### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʼAkkad**, represented by `{{H390}}`, refers to a specific place in Babylon. Its name likely derives from an unused root meaning "to strengthen," giving it the base definition of **a fortress**. This word appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible, marking it as a geographically and historically specific term.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H390}}` is in Genesis, where it is listed as one of the foundational cities of an early post-flood civilization. The text states, "And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and **Accad**, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar" [[Genesis 10:10]]. This verse establishes **Accad** as a key part of the first kingdom in the region of Shinar, alongside other significant ancient cities.
### Related Words & Concepts
The context of `{{H390}}` is understood through the places mentioned with it:
* `{{H894}}` **Bâbel**: Defined as "confusion," this city was a core part of the kingdom mentioned in [[Genesis 10:10]] and later the Babylonian empire. Its inclusion alongside **Accad** places it at the center of early organized human society.
* `{{H751}}` **ʼErek**: Another of the foundational cities in Shinar, its name means "length." **Erek** is listed with **Accad** as part of the same initial dominion [[Genesis 10:10]].
* `{{H8152}}` **Shinʻâr**: This is the name for the "plain in Babylonia" where **Accad** and the other cities of this first kingdom were located. This region is consistently associated with the origins of Babylon [[Genesis 10:10]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H390}}` is tied to its role in the Genesis narrative of early kingdoms.
* **Origin of Human Dominion:** **Accad** is part of the "beginning" `{{H7225}}` of the first human "kingdom" `{{H4467}}` mentioned in scripture, symbolizing the rise of organized, earthly power structures [[Genesis 10:10]].
* **A Fortress of Man:** The word's definition as **a fortress**, derived from a root meaning "to strengthen," thematically connects it to the human effort to build and secure power, a concept central to the narrative of nearby Babel.
* **Association with Shinar:** Its location in the "land" `{{H776}}` of Shinar and its connection to Babel links **Accad** to a legacy of human ambition that would later culminate in events signifying confusion and opposition to God.
### Summary
In summary, **ʼAkkad** `{{H390}}` is not a broad theological concept but a specific, significant location. Its single mention in scripture firmly places it as a cornerstone of the first earthly kingdom in the land of Shinar. As one of the original four cities, alongside Babel, **Accad** represents an early seat of human civilization and centralized power, setting the stage for the broader biblical narrative of empires and their relationship with God.
TRV