### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **miṭṭâh**, represented by `{{H4296}}`, is a term for a **bed**. It appears **29 times** across **29 unique verses** in the Bible. Derived from a root meaning to extend, its application ranges from a place for sleeping or eating to a sofa, a litter for carrying people, or a bier for the dead.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical narratives, `{{H4296}}` is used in diverse contexts. It is frequently a place of sickness and death, as when the LORD declares that King Ahaziah "shalt not come down from that **bed** on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die" [[2 Kings 1:4]]. It can also be a place of intense private emotion, such as David's grief-stricken cry, "all the **night** make I my **bed** to swim" [[Psalms 6:6]], or King Ahab's sullen refusal to eat upon his **bed** [[1 Kings 21:4]]. The term also describes objects of luxury, like the opulent **beds** of gold and silver in Esther's palace [[Esther 1:6]] or the **beds** of ivory condemned by the prophet Amos [[Amos 6:4]]. Lastly, it can refer to a funeral **bier**, as when King David followed the **bier** of Abner [[2 Samuel 3:31]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help define the function and setting of a `{{H4296}}` **bed**:
* `{{H6210}}` **ʻeres** (couch): Often used in parallel with **miṭṭâh**, this word also refers to a couch or bed. In Amos, the complacent in Israel lie on **beds** `{{H4296}}` and stretch themselves on their **couches** `{{H6210}}` [[Amos 6:4]].
* `{{H7901}}` **shâkab** (to lie down): This verb describes the primary action associated with a bed. It is used when people **lie** on beds for rest, sleep, or due to sickness [[1 Kings 21:4]].
* `{{H2315}}` **cheder** (chamber): When combined with **miṭṭâh**, it specifies a private "bedchamber." This is where the young Joash was hidden for protection [[2 Kings 11:2]] and where a person would be most vulnerable [[2 Samuel 4:7]].
* `{{H7979}}` **shulchân** (table): A **bed** is often listed with other furniture like a **table**, stool, and candlestick, establishing its role as a standard furnishing within a home or chamber ([[2 Kings 4:10]], [[Ezekiel 23:41]]).
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H4296}}` extends beyond a simple piece of furniture, touching on key aspects of human life and divine interaction.
* **The Hub of Domestic Life:** The **bed** is central to life's most critical moments. It is where Jacob died, gathering his feet into the **bed** [[Genesis 49:33]], and where the Shunammite's son was laid after his death [[2 Kings 4:21]].
* **A Symbol of Status or Judgment:** The luxury of a **bed** of ivory can signify worldly indulgence that attracts God's judgment [[Amos 6:4]]. Conversely, being confined to a **bed** by illness or a divine decree represents a state of powerlessness and impending mortality [[2 Kings 1:16]].
* **A Place of Secrecy and Strategy:** The privacy of the **bed** allows for deception, as when Michal placed an image `{{H8655}}` in David's **bed** to aid his escape [[1 Samuel 19:13]]. The "bedchamber" (`{{H2315}}` `{{H4296}}`) is the ultimate place of refuge and hiding [[2 Chronicles 22:11]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4296}}` is a versatile word whose meaning is shaped by its context. It is far more than a place of sleep; it is a stage for life, death, sorrow, luxury, judgment, and intrigue. From the humble pallet to the royal couch and the funeral **bier**, **miṭṭâh** reflects the full spectrum of human experience, often serving as the setting where individuals encounter their own vulnerability and the sovereignty of God.
TRV