### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **moʻŏmâd**, represented by `{{H4613}}`, literally means a **foothold** or **standing**. It is a very rare term, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible. Its singular use provides a pointed and powerful image of a specific kind of physical and metaphorical instability.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H4613}}` is in [[Psalms 69:2]], amidst a cry of deep distress. The psalmist exclaims, "I sink in deep mire, where there is no **standing**: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me." Here, **moʻŏmâd** signifies the complete lack of a firm place to plant one's feet. It is used to illustrate a situation of utter helplessness, where the individual is being swallowed by overwhelming circumstances with no foundation to push back from.
### Related Words & Concepts
The words surrounding `{{H4613}}` in its only context paint a vivid picture of crisis and despair:
* `{{H2883}}` **ṭâbaʻ** (to sink): This verb is directly paired with the situation, describing the action of sinking that occurs precisely because there is no place for **standing** [[Psalms 69:2]].
* `{{H3121}}` **yâvên** (mire, miry): This term identifies the substance—the "deep mire"—that makes a foothold impossible. The concept is repeated in [[Psalms 40:2]], which speaks of being brought out of the "miry clay."
* `{{H4688}}` **mᵉtsôwlâh** (a deep place): This word emphasizes the depth and danger of the mire and water. It is used to describe the "deeps" into which one is sinking, reinforcing the sense of being overwhelmed [[Psalms 69:2]].
* `{{H7857}}` **shâṭaph** (to gush; to inundate, overflow): This describes the action of the floods that "overflow" the psalmist, adding to the imagery of a person losing their footing in a powerful current [[Psalms 69:2]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H4613}}` is concentrated in its powerful metaphorical use.
* **Symbol of Helplessness:** The absence of a **foothold** represents a state of complete human helplessness. It illustrates a moment of crisis where personal strength and resources have failed, as the psalmist sinks into the mire [[Psalms 69:2]].
* **The Cry for a Foundation:** This state of having no **standing** inherently provokes a cry for divine rescue. The imagery stands in stark contrast to passages where God provides stability, such as when He sets feet upon a rock and establishes a person's goings [[Psalms 40:2]].
* **A Picture of Extreme Trial:** Sinking into mire where there is no standing serves as an illustration for severe trial and persecution. Jeremiah was literally sunk in mire in a dungeon [[Jeremiah 38:6]], creating a parallel between physical entrapment and the spiritual despair expressed in the Psalms.
### Summary
In summary, while **moʻŏmâd** `{{H4613}}` is used only once, its meaning is sharp and poignant. It signifies the complete absence of a **foothold** or a stable place to stand. Its appearance in [[Psalms 69:2]] powerfully anchors it as a symbol of utter desperation, instability, and the feeling of being consumed by circumstances. The word vividly portrays a moment of crisis where the only available hope is intervention from a source beyond oneself.
TRV