יָעַד
to fix upon (by agreement or appointment); by implication, to meet (at a stated time), to summon (to trial)
Definition
The Hebrew verb יָעַד (yâʻad) fundamentally means 'to appoint' or 'to set' something, often with a sense of mutual agreement or divine decree. Its core meaning involves fixing a time, place, or purpose, as seen when God appoints a time to meet with Israel at the tent of meeting (Exodus 29:42-43). It extends to the idea of summoning or assembling people, such as gathering for a trial or meeting. In legal contexts, it specifically refers to betrothal or engagement for marriage, where a woman is 'appointed' to a man (Exodus 21:8-9).
Biblical Usage
יָעַד is used 29 times, primarily in the Pentateuch (Exodus, Numbers), with significant clusters in Exodus 21, 25, 29, and 30. It appears in three main contexts: 1) Divine appointment for meeting, especially at the tabernacle (Exodus 25:22, 30:6). 2) Legal betrothal, governing the status of female servants (Exodus 21:8-9). 3) General assembling or appointing a time, as when trumpets summon the community (Numbers 10:3). Its usage underscores actions initiated by authority, whether divine or social.
Etymology
As a primitive root, יָעַד is not derived from another Hebrew word. It is related by meaning to the noun מוֹעֵד (môʻēd, H4150), meaning 'appointed time' or 'meeting,' which shares the core concept of a fixed, designated occasion. The root conveys the idea of a deliberate, purposeful setting.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it highlights God's initiative in establishing covenantal meetings with His people. The repeated use in Exodus for God 'appointing' a time and place to meet Israel at the tabernacle (e.g., Exodus 29:42-43) underscores His desire for relational presence and structured worship. Understanding יָעַד enriches reading by revealing that divine encounters are often by God's appointed design, not random, emphasizing His sovereignty and intentionality in fellowship.
In its cultural setting, the betrothal sense (Exodus 21:8-9) reflects the legal and economic dimensions of marriage in ancient Israel, where a father could 'appoint' (i.e., betroth) a daughter as a wife, often involving a transaction. This differs from modern romantic engagement, being a binding legal arrangement. The use for assembling also reflects a community-oriented society where summons were crucial for collective decisions or worship.
קָבַע (qāvaʻ, H6950) — to appoint or determine, but more about fixing in place physically. אָסַף (ʼāṣaph, H622) — to gather or collect, but without the nuance of prior appointment. קָרָא (qārāʼ, H7121) — to call or proclaim, often for summoning, but less specific to a set agreement.
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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