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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: The Stronghold</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/t/the_stronghold.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/2_samuel/22-2.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/s/stronghold.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > The Stronghold</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/t/the_strongest_and_young_men_of_israel.htm" title="The Strongest and Young Men of Israel">◄</a> The Stronghold <a href="/topical/t/the_strongholds.htm" title="The Strongholds">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div>In biblical literature, the term "stronghold" is often used metaphorically to describe a place of refuge, protection, or defense. It is a concept that appears throughout the Scriptures, symbolizing both physical and spiritual fortresses. The imagery of a stronghold is deeply rooted in the ancient Near Eastern context, where fortified cities and defensive structures were common.<br><br><b>Old Testament Usage</b><br><br>The Hebrew word most frequently translated as "stronghold" is "מָצוּד" (matsud) or "מִבְצָר" (mivtsar). These terms are used to describe physical fortifications, such as those built by King David and other leaders to protect their people from enemies. For instance, in <a href="/2_samuel/22-2.htm">2 Samuel 22:2-3</a> , David declares, "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, my refuge, and my Savior—You save me from violence."<br><br>The Psalms frequently employ the imagery of God as a stronghold, emphasizing His role as a protector and deliverer. <a href="/psalms/18-2.htm">Psalm 18:2</a> echoes this sentiment: "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."<br><br><b>Spiritual Significance</b><br><br>Beyond its literal meaning, the concept of a stronghold takes on a spiritual dimension in the Bible. It represents the spiritual defenses that believers must maintain against sin and evil. In <a href="/proverbs/10-29.htm">Proverbs 10:29</a> , it is written, "The way of the LORD is a refuge to the upright, but destruction awaits those who do evil." Here, the stronghold is associated with the righteous path and divine protection.<br><br>The prophet Nahum also speaks of God as a stronghold in times of trouble: "The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him" (<a href="/nahum/1-7.htm">Nahum 1:7</a>). This verse highlights the assurance and security found in God's presence, especially during difficult times.<br><br><b>New Testament Insights</b><br><br>In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul uses the concept of strongholds in a metaphorical sense to describe spiritual battles. In <a href="/2_corinthians/10-4.htm">2 Corinthians 10:4</a> , he writes, "The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." Here, strongholds refer to arguments, pretensions, and thoughts that oppose the knowledge of God. Believers are called to take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ, thereby tearing down these spiritual strongholds.<br><br><b>Theological Implications</b><br><br>The stronghold imagery underscores the importance of relying on God's strength and protection. It serves as a reminder that while physical defenses may fail, God's power is unassailable. Believers are encouraged to seek refuge in the Lord, trusting in His ability to safeguard them from both physical and spiritual adversaries.<br><br>In summary, the biblical concept of a stronghold encompasses both the tangible and intangible realms, offering a profound picture of God's unwavering protection and the spiritual fortitude required to stand firm in faith.</div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/s/stronghold.htm">Stronghold</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/h/holds.htm">Holds (67 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/fortresses.htm">Fortresses (45 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/d/defenses.htm">Defenses (8 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/caves.htm">Caves (17 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a 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