מִפְקָד
an appointment, i.e. mandate; concretely, a designated spot; specifically, a census
Definition
The Hebrew noun מִפְקָד (miphqâd) carries a core idea of something appointed or designated. It primarily refers to a specific, appointed place, such as a designated location for ritual or official activity, as seen in Ezekiel 43:21 where it describes the place for burning sin offerings. A second key meaning is a census or numbering, specifically an official registration mandated by authority, as in the accounts of David's census in 2 Samuel 24:9 and 1 Chronicles 21:5. The word can also denote the act of appointment itself—a command or mandate that establishes something.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only four times in the Old Testament, appearing in historical and prophetic books. In historical contexts (2 Samuel 24:9, 1 Chronicles 21:5), it specifically means the 'number' or result of a census. In administrative and ritual contexts, it refers to an 'appointed place' for storage (2 Chronicles 31:13) and for sacrifice (Ezekiel 43:21). The usage consistently implies an action or location established by authoritative decree.
Etymology
Derived from the root פָּקַד (pāqad, H6485), which means to attend to, visit, muster, or appoint. מִפְקָד is a noun form indicating the concrete result or place of that action—what is appointed, mustered, or numbered. Related words include פְּקֻדָּה (pequddâ, H6486), meaning oversight or charge.
Semantic Range
This word connects to themes of divine authority, order, and accountability. David's sinful 'census' (2 Samuel 24) involved a מִפְקָד, highlighting human presumption versus trust in God's provision. In Ezekiel's vision (Ezekiel 43:21), the 'appointed place' for sacrifice points to God's meticulous design for holiness and atonement in worship, reflecting His sovereign command over ritual life.
In ancient Israel, a מִפְקָד for a census was a serious state action, often for military or taxation purposes, carrying connotations of national strength and divine blessing or displeasure. An 'appointed place' in ritual contexts reflects the high cultural and religious value placed on precise, God-ordained locations for sacred acts, ensuring proper worship and maintaining purity.
פְּקֻדָּה (pequddâ, H6486) — emphasizes the act of oversight or a charge/duty. מִסְפָּר (mispar, H4557) — a more general term for 'number' or count, without the inherent sense of official appointment.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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