### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **maʻămâd**, represented by `{{H4612}}`, defines a figurative **position**, such as one's **attendance**, **office**, **place**, or **state**. It appears **5 times** in **5 unique verses**, consistently referring to a designated standing or role within an organized structure, whether governmental, royal, or religious.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H4612}}` describes positions of formal service and status. When the Queen of Sheba visited Solomon, she was astonished by the **attendance** of his ministers, a sign of his kingdom's great order ([[1 Kings 10:5]], [[2 Chronicles 9:4]]). In a religious context, the term specifies the **office** of the sons of Aaron in their service to the house of the Lord [[1 Chronicles 23:28]] and the appointed **place** of the singers of Asaph during worship [[2 Chronicles 35:15]]. It is also used to denote a position of authority that can be revoked, as when God warns that an official will be pulled down from his **state** [[Isaiah 22:19]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the meaning of a designated position:
* `{{H4673}}` **matstsâb** (station): Used in parallel with `{{H4612}}`, this word refers to a fixed spot, office, or post. It emphasizes the stable and established nature of a position that can be lost through divine judgment [[Isaiah 22:19]].
* `{{H8334}}` **shârath** (to minister, serve): This word describes the action of the ministers whose **attendance** `{{H4612}}` so impressed Solomon's visitors. It defines the people who hold the position of service [[1 Kings 10:5]].
* `{{H5656}}` **ʻăbôdâh** (service, work): This term defines the duties associated with a position. The Levites had an **office** `{{H4612}}` specifically for the **service** of the house of God [[1 Chronicles 23:28]].
* `{{H4186}}` **môwshâb** (seat, sitting): In Solomon's court, the **sitting** of his servants is mentioned alongside the **attendance** of his ministers, highlighting the difference between a resting position and one of active, standing service [[1 Kings 10:5]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H4612}}` is tied to the biblical concepts of order, service, and divine authority.
* **Designated Role and Order:** The word signifies a specific, appointed position within a larger structure. It underscores the importance of order in both royal administration and religious worship ([[1 Kings 10:5]], [[2 Chronicles 35:15]]).
* **Position of Service:** An **office** or **place** is not merely about status but about the readiness to perform a specific function. The term is intrinsically linked to the duties of ministers and servants in their service to a king or to God [[1 Chronicles 23:28]].
* **Accountability and Divine Judgment:** The concept of one's **state** is shown to be conditional. In [[Isaiah 22:19]], God declares He will remove a person from their station, demonstrating that all positions of authority are ultimately granted by and accountable to Him.
### Summary
In summary, **maʻămâd** `{{H4612}}` is a term that defines a person's appointed position or standing. Though used sparingly, it effectively portrays the organized structure of both royal and religious life, from the formal **attendance** of Solomon's court to the sacred **office** of the Levites. More than just a physical place, it conveys a sense of assigned duty and the authority under which that duty is held—a position ultimately subject to divine appointment and removal.
TRV