### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mishmaʻath**, represented by `{{H4928}}`, refers to a sphere of obedience or a body of subjects. It appears **4 times** across **4 unique verses** in the Bible. Its meanings include **audience**, the **royal court**, **obedience**, a **subject**, **bidding**, and **guard**, indicating its strong association with royal authority and loyal service.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H4928}}` consistently appears in contexts of hierarchy and allegiance. It is used to describe the loyal service of David, who "goeth at thy **bidding**" as one of King Saul's most faithful servants [[1 Samuel 22:14]]. In a near-identical account, the term refers to the royal **guard** over which King David placed an honorable man, signifying a formal position or body of subjects ([[2 Samuel 23:23]], [[1 Chronicles 11:25]]). The word also appears in a prophetic context, where the children of Ammon "shall **obey**" Israel, extending its meaning from individual service to national submission [[Isaiah 11:14]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words illuminate the concepts of obedience and authority connected to `{{H4928}}`:
* `{{H539}}` **ʼâman** (to render (or be) firm or faithful): This word is used to describe David as **faithful** in the same passage where he is said to go at the king's bidding, linking obedience with trustworthiness [[1 Samuel 22:14]].
* `{{H3513}}` **kâbad** (to be heavy, i.e. in a bad sense... or in a good sense... honorable): This term is used to describe those in the king's service as **honourable**, both for David serving Saul [[1 Samuel 22:14]] and for the man David appointed over his guard [[2 Samuel 23:23]].
* `{{H7760}}` **sûwm** (to put... appoint... set): This verb is used for the action of appointing an officer over the royal **guard** `{{H4928}}`, highlighting the establishment of this body by a higher authority ([[2 Samuel 23:23]], [[1 Chronicles 11:25]]).
### Theological Significance
The conceptual weight of `{{H4928}}` lies in its concrete depiction of structured obedience.
* **Royal Service:** The word is exclusively tied to the royal court, defining the relationship between a monarch and his most trusted subjects. It highlights a sphere of direct obedience, as when David follows Saul's **bidding** [[1 Samuel 22:14]] or when David establishes his own **guard** [[2 Samuel 23:23]].
* **Honor and Loyalty:** The repeated association with the word **honourable** `{{H3513}}` demonstrates that service and obedience within this royal structure were considered marks of distinction and integrity.
* **Prophetic Dominion:** In [[Isaiah 11:14]], the term's application is broadened from a king's court to the future submission of nations. The children of Ammon will **obey** Israel, framing national subjection as a form of divinely ordained obedience.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4928}}` is a specific and potent term that, while rare, clearly defines a relationship of obedience to authority. It illustrates a sphere of loyal action, whether it is an individual's response to a king’s command, a formal body like a royal guard, or the submission of one people to another in a prophetic fulfillment. The word provides a tangible picture of what it means to be a subject under command.
TRV