מַעֲמָד (ma.a.mad)
ma.a.mad
office
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun ma’amad refers to a position, office, or specific duty within an organized system. Derived from a root meaning "to stand," it describes the state of holding a post or performing a designated service. The sources suggest it may originally have denoted standing attendance, particularly in contexts like waiting at a table or maintaining a station.
In Scripture, this word appears five times, primarily in historical and prophetic books such as 2 Chronicles, Isaiah, and 1 Kings. It is used to describe the assigned roles of temple personnel or officials holding specific stations. Rather than implying general labor, it points to a structured function where one’s place is fixed and recognized within a community or religious hierarchy.
The term highlights the importance of order and defined responsibility in ancient Israelite society. By using a word rooted in "standing," the text emphasizes stability and presence in one’s assigned role. This usage reflects a worldview where social and religious duties were clearly delineated, ensuring that each person contributed to the whole from their specific post.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ma’amad describes a fixed position or assigned duty, rooted in the idea of standing firm in one’s place. In ancient Israel, this term highlighted the importance of order and defined responsibility within the community and religious hierarchy. It was not about general labor but about holding a specific post where one’s presence and stability were recognized.
For your faith life, this concept reminds us that God often calls us to faithful presence in our assigned roles. Whether serving in a church, caring for family, or working in the world, our value lies not in shifting positions but in standing firm in the duties we have been given. Like the Levites who remained at their posts, we are invited to find peace in doing what is right before God with consistency and integrity.
This stability reflects a deeper trust that God has placed us where we belong. When we focus on being faithful in our current station rather than chasing new opportunities, we honor the order He has established. It is a quiet strength, rooted in the belief that every role matters when performed with devotion to Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ [the] standing of2×
- post/ their1×
- function/ their1×
- and/ from/ post/ your1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/מַעֲמַ֨ד2×
- מַעֲמָדָ֞/ם1×
- מַעֲמָדָ֗/ם1×
- וּ/מִ/מַּעֲמָֽדְ/ךָ֖1×
Key Verses
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I Kings 10:5
the food of his table, the sitting of his servants, the attendance of his officials, their clothing, his cup bearers, and his ascent by which he went up to Yahweh’s house, there was no more spirit in her.
This verse lists ma’amad among Solomon’s court officials, showing it refers to a formal position of attendance and service in the royal hierarchy.
-
II Chronicles 35:15
The singers, the sons of Asaph, were in their place, according to the commandment of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer; and the gatekeepers were at every gate. They didn’t need to depart from their service, because their brothers the Levites prepared for them.
Here, Levites are described as being in their place and not departing from their service, illustrating ma’amad as a fixed duty within temple worship.
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Isaiah 22:19
I will thrust you from your office. You will be pulled down from your station.
The prophet declares that the official will be thrust from his office, using ma’amad to signify a high-ranking position of authority and responsibility.