from סָפַד; a lamentation; lamentation, one mourneth, mourning, wailing.
Transliteration:miçpêd
Pronunciation:mis-pade'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun *miçpêd* (מִסְפֵּד), Strong's number `{{H4553}}`, is derived from the verbal root *saphaḏ* (סָפַד), `{{H5594}}`, meaning "to wail, lament, beat the breast." As a noun, *miçpêd* denotes the *act* or *state* of lamentation, mourning, or wailing. Its core meaning centers on the audible and visible expression of profound grief, often in a public or communal context. This includes the sounds of wailing, weeping, and other customary manifestations of sorrow, particularly in response to death, tragedy, or significant loss. The semantic range is tightly focused on the outward, often ritualized, demonstration of deep sorrow.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
*Miçpêd* appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, predominantly in narrative and prophetic literature:
* **Formal Mourning for the Deceased**: One of the most prominent uses is in the context of death. In [[Genesis 50:10-11]], Joseph and his brothers make a "great and very sore lamentation" (*miçpêd gâdôl wᵉkhâbhēdh mᵉ’ōdh*) for Jacob at Goren HaAtad, a mourning so significant that the place was named Abel-Mizraim ("mourning of Egypt"). Similarly, [[2 Samuel 11:27]] notes that David waited "when the mourning (*miçpêd*) was past" for Uriah's wife, Bathsheba, before taking her as his wife, indicating a customary period of formal lament.
* **Divine Judgment and National Calamity**: Prophets frequently employ *miçpêd* to describe the widespread sorrow accompanying God's judgment. [[Amos 8:10]] declares that in the day of the Lord, feasts will be turned into mourning (*miçpêd*) and songs into lamentation, signifying a complete reversal of joy due to divine wrath. [[Jeremiah 16:5]] records God's command to Jeremiah not to enter a house of mourning (*miçpêd*) or lament for the dead, illustrating the overwhelming nature of the impending judgment that would make customary mourning impossible or irrelevant. [[Micah 2:4]] speaks of a future lamentation (*miçpêd*) and bitter wailing for the people of Israel due to their impending exile.
* **Prophetic Vision and Content**: In [[Ezekiel 2:10]], the scroll given to Ezekiel is written with "lamentations (קִינִים), and mourning (*miçpêd*), and woe," indicating that the content of God's message for Israel is one of judgment and sorrow.
* **Messianic and Repentant Mourning**: Perhaps the most profound theological usage is found in [[Zechariah 12:10-11]]. Here, a future, intense national mourning (*miçpêd*) is prophesied in Jerusalem, likened to the mourning for Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo. This unique lament is not merely for loss but for "Him whom they have pierced," signifying a deep, corporate repentance and recognition of the Messiah. This *miçpêd* is transformative, leading to a "fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness" ([[Zechariah 13:1]]).
### Related Words & Concepts
*Miçpêd* is closely related to and often appears alongside other terms describing grief and sorrow:
* **`{{H5594}}` (סָפַד - saphaḏ)**: The verbal root, emphasizing the active, often physical, expression of lamenting or wailing.
* **`{{H7015}}` (קִינָה - qinah)** and **`{{H6962}}` (קוּן - qun)**: "Lamentation" or "dirge" (noun) and "to lament" (verb). While *miçpêd* focuses on the *act* or *state* of mourning, *qinah* often refers to the *form* or *song* of lament, typically a mournful poem or dirge. They are frequently used in conjunction to convey comprehensive grief.
* **`{{H1065}}` (בֶּכִי - bekhî)** and **`{{H1058}}` (בָּכָה - bakah)**: "Weeping" (noun) and "to weep" (verb). These terms are more general for the shedding of tears and expressions of sorrow, whereas *miçpêd* implies a more formalized, public, and often audible wailing.
* **`{{H6037}}` (אֵבֶל - 'evel)** and **`{{H6031}}` (אָבַל - 'aval)**: "Mourning" (noun) and "to mourn" (verb). These terms can denote both the internal state and external actions of grief, often encompassing a broader period or state of sorrow. *Miçpêd* can be understood as a specific, intense manifestation of *'evel*.
The concept of *miçpêd* is also intrinsically linked to ancient Israelite funeral customs, which often involved professional mourners, specific garments, and public displays of profound sorrow.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of *miçpêd* is multifaceted:
* **The Reality of a Fallen World**: *Miçpêd* underscores the pervasive reality of grief, loss, and death in a fallen world. It is a natural, divinely-permitted human response to the brokenness introduced by sin, acknowledging the pain inherent in separation and destruction.
* **Consequence of Sin and Disobedience**: Prophets frequently utilize *miçpêd* as a powerful descriptor of the consequences of national sin and disobedience to God's covenant. The widespread mourning and lamentation signify divine judgment, a reversal of prosperity and joy, and the desolation brought by God's wrath.
* **Catalyst for Repentance**: In its most profound theological application, particularly in [[Zechariah 12:10-11]], *miçpêd* transcends mere sorrow for loss. It becomes a deep, corporate, and salvific mourning rooted in repentance and a profound recognition of the "pierced one" – a clear foreshadowing of the Messiah. This type of mourning is not merely an expression of grief but a spiritual turning, leading to forgiveness and cleansing.
* **Antithesis to Joy**: The Bible often contrasts *miçpêd* with joy, gladness, and feasting. This contrast serves to highlight God's ultimate redemptive plan, where He promises to "comfort all who mourn" and turn "their mourning into joy" ([[Isaiah 61:3]]; [[Jeremiah 31:13]]). This eschatological hope assures believers that *miçpêd* is not the final state, but will ultimately be replaced by everlasting gladness in God's presence.
### Summary
*Miçpêd* (מִסְפֵּד, `{{H4553}}`) is a significant Hebrew term denoting a deep, often public and audible, lamentation or mourning. Derived from the verb `{{H5594}}` (*saphaḏ*), it describes the outward expression of grief, typically in response to death, national disaster, or divine judgment. Biblical occurrences illustrate its use in personal bereavement, as a consequence of societal sin and impending calamity, and in prophetic visions of widespread sorrow. It is frequently associated with other expressions of grief like weeping (`{{H1065}}`) and dirges (`{{H7015}}`), forming a crucial part of ancient Israelite mourning customs. Theologically, *miçpêd* affirms the human experience of sorrow in a fallen world and functions as a powerful metaphor for divine judgment. Most profoundly, in passages such as [[Zechariah 12:10-11]], it transcends mere grief, pointing to a future national mourning that is salvific, rooted in repentance and a profound recognition of the pierced Messiah. Ultimately, the biblical narrative promises that God will one day transform all *miçpêd* into everlasting joy and comfort for His people.