מָעַד (ma.ad)
ma.ad
to slip
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb ma.ad describes the physical act of slipping, sliding, or losing one’s footing. It appears in five verses, primarily within the poetic books of Psalms, Proverbs, and Job. The word captures a moment of instability, where balance is lost and a fall seems imminent. In its basic form, it depicts someone whose steps are unsteady on uncertain ground.
A key distinction lies in its Hiphil stem, which shifts the meaning from passive slipping to active causation: to cause another to shake or totter. This usage highlights how external forces can destabilize a person’s resolve or position. For instance, when Proverbs warns against being shaken by fear or trouble, it uses this verb to illustrate how anxiety can undermine one’s spiritual footing.
Its occurrence in Job underscores the vulnerability of human life. When Job feels his stability crumbling under suffering, ma.ad conveys that visceral sense of precariousness. Translators often render it as "slip" or "stumble," but the image is more dynamic than a simple error; it suggests a loss of control that requires divine support to correct.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Life often feels like walking on uneven ground, where stability seems fragile and one misstep can lead to a fall. The Hebrew word ma.ad captures this precise moment of losing footing, whether through physical treachery or the weight of anxiety. It reminds us that instability is part of the human experience, visible in Job’s suffering and the warnings found in Proverbs.
Yet this awareness does not leave us without hope. In Psalm 26, David prays for God to judge him because he has trusted without wavering. The promise in Psalm 37 offers a gentle anchor: when God’s law rests in our hearts, our steps do not slide. This word invites us to look beyond our own shaky balance and find steadiness in divine support.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they slip1×
- slipped1×
- it slips1×
- [belongs] to/ [those who] are sliding of1×
- I will slip1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תִמְעַ֣ד1×
- מוּעָ֑דֶת1×
- מָעֲד֖וּ1×
- לְ/מ֣וֹעֲדֵי1×
- אֶמְעָֽד\׃1×
Key Verses
-
II Samuel 22:37
You have enlarged my steps under me. My feet have not slipped.
This verse uses the word to affirm that God provides a wide, stable path where David’s feet remain secure despite challenges.
-
Psalms 37:31
The law of his God is in his heart. None of his steps shall slide.
Here the term promises that internalizing God’s instruction prevents one’s steps from sliding, linking spiritual stability to obedience.
-
Job 12:5
In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune. It is ready for them whose foot slips.
The text highlights human vulnerability by noting how easily those who are comfortable can look down on others whose feet are slipping.