### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **middad**, represented by `{{H4059}}`, carries the meaning of **flight** or to **be gone**. It appears only **1 time** across **1 unique verses** in the Bible. Based on its root, this term conveys the concept of something having passed away or departed.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single appearance of `{{H4059}}` is found in the book of Job, in a moment of profound suffering. Job, being "full of tossings to and fro" [[Job 7:4]], expresses his anguish during a sleepless night. He cries out in his lament, "When shall I arise, and the night **be gone**?" [[Job 7:4]]. In this context, the word does not describe a physical flight, but rather the desperate desire for the long, difficult night to pass and for the "dawning of the day" to finally arrive.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its only context in [[Job 7:4]] help illuminate its meaning:
* `{{H7901}}` **shâkab** (to lie down): This primitive root describes the physical act that begins Job's restless night. While it can mean to rest or sleep peacefully [[Psalms 4:8]], here it sets the stage for suffering, as Job **lies down** only to wish for the night to end [[Job 7:4]].
* `{{H6153}}` **ʻereb** (dusk; night): This word for **night** is the very thing Job wishes would **be gone**. It represents the period of his trial and darkness. The term is frequently used to mark the passage of time, such as in the creation account where "the **evening** and the morning" marked a day [[Genesis 1:31]].
* `{{H5076}}` **nâdud** (tossing to and fro): This word powerfully illustrates the reason for Job’s longing. He is "full of **tossings to and fro**" [[Job 7:4]], highlighting a state of restless agitation rather than peaceful rest.
* `{{H5399}}` **nesheph** (dawning of the day): As the counterpart to the night Job endures, this term for the **dawning of the day** represents the hope for which he waits [[Job 7:4]]. It can refer to the darkness of twilight or the approaching light of dawn [[Psalms 119:147]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H4059}}` is centered on the experience of human suffering.
* **A Cry of Lament:** The use of `{{H4059}}` is embedded in a speech of deep personal anguish. It gives voice to the universal experience of wanting a painful period to end, reflecting a plea for relief from overwhelming circumstances [[Job 7:4]].
* **The Passing of a Trial:** The term is used to desire the end of the "night" `{{H6153}}`, which symbolizes a time of darkness and trial. Its departure is linked to the hope of arising `{{H6965}}` and seeing the "dawning of the day" `{{H5399}}`, representing an end to suffering.
* **A Desire for Departure:** With a core meaning of "flight," the word emphasizes an active longing for the ordeal itself to flee. It is not a passive waiting, but an urgent wish for the situation to be over and **gone**.
### Summary
In summary, while `{{H4059}}` **middad** is one of the rarest words in the biblical text, its single use provides a poignant and powerful meaning. It encapsulates the deep longing for an end to suffering, specifically the desire for a "night" of trial to **be gone**. Rather than a term of broad theological doctrine, it offers a window into the raw emotion of human lament, making it a significant expression of the struggle and hope found within scripture.
TRV