Strong's Lexicon ochuróma: Stronghold, fortress Original Word: ὀχύρωμα Word Origin: From the Greek verb ὀχυρόω (ochuroó), meaning "to fortify" or "to make strong." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Hebrew equivalent often associated with the concept of a stronghold is מָצוּד (matsud, Strong's H4686), which also means fortress or stronghold, as seen in passages like Psalm 18:2: "The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer." Usage: The term "ochuróma" refers to a stronghold or fortress, a place of security and defense. In the New Testament, it is used metaphorically to describe mental or spiritual strongholds—patterns of thought or belief that are resistant to the truth of God. Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient times, strongholds were fortified structures used for protection against enemies. They were often built on elevated ground and surrounded by walls, making them difficult to penetrate. The concept of a stronghold was well understood in the Greco-Roman world, where cities often had such fortifications for defense. Spiritually, the metaphor of a stronghold is used to describe entrenched sin or false beliefs that can dominate a person's life. HELPS Word-studies 3794 o [3794 (oxýrōma) is also used for a prison in antiquity (BAGD). "The word is not common in Classical Greek, but occurs frequently in the Apocrypha. In its use here there may lie a reminiscence of the rock-forts on the coast of Paul's native Cilicia, which were pulled down by the Romans in their attacks on the Cilician pirates. Pompey inflicted a crushing defeat upon their navy off the rocky stronghold of Coracesium on the confines of Cilicia and Pisidia" (WS, 833).] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ochuroó (to fortify) Definition a stronghold, fortress NASB Translation fortresses (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3794: ὀχύρωμαὀχύρωμα, ὀχυρώματος, τό (ὀχυρόω (to make strong, to fortify)); 1. properly, a castle, stronghold, fortress, fastness, the Sept. for מִבְצָר, etc.; very often in 1 and 2 Macc.; Xenophon, Hellen. 3, 2, 3. 2. tropically, anything on which one relies: καθεῖλε τό ὀχύρωμα, ἐφ' ᾧ ἐπεποίθεισαν, Proverbs 21:22; ὀχύρωμα ὁσίου φόβος κυρίου, Proverbs 10:29; in 2 Corinthians 10:4 of the arguments and reasonings by which a disputant endeavors to fortify his opinion and defend it against his opponent. From a remote derivative of echo (meaning to fortify, through the idea of holding safely); a castle (figuratively, argument) -- stronghold. see GREEK echo |
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