Bible Encyclopedias
Tower

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

is the rendering in the A. V. of the following Heb. and Gr. words:

1. בָּחוֹן בִּחִן, and בָּחוּן (Sept. ἔπαλξις ),from בָּחִן, to ‘ search," "explore," a searcher or watcher; and hence the notion of a watch-tower. In Isaiah 32:14 the tower of Ophel is probably meant (Nehemiah 3:26).

2. מגַדָּל and מַגְדּל or מגְדּוֹל (πύργος;' turris), from גָּדִל to "become great," a-lofty tower; used sometimes as a proper noun. (See MIGDOL),

3. מָצוֹר (πέτρα munitio), a strong fortification; only once "tower" (Habakkuk 2:1). (See EGYPT).

4. עֹפֵל (οικος;' domus), only in 2 Kings 5:24. (See OPHEL).

5. פּנָּה, usually "corner," twice only "tower" (Zephaniah 1:16; Zephaniah 3:6; γωνία; angulus).

6. מַצְפֶּה (σκοπιά :specula), "watch-tower." (See MIZPAH).

7. מַשְׂגָּב (ὀχύρωμα; robur), "a refuge," only in poetry. (See MISGAH).

8. Πύργος , the general term in the New Test. (See FORTIFICATION).

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