Fortify
Jump to: Webster'sConcordanceThesaurusGreekHebrewLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Context:
The term "fortify" generally refers to the act of strengthening or securing a place against attack. In biblical contexts, fortification often involves the construction of walls, towers, and other defensive structures to protect cities and their inhabitants from enemy forces. The concept of fortification extends beyond physical structures to include spiritual and moral strengthening.

Biblical References:

1. Physical Fortification:
The Bible frequently mentions the fortification of cities as a practical measure for protection. In the Old Testament, cities like Jerusalem and Jericho are noted for their strong defenses. For example, in 2 Chronicles 32:5, King Hezekiah "strengthened himself, rebuilt all the wall that was broken, and raised towers upon it, and built another wall outside." This passage highlights the importance of physical fortifications in safeguarding the people and maintaining the integrity of the city.

2. Spiritual Fortification:
Beyond physical defenses, the Bible emphasizes the need for spiritual fortification. In Ephesians 6:10-11, believers are encouraged to "be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes." This metaphorical armor represents spiritual fortification through faith, righteousness, and the Word of God.

3. Moral and Ethical Fortification:
The concept of fortification also applies to moral and ethical strength. Proverbs 25:28 states, "Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control." This verse underscores the idea that self-discipline and moral integrity serve as fortifications for the soul, protecting individuals from spiritual and moral decay.

4. Divine Fortification:
The Bible assures believers of God's role as a divine fortress. Psalm 18:2 declares, "The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge." This imagery portrays God as the ultimate source of protection and strength, offering a spiritual fortification that surpasses any human-made defenses.

Historical and Cultural Insights:
In ancient times, the fortification of cities was a common practice among various civilizations, including the Israelites. The construction of walls and towers was not only a military strategy but also a symbol of a city's strength and stability. The biblical narrative often uses the imagery of fortified cities to convey messages of security, divine protection, and the consequences of moral failure.

Theological Implications:
Theologically, the concept of fortification in the Bible serves as a reminder of the need for both physical and spiritual preparedness. It calls believers to rely on God's strength and protection while also taking active steps to fortify their faith and moral character. The dual emphasis on divine and human responsibility reflects a holistic approach to security and resilience in the face of life's challenges.

Practical Application:
For contemporary believers, the biblical theme of fortification encourages a balanced approach to life. It involves building strong spiritual foundations through prayer, study of Scripture, and community fellowship, while also cultivating personal virtues such as self-control and integrity. By doing so, individuals can withstand external pressures and internal temptations, remaining steadfast in their faith and witness.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (v. t.) To add strength to; to furnish with power to resist attack.

2. (v. t.) To strengthen and secure by forts or batteries, or by surrounding with a wall or ditch or other military works; to render defensible against an attack by hostile forces.

3. (v. i.) To raise defensive works.

Greek
3794. ochuroma -- a stronghold, fortress
... 3794 (from the root "fortify") -- a fortified, military stronghold; a strong-walled
fortress (), used only in 2 Cor 10:4. Here 3794 ("a heavily-fortified ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3794.htm - 7k
Strong's Hebrew
1219. batsar -- to cut off, make inaccessible, enclose
... root Definition to cut off, make inaccessible, enclose NASB Word Usage cut off
(1), fortified (24), fortify (2), gather (3), gathered (1), gatherer (1 ...
/hebrew/1219.htm - 6k

2388. chazaq -- to be or grow firm or strong, strengthen
... A primitive root; to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous,
causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind ...
/hebrew/2388.htm - 8k

5800. azab -- to leave, forsake, loose
... commit self, fail, forsake, fortify, help, leave destitute, off, refuse,
A primitive root; to loosen, ie Relinquish, permit, etc. ...
/hebrew/5800.htm - 5k

553. amets -- to be stout, strong, bold, alert
... confirm, be courageous of good courage, steadfastly minded, strong, stronger,
establish, fortify, harden,. A primitive root; to be ...
/hebrew/553.htm - 6k

6696. tsuwr -- to confine, bind, besiege
... literally and figuratively, formative or hostile) -- adversary, assault, beset,
besiege, bind (up), cast, distress, fashion, fortify, inclose, lay siege, put ...
/hebrew/6696.htm - 5k

Library

On Proverbs. From the Commentary of St. Hippolytus on Proverbs.
... [1223] And what is meant by "exalt (fortify) her?" Surround her with holy thoughts;
for you have need of large defence, since there are many things to imperil ...
/.../on proverbs from the commentary.htm

Letter ii. --The Three Degrees of virtue.
... the help of grace which never fails him, it is always in his power to strengthen
his will towards good, although naturally so weak; and to fortify it against ...
/.../de caussade/abandonment to divine providence/letter ii the three degrees of.htm

How a Soul in Charity Makes Progress in It.
... to the solicitation of grace, seconding the inspiration which prevents her, and
accepting the required helps provided for her by God; he will fortify her, and ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter iii how a soul.htm

Prayerlessness in the Pulpit
... And as if to still fortify the faith of His ministry and of His Church, to hedge
about and fortify against any temptation to doubt or discouragement, He ...
/.../bounds/the weapon of prayer/viii prayerlessness in the pulpit.htm

How Internal Livers Ought to Behave Themselves in Time of Sickness ...
... made to improve for their soul's advancement, all states and conditions; and by
occasion of their present corporal infirmity or pains to fortify in their minds ...
/.../chapter v how internal livers.htm

How Titus Marched to Jerusalem, and How He was in Danger as He was ...
... thought that, by marching in the night, they might be tired, and might deserve to
be covered from the enemy, and with less fear might fortify themselves; and ...
/.../chapter 2 how titus marched.htm

The Imagination.
... All this unfits her for the reception of those supernatural truths which fortify
the mind without troubling the imagination, and, consequently, she remains ...
/.../sainte-foi/serious hours of a young lady/chapter x the imagination.htm

Our Ally
... then, we have three things in this text; the great promise of an Ally in the conflict
with the world; the witness which that Ally bears, to fortify against the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture st john chaps xv to xxi/our ally.htm

The Evidences of Christianity Briefly Stated, and the New ...
... It may fortify you against the artifices, by which the unwary are often deceived
and ensnared, and may possibly enable you to put to silence their foolishness ...
/.../the evidences of christianity/the evidences of christianity briefly.htm

Letter ii. Self-Control and Self-Culture.
... Yet you need, over and over again, to fortify yourself against temptation to hasty
or ill-natured or improper speech by determining beforehand that you will ...
/.../letter ii self-control and self-culture.htm

Thesaurus
Fortify (6 Occurrences)
... 3. (vi) To raise defensive works. Multi-Version Concordance Fortify (6
Occurrences). ... will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? ...
/f/fortify.htm - 8k

Line (131 Occurrences)
... 5. (vt) To place persons or things along the side of for security or defense; to
strengthen by adding anything; to fortify; as, to line works with soldiers. ...
/l/line.htm - 43k

Geba (22 Occurrences)
... 6 miles. It was fortified by Asa with materials that his enemy Baasha
had used to fortify Ramah against him (1 Kings 15:22). It ...
/g/geba.htm - 17k

Wall (227 Occurrences)
... vein laterally. 7. (vt) To enclose with a wall, or as with a wall. 8. (vt)
To defend by walls, or as if by walls; to fortify. 9. (vt ...
/w/wall.htm - 49k

Fortifiest (1 Occurrence)

/f/fortifiest.htm - 6k

Fortifying (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Fortify. Multi-Version
Concordance Fortifying (3 Occurrences). Judges 9:31 and he ...
/f/fortifying.htm - 7k

Fortifies (1 Occurrence)
... Jeremiah 51:53 Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify
the height of her strength, yet from Me shall spoilers come unto her ...
/f/fortifies.htm - 6k

Fence (12 Occurrences)
... used in the King James Version in the description of fortified places, as the
translation of batsar, "to cut off," "to separate," "to fortify" (and forms ...
/f/fence.htm - 15k

Trench (8 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To fortify by cutting a ditch, and raising a rampart or breastwork
with the earth thrown out of the ditch; to entrench. ...
/t/trench.htm - 10k

Ramah (38 Occurrences)
... The palm tree of Deborah was between this and Bethel (Judges 4:5). Baasha, king
of Samaria, sought to fortify Ramah against Asa, king of Judah. ...
/r/ramah.htm - 26k

Resources
Summary of the Book of Ephesians - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org

What is the “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” sermon? | GotQuestions.org

Fortify: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Fortify (6 Occurrences)

Judges 9:31
And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against thee.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Nehemiah 4:2
He spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria, and said, What are these feeble Jews doing? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, seeing they are burned?
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

Isaiah 22:10
You numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and you broke down the houses to fortify the wall.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 51:53
Though Babylon should mount up to the sky, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall destroyers come to her, says Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Nahum 2:1
He who dashes in pieces has come up against you. Keep the fortress! Watch the way! Strengthen your waist! Fortify your power mightily!
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Nahum 3:14
Draw thee waters for the siege, fortify thy strong holds: go into clay, and tread the morter, make strong the brickkiln.
(KJV WBS)

Subtopics

Fortify

Related Terms

Fortify (6 Occurrences)

Fortification (5 Occurrences)

Jehoshaphat (79 Occurrences)

Fortitude (5 Occurrences)

Deceitfully (22 Occurrences)

Rehoboam (42 Occurrences)

Ahab (85 Occurrences)

Hezekiah (124 Occurrences)

Armenia (2 Occurrences)

Fortified (79 Occurrences)

Fort (8 Occurrences)

Fortress (75 Occurrences)

Arrest (22 Occurrences)

Trial (45 Occurrences)

Cities (427 Occurrences)

Jesus (10891 Occurrences)

Christ (573 Occurrences)

Fortifiest
Top of Page
Top of Page