מוֹעֵד (mo.ed)
mo.ed
meeting: time appointed
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 193 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun moed signifies a fixed, appointed time or place for meeting. Derived from a root meaning to appoint or signal, it carries the sense of something established in advance rather than occurring by chance. In Genesis 1:14, the word describes celestial bodies serving as markers for seasons and days, establishing order in creation. This foundational usage highlights that moed refers to divinely scheduled moments intended for specific purposes.
In the Torah, particularly Exodus and Leviticus, moed frequently appears in two distinct contexts. First, it denotes the sacred festivals of the Lord, such as Passover and the Day of Atonement, which structured Israel’s religious calendar. Second, it refers to the Tent of Meeting, the designated place where God encountered Moses and the community. This dual usage connects time and space, suggesting that divine interaction happens at specific appointed moments in a specific holy location.
The term also appears in narrative passages to indicate precise timing, such as when God reminds Abraham of the promise fulfilled at the set time in Genesis 18:14. By using moed, the biblical text emphasizes that history and worship are not random but follow a deliberate divine plan. This word underlines the belief that God orchestrates both the rhythm of seasons and the gatherings of His people.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word moed reminds us that our lives are not a series of random accidents but part of a deliberate plan. In Genesis 1:14, God uses celestial bodies to mark seasons and days, establishing order in creation. This shows that time itself is a gift designed for connection rather than chaos. We can trust that the rhythms of our daily lives have purpose.
This concept extends beyond nature into our spiritual gatherings. The Bible frequently links moed with the Tent of Meeting, a specific place where God promised to meet His people. It suggests that divine interaction happens at appointed moments in holy locations. When we gather for worship or prayer, we participate in this ancient rhythm of meeting with the Creator.
Whether you are waiting for a promise like Sarah did or keeping a sacred festival, moed encourages patience and focus. God is faithful to His schedule. We can rest in the assurance that He orchestrates both the seasons of the year and the gatherings of His people with care and precision.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 193 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- meeting137×
- to the/ appointed time8×
- at/ appointed time/ its5×
- to/ [the] appointed time of4×
- an appointed feast3×
- the/ appointed time2×
- at/ appointed feasts/ your2×
- appointed meeting2×
- and/ for the/ appointed feasts2×
- an appointed time2×
- [the] appointed feasts of2×
- [are] [the] appointed feasts of2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מוֹעֵ֑ד38×
- מוֹעֵֽד\׃37×
- מוֹעֵ֔ד24×
- מוֹעֵ֖ד21×
- מוֹעֵד֙6×
- מוֹעֵ֗ד6×
- מוֹעֵ֛ד4×
- מוֹעֵ֣ד3×
- מוֹעֵ֜ד3×
- מוֹעֲדֵ֣י3×
- מוֹעֵד֮2×
- מוֹעֵֽד\׃\ \ס2×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 1:14
God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs to mark seasons, days, and years;
This verse establishes moed as a marker for seasons, showing that time itself is divinely ordered for human understanding.
-
Genesis 18:14
Is anything too hard for Yahweh? At the set time I will return to you, when the season comes around, and Sarah will have a son.”
Here the word highlights God's faithfulness to His timeline, assuring Abraham that the promised child will arrive at the exact appointed moment.
-
Exodus 29:42
It shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the Tent of Meeting before Yahweh, where I will meet with you, to speak there to you.
This occurrence connects the fixed time of sacrifice with the location of the Tent of Meeting, emphasizing that worship is a structured encounter with God.
-
Exodus 33:7
Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far away from the camp, and he called it “The Tent of Meeting.” Everyone who sought Yahweh went out to the Tent of Meeting, which was outside the camp.
Moses pitches the Tent of Meeting outside the camp, showing that moed also defines a specific spatial boundary for seeking divine guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word moed mean?
How is moed different from other words for time?
Why is moed used for both time and place?
Every Occurrence (193 verses across 24 books)
Genesis 4 verses
God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs to…
Genesis 17:21But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.”
Genesis 18:14Is anything too hard for Yahweh? At the set time I will return to you, when the season comes around, and Sarah will…
Genesis 21:2Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.