מַסְגֵּר
a fastener, i.e. (of a person) a smith, (of a thing) a prison
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַסְגֵּר (masger) primarily means 'a fastener' or 'that which encloses.' In its concrete sense, it refers to a prison or place of confinement, as seen in passages like Psalm 142:7, where the psalmist pleads, 'Bring my soul out of prison,' and Isaiah 24:22, which describes the wicked being gathered 'in the dungeon.' In a more specialized sense, it can denote a 'smith'—specifically a metalworker who fastens or forges objects, such as the craftsmen and smiths exiled to Babylon in 2 Kings 24:14, 16. This dual meaning arises from the root idea of securing or enclosing, whether physically restraining people or crafting secured metal items.
Biblical Usage
The word appears seven times in the Old Testament, primarily in historical and prophetic books. It is used literally for a prison in poetic contexts (Psalm 142:7) and prophetic judgments (Isaiah 24:22; 42:7). In historical narratives, it refers to skilled metalworkers ('smiths') taken captive (2 Kings 24:14, 16; Jeremiah 24:1; 29:2), highlighting their value as artisans. The usage shows a pattern: in poetic/prophetic texts, it denotes confinement; in historical contexts, it specifies a trade class.
Etymology
Derived from the root סָגַר (sagar, H5462), meaning 'to shut, close, or imprison.' This root conveys the action of enclosing or securing, which developed into the noun מַסְגֵּר for something that performs that function—either a person who fastens (smith) or a place that encloses (prison). Cognates in other Semitic languages also relate to closing or locking.
Semantic Range
This word enriches understanding of biblical themes like judgment and liberation. In Isaiah 42:7, God promises to bring prisoners 'out of the dungeon (מַסְגֵּר),' symbolizing spiritual deliverance from sin and oppression. The exile of smiths (2 Kings 24) underscores God's sovereignty in removing a nation's skilled protectors as an act of judgment. Thus, מַסְגֵּר connects to doctrines of divine justice, human captivity, and redemptive freedom, showing how physical realities mirror spiritual truths.
In ancient Israel, prisons were often makeshift holding areas (like pits or houses), not formal institutions. A 'smith' was vital for crafting tools and weapons, so exiling them (as in 2 Kings 24) weakened a nation militarily and economically. The dual meaning reflects a culture where the same term could describe both confinement and skilled craftsmanship, based on the functional idea of 'fastening.'
בֵּית כֶּלֶא (beit kele, H1004) — a house of confinement, general term for prison; אָסִיר (asir, H616) — a bound one, prisoner; חָרָשׁ (charash, H2796) — artisan or craftsman, broader than smith.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →