same as Horam; acastle (from its height) -- palace. see HEBREW
Horam. 2037, 2038. Harmon. 2039 . Strong's Numbers.
4013. mibtsar -- fortification
... 11:15) mibtsarah {mib-tsaw-raw'}; from batsar; a fortification,castle, or fortified
city; figuratively, a defender -- (de-, most) fenced, fortress, (most...
Library
The InteriorCastle, or The Mansions
The InteriorCastle, or The Mansions. <. The InteriorCastle, or The Mansions
Teresa of Avila. St. Zimmerman, Benedict (Editor) Table of Contents....
At DoverCastle
... Chapter 10. Retirement in Paddington; Wesley Slandered; Premonitions; A Dream At
DoverCastle.... We afterwards walked up to thecastle, on the top of a mountain....
The InteriorCastle or the Mansions by St. Teresa Ihs
The InteriorCastle, or The Mansions. <.... THE INTERIORCASTLE OR
THE MANSIONS BY ST. TERESA IHS. THIS TREATISE, STYLED...
Preaches in OxfordCastle
... Chapter 2. Troubles in Georgia; Return to England; Peter Bohler; "I Felt my
Heart Strangely Warmed" Preaches in OxfordCastle. Thursday...
Wesley at CorfeCastle
... Chapter 17. Wesley Arrested; A Terrible Ride; A Methodist Isaac Newton;
Wesley and the American War Wesley at CorfeCastle. Monday...
The Earl of Desmond'sCastle
... Chapter 16. Windsor Park; Wesley as Art Critic; Glasgow and Perth; At 70, Wesley
Preaches to 30,000 People The Earl of Desmond'sCastle....
Among the Orderlies at theCastle was one David...
... CHAPTER 14 Among the orderlies at thecastle was one David? Among the
orderlies at thecastle was one David, a young Jew, whose...
Knox in St. AndrewsCastle: the Galleys: 1547-1549
... CHAPTER III: KNOX IN ST. ANDREWSCASTLE: THE GALLEYS: 1547-1549. We now take up
Knox where we left him: namely when Wishart was arrested in January 1546....
July 19. "Nevertheless, David Took theCastle of Zion" (I. Chron....
... JULY 19. "Nevertheless, David took thecastle of Zion" (I. Chron. xi. 5).
"Nevertheless, David took thecastle of Zion" (I. Chron. xi.5)....
The InteriorCastle, or The Mansions
The InteriorCastle, or The Mansions. <.... Title Page. THE INTERIORCASTLE OR.
THE MANSIONS. By. St. Teresa of Avila. Translated from the Autograph of St....
Thesaurus
Castle (26 Occurrences)... The "
castle" into which the chief captain commanded Paul to be brought was the quarters
of the Roman soldiers in the fortress of Antonia (so called by Herod
...Lysias (3 Occurrences)
... the citizenship (Acts 22:28), was a military tribune or chiliarch (ie leader of
1,000 men) in command of the garrison stationed in thecastle overlooking the...
Thyatira (4 Occurrences)
... and Mysia. Its modern name is Ak-hissar, ie, "whitecastle." Here was one
of the seven churches (Revelation 1:11; 2:18-28). Lydia...
Moab (162 Occurrences)
... preserved. The most interesting building at Kerak is the hugecastle on the southern
side.... base. Thecastle is then separated from the town....
Claudius (3 Occurrences)
... the citizenship (Acts 22:28), was a military tribune or chiliarch (ie leader of
1,000 men) in command of the garrison stationed in thecastle overlooking the...
Kir (11 Occurrences)
... preserved. The most interesting building at Kerak is the hugecastle on the southern
side.... base. Thecastle is then separated from the town....
Keep (4573 Occurrences)
... 25. (n.) That which keeps or protects; a stronghold; a fortress; acastle; specifically,
the strongest and securest part of acastle, often used as a place of...
Salchah (1 Occurrence)
... On a volcanic hill rising some 300 ft. above the town, in what must have been the
crater, stands thecastle.... Thecastle was probably built by the Romans....
Salcah (4 Occurrences)
... On a volcanic hill rising some 300 ft. above the town, in what must have been the
crater, stands thecastle.... Thecastle was probably built by the Romans....
Salecah (4 Occurrences)
... On a volcanic hill rising some 300 ft. above the town, in what must have been the
crater, stands thecastle.... Thecastle was probably built by the Romans....
Resources
What was the Diet of Worms? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Society of Jesus? Who are the Jesuits, and what do they believe? | GotQuestions.orgHow can demonic strongholds be overcome? | GotQuestions.orgCastle: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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