Bible Word Study
מִבְצָר
Mibtsâr · Mibtsar, an Idumaean
מִבְצָר
Mibtsar, an Idumaean
Definition
Mibtsar is a proper noun referring to an Edomite chieftain or clan leader, listed among the descendants of Esau. The name appears in two parallel genealogical lists: Genesis 36:42 and 1 Chronicles 1:53. In these contexts, Mibtsar is identified as one of the 'chiefs of Edom' who governed before any king reigned over the Israelites. The name itself is identical to the common Hebrew noun for 'fortress' or 'stronghold' (H4013), suggesting a possible association with strength or a fortified place.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively as a personal or clan name within Old Testament genealogies. It appears only in the lists of Edomite chiefs in Genesis 36:42 and the parallel, condensed list in 1 Chronicles 1:53. The usage is purely onomastic (name-related) and does not carry a narrative or descriptive function beyond identifying a lineage figure from the nation of Edom (Idumaea).
Etymology
Mibtsar is derived from the Hebrew root ב־צ־ר (b-ts-r), meaning 'to cut off' or 'make inaccessible,' which gives rise to the noun מִבְצָר (mibtsar), meaning 'fortress' or 'stronghold.' As a proper name, it is the same word as the common noun (H4013), likely used metaphorically to denote strength, security, or an inaccessible place, a common practice in ancient Semitic name-giving.
Semantic Range
While the name itself is not theologically loaded, its inclusion in the Edomite genealogy (Genesis 36) is significant. It documents the fulfillment of God's promise to Esau (Genesis 36:1) that he too would become a great nation. Listing these chiefs, including Mibtsar, shows God's sovereign hand in building nations outside the chosen line of Israel, affirming His broader providence in history. In the ancient Near East, names often carried descriptive or aspirational meaning. Naming a chieftain 'Mibtsar' (Fortress) likely conveyed attributes of strength, protection, and impregnability, desirable qualities for a tribal leader. As an Edomite chief, this figure would have been part of a semi-nomadic, tribal confederation based in the mountainous region south of the Dead Sea, a culture often in conflict with Israel. mibtsar (H4013) — This is the identical common noun meaning 'fortress,' from which the proper name is directly taken. alah (H593) — Another term for an Edomite 'chief' or 'duke' used interchangeably in the same lists (Genesis 36:40-43).
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]