מוֹעָד
properly, an assembly figuratively, a troop
Definition
The Hebrew word מוֹעָד (môwʻâd) primarily means an appointed time, place, or meeting. It often refers to a designated assembly, such as a gathering of people for a specific purpose (Isaiah 14:31). More broadly, it can signify a set or appointed time, as in a festival or a divinely ordained moment. In some contexts, it is used figuratively for a troop or company, emphasizing a group assembled for a common goal.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 14:31, where it is used in the context of a cry or proclamation to a city, likely referring to an assembly or gathering of people. Its singular occurrence limits observable patterns, but it aligns with the more common related noun מוֹעֵד (H4150), which frequently denotes appointed times for religious feasts (e.g., Leviticus 23:2) or meetings with God.
Etymology
Derived from the root יָעַד (yāʻad, H3259), meaning 'to appoint, meet, or assemble.' מוֹעָד is a noun form related to מוֹעֵד (H4150), sharing the core idea of a fixed or appointed occasion. This root conveys intentionality and divine or human designation for gatherings or events.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, מוֹעָד connects to the important biblical theme of God's sovereignty over time and community. It reflects the concept that gatherings, whether for judgment (as in Isaiah 14) or worship, are under God's appointment. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting how biblical events are often part of God's ordained schedule, emphasizing order and purpose in divine-human interactions.
In ancient Israelite culture, appointed times (מוֹעֲדִים) were central to religious and social life, marking festivals, sacrifices, and communal meetings. This word would evoke a sense of fixed, significant occasions ordained by tradition or divine command, differing from modern casual gatherings by carrying weight of obligation and sacredness.
מוֹעֵד (môwʻēd, H4150) — More common term for appointed time or meeting, often used for religious feasts; עֵדָה (ʻēdâ, H5712) — Assembly or congregation, usually a permanent community group; קָהָל (qāhāl, H6951) — Assembly, congregation, often for formal or liturgical purposes.
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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