or מֹסָדָה; feminine of מוֹסָד; a foundation; foundation.
Transliteration:môwçâdâh
Pronunciation:mo-saw-daw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term môwçâdâh (`{{H4146}}`) is a feminine noun derived from the root yāsad (`{{H3245}}`), meaning "to found," "to establish," or "to lay a foundation." As the feminine form of môwçâd (`{{H4145}}`), it carries the core meaning of a "foundation," "base," or "what is founded." Semantically, it refers to the lowest, most fundamental part of a structure, upon which the stability and integrity of the whole depend. Its range extends from literal physical foundations of buildings, cities, or mountains to the metaphorical and cosmic foundations of the earth and the world itself, emphasizing concepts of stability, permanence, divine establishment, and underlying order.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term môwçâdâh (`{{H4146}}`) appears in several significant biblical passages, predominantly in poetic and prophetic literature, often in reference to the created order:
* **[[Deuteronomy 32:22]]**: "For a fire is kindled in My anger, and burns to the lowest part of Sheol, and consumes the earth with its increase, and sets on fire the *foundations* of the mountains." Here, the term describes the deep, enduring bases of mountains, illustrating the terrifying, all-consuming power of divine wrath that can penetrate even the most stable elements of creation.
* **[[2 Samuel 22:16]] / [[Psalm 18:15]]**: "Then the channels of the sea were seen, the *foundations* of the world were laid bare, at the rebuke of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils." In this poetic description of God's intervention, the "foundations of the world" are revealed, signifying God's absolute power to expose and control the very bedrock of creation in His mighty acts of deliverance or judgment.
* **[[Proverbs 8:29]]**: "When He assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters would not transgress His command, when He marked out the *foundations* of the earth." This verse, within the personification of Wisdom, highlights God's orderly and wise establishment of the cosmos, setting fixed boundaries and laying the stable groundwork for the earth.
* **[[Isaiah 24:18]]**: "And it will be that he who flees the sound of terror will fall into the pit, and he who comes up from the midst of the pit will be caught in the snare; for the windows of heaven are opened, and the *foundations* of the earth shake." This passage depicts a scene of cosmic judgment and upheaval, where even the seemingly unshakeable foundations of the earth are disturbed, underscoring the severity of divine visitation.
* **[[Jeremiah 31:37]]**: "Thus says the Lord, 'If the heavens above can be measured and the *foundations* of the earth below can be searched out, then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done,' declares the Lord." This powerful hyperbole uses the immeasurability of the heavens and the unsearchable depth of the earth's foundations to emphasize the absolute certainty and permanence of God's covenant faithfulness to Israel.
* **[[Micah 6:2]]**: "Hear, O mountains, the Lord's complaint, and you enduring *foundations* of the earth, for the Lord has a complaint against His people." The enduring foundations of the earth are called upon as witnesses in God's covenant lawsuit against His people, signifying their ancient and stable testimony to His faithfulness and Israel's transgression.
### Related Words & Concepts
Môwçâdâh (`{{H4146}}`) is closely related to other terms from the same root yāsad (`{{H3245}}`):
* **môwçâd (`{{H4145}}`):** The masculine counterpart, also meaning "foundation," "base," or "what is founded." Both terms often refer to the same concept of a structural base.
* **yĕsôd (`{{H3248}}`):** Another noun meaning "foundation," "base," or "beginning," frequently used for the foundation of a building or altar.
* **yāsad (`{{H3245}}`):** The verbal root, "to found," "to establish," "to lay a foundation," from which môwçâdâh derives its core meaning.
Related concepts include:
* **’ereṣ (`{{H776}}`):** "Earth," frequently appearing alongside môwçâdâh to denote the "foundations of the earth," emphasizing the stability of the created order.
* **har (`{{H2022}}`):** "Mountain," similarly paired with môwçâdâh as "foundations of the mountains," highlighting their deep-seated stability.
The word evokes concepts of stability, permanence, divine ordering, creation, cosmic structure, judgment, and covenant faithfulness.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of môwçâdâh (`{{H4146}}`) is profound, primarily underscoring the attributes and actions of God:
* **Divine Creator and Sustainer:** The recurring phrase "foundations of the earth" (e.g., [[Proverbs 8:29]], [[2 Samuel 22:16]]) powerfully affirms God's role as the sovereign Architect who established the cosmos with wisdom, order, and stability. He is not merely the Creator but also the One who sustains these deep, underlying structures of the world.
* **Immutability and Steadfastness:** The unshakeable nature of these foundations, particularly those of the earth and mountains, serves as a metaphor for God's own unchangeable character and His steadfast covenant faithfulness. As seen in [[Jeremiah 31:37]], the impossibility of measuring the earth's foundations parallels the impossibility of God abandoning His covenant people, demonstrating His enduring commitment.
* **Cosmic Judgment and Sovereignty:** When these "foundations" are depicted as shaking, being laid bare, or set on fire (e.g., [[Isaiah 24:18]], [[Deuteronomy 32:22]]), it signifies profound divine judgment and cosmic upheaval. This imagery demonstrates God's ultimate power and sovereignty over even the most stable elements of creation, revealing that nothing can withstand His righteous wrath.
* **Wisdom's Role in Creation:** In [[Proverbs 8:29]], the presence of personified Wisdom when God "marked out the foundations of the earth" highlights the inherent order, design, and intelligent structure embedded in creation. The world's foundations are not arbitrary but are laid with divine wisdom.
### Summary
The Hebrew term môwçâdâh (`{{H4146}}`) precisely conveys the concept of a "foundation"—the deep, stable, and essential base upon which something rests. Predominantly used in the Old Testament to describe the "foundations of the earth" or "foundations of the mountains," it serves as a powerful testament to the divine ordering and establishment of creation. Theologically, môwçâdâh points to God's sovereign power as Creator and Sustainer, His immutable character and covenant faithfulness, and the profound nature of His cosmic judgments when these foundational elements are disturbed. It encapsulates the notion of a divinely established and enduring order, serving as a perpetual witness to the wisdom, might, and steadfastness of the Almighty.