### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **miphqâd**, represented by `{{H4662}}`, encapsulates the concepts of appointment, mandate, and designation. Derived from a root meaning to appoint, its definition includes a census, a commandment, or a concretely designated spot. It appears 4 times across 4 unique verses, showing its specific application in different contexts.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H4662}}` has three distinct meanings. It is used to refer to the final **number** or tally of a census, as when Joab gave the results of numbering the people to the king ([[2 Samuel 24:9]]; [[1 Chronicles 21:5]]). The term also signifies a formal **commandment**, such as the one issued by King Hezekiah to organize overseers for the house of God [[2 Chronicles 31:13]]. Finally, it denotes a specific, consecrated location, as seen in Ezekiel's vision where a sin offering is to be burned in the **appointed place** of the house [[Ezekiel 43:21]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the administrative and authoritative nature of `{{H4662}}`:
* `{{H4557}}` **miçpâr** (a number): This term is used in conjunction with `{{H4662}}` in the census accounts to denote the "sum of the **number**" of the people, emphasizing the numerical result of the commanded census ([[2 Samuel 24:9]]; [[1 Chronicles 21:5]]).
* `{{H5057}}` **nâgîyd** (a commander... ruler): This word for a leader or ruler connects to the authoritative aspect of `{{H4662}}`. A **ruler** of the house of God is mentioned in the same context where `{{H4662}}` is used as a "commandment" from the king [[2 Chronicles 31:13]].
* `{{H6496}}` **pâqîyd** (a superintendent... overseer): Sharing a common root with `{{H4662}}`, this word describes an appointed official. In [[2 Chronicles 31:13]], men were appointed as **overseers** to act upon the king's "commandment" `{{H4662}}`.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H4662}}` is rooted in its application within contexts of divine order and authority.
* **Administrative Authority:** The use of the word for both a census **number** and a royal **commandment** highlights the role of legitimate, God-ordained authority in administering the affairs of the nation and the temple ([[2 Samuel 24:9]]; [[2 Chronicles 31:13]]).
* **Designated Sanctity:** By defining a specific "appointed place" for a sacred ritual within the temple grounds, `{{H4662}}` underscores the principle that holiness is tied to adherence to divinely appointed locations and procedures [[Ezekiel 43:21]].
* **The Act of Numbering:** The word's use as the result of a census connects it to the significant act of numbering the people, a measure of national strength that carried heavy theological weight in the narratives of the monarchy [[1 Chronicles 21:5]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4662}}` is a specific term that moves beyond a general idea of counting or commanding. It signifies a formal, designated outcome—be it a final census tally, a binding directive, or an appointed sacred space. Through its limited but precise usage, **miphqâd** demonstrates how administrative concepts are employed in Scripture to convey deeper principles of royal authority, structured worship, and holy designation.
TRV