מִפְקָד
Miphkad, the name of a gate in Jerusalem
Definition
Miphkad is the proper name of a specific gate in the wall of Jerusalem, mentioned in the context of Nehemiah's reconstruction project. It is referenced only in Nehemiah 3:31, where it is listed among the gates repaired by the priests. The name itself, derived from the root meaning 'appointment' or 'assignment,' suggests this gate may have been a designated place for official musters, judicial proceedings, or census-taking. While its precise location is debated, its inclusion highlights the comprehensive nature of the wall's restoration and the communal effort involved.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Nehemiah 3:31. It functions strictly as a proper noun, identifying one of the many gates of Jerusalem that were repaired following the exile. The verse states, 'After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith's son unto the place of the Nethinims, and to the house of the merchants, over against the gate Miphkad, and to the going up of the corner.' Its usage is purely geographical and descriptive within the historical account of the wall's rebuilding.
Etymology
The word מִפְקָד (Miphqâd) is identical to the common noun מִפְקָד (H4662), which means 'appointment,' 'charge,' 'command,' or 'mustering.' It is derived from the root פָּקַד (pāqad, H6485), meaning to attend to, visit, muster, or appoint. Thus, the gate's name likely indicates its function as a place of official 'appointment' or gathering, perhaps for military, administrative, or judicial purposes.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a proper name, its etymological connection to concepts of divine appointment and oversight can be theologically significant. The rebuilding of the Miphkad Gate, as part of Nehemiah's project, symbolizes the restoration of God's ordained order and protection for Jerusalem. It reminds readers that God is involved in the details of His people's communal life and governance, re-establishing places of justice and assembly as part of His covenantal faithfulness.
In ancient Near Eastern cities, gates were not merely entrances but vital centers of public life—places for commerce, legal proceedings, and civic gatherings. A gate named 'Miphkad' (Appointment) likely served a specific administrative or judicial function, possibly where leaders mustered troops, took a census, or held court. This reflects a culture where communal identity and order were physically centered at the city's gates, which were points of both defense and civil authority.
שַׁעַר (shaʿar, H8179) — The general Hebrew word for 'gate,' of which Miphkad is a specific named example.
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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