### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew lemma עָמַד (ʻâmad), designated `{{H5976}}` in Strong's Concordance, presents a unique and challenging semantic range. Its base definition, "for `{{H4600}}`; to shake; be at a stand," suggests a profound tension. The explicit link to `{{H4600}}` (מָעַד, ma'ad), meaning "to totter, slip, or shake," indicates an inherent connection to instability or movement. However, the accompanying phrase "be at a stand" implies the very opposite: a state of stillness, firmness, or cessation of movement.
This duality suggests several possible interpretations for `{{H5976}}`:
1. **Precarious Stability:** The word might describe a state of standing that is inherently threatened or affected by shaking. It is a standing *despite* instability, a precarious balance.
2. **Dynamic Endurance:** It could denote the act of remaining firm or taking a stand *in the midst of* shaking or disturbance. This would highlight resilience or steadfastness under duress.
3. **Cessation of Shaking:** Less likely, but possible, is the idea that "to be at a stand" signifies the *end* of shaking, a return to stability after a period of agitation.
4. **Figurative Shaking:** "To shake" might refer to emotional turmoil or internal instability, while "to be at a stand" refers to a mental or spiritual resolve to remain firm.
The semantic range thus oscillates between vulnerability and resilience, motion and stillness, rooted in an etymological association with instability (`{{H4600}}`) yet culminating in a state of being fixed or stationary. This makes `{{H5976}}` a rare and nuanced term, distinct from the more common `{{H5975}}` (עָמַד), which primarily signifies "to stand, remain, endure" without the explicit connection to "shaking."
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The Strong's Concordance attributes `{{H5976}}` to an extremely rare occurrence, specifically pointing to [[Psalm 38:16]] (KJV numbering, corresponding to [[Psalm 38:17]] in Hebrew texts). However, a careful examination of standard Hebrew biblical texts reveals that the lemma עָמַד (`{{H5976}}`) does not appear in [[Psalm 38:17]]. The phrase in question is בְּמוֹט רַגְלִי (bemot ragli), meaning "when my foot slips" or "at the tottering of my foot." The word used here is מוֹט (`{{H4132}}`), a noun meaning "a slipping, tottering, shaking," derived from the verb מוּט (`{{H4131}}`, "to totter, shake").
This discrepancy indicates that `{{H5976}}` is either a highly specialized textual variant recognized by Strong's alone, or it represents a unique interpretative assignment. As such, a direct contextual analysis of its biblical occurrences is severely limited by its absence in widely accepted Hebrew manuscripts.
If one were to hypothetically apply the definition "to shake; be at a stand" to a context like [[Psalm 38:17]] where the psalmist speaks of his foot slipping, it could suggest a state of precarious standing or the desperate attempt to remain upright amidst overwhelming instability. The psalmist's lament highlights vulnerability, where enemies rejoice at his "slipping." In this theoretical application, `{{H5976}}` might encapsulate the internal struggle to maintain spiritual or physical equilibrium when one's foundation is threatened by "shaking." However, it is imperative to reiterate that this is a speculative application based on a Strong's assignment that does not align with the Masoretic Text.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word explicitly mentioned in the base definition of `{{H5976}}` is `{{H4600}}` (מָעַד, ma'ad), meaning "to totter, slip, shake." This direct etymological or semantic link underscores the element of instability inherent in `{{H5976}}`.
Another crucial related word is `{{H5975}}` (עָמַד, amad), the vastly more common Hebrew verb for "to stand, stand still, remain, endure, take one's stand." While `{{H5976}}` shares the same lemma, its distinct Strong's number and peculiar definition suggest a highly specific nuance or a rare derivative. The relationship between `{{H5976}}` and `{{H5975}}` is one of contrast and tension: `{{H5975}}` emphasizes firm, stable standing, whereas `{{H5976}}` introduces the element of "shaking" into the concept of "standing."
The noun `{{H4132}}` (מוֹט, mot), "a slipping, tottering," and its verbal root `{{H4131}}` (מוּט, mut), "to totter, shake," are also highly relevant due to the Strong's Concordance's association of `{{H5976}}` with [[Psalm 38:16]]. These terms directly describe the very "shaking" or "slipping" that forms part of `{{H5976}}`'s definition.
Conceptually, `{{H5976}}` relates to themes of:
* **Stability vs. Instability:** The core tension of the definition.
* **Resilience/Steadfastness:** The ability to "be at a stand" despite "shaking."
* **Vulnerability:** The inherent threat of "shaking" to one's standing.
* **Divine Support:** The theological implication that true standing, especially amidst shaking, often requires divine intervention.
### Theological Significance
Given the extremely limited and textually ambiguous nature of `{{H5976}}`'s occurrence, its direct theological significance must be approached with caution and largely derived from the inherent tension within its definition: "to shake; be at a stand."
Theologically, this tension can be profound:
1. **The Human Condition:** It speaks to the human experience of vulnerability and the constant threat of "shaking" – whether from sin, suffering, external opposition, or internal doubt. Yet, it also points to the human capacity, often divinely enabled, to "be at a stand" amidst such turmoil. This resonates with passages that speak of God as a firm foundation in times of trouble (e.g., [[Psalm 18:2]], [[Psalm 62:2]]).
2. **Divine Faithfulness in Adversity:** If "to shake" represents trials and "to be at a stand" represents enduring faithfulness, then `{{H5976}}` could implicitly highlight God's power to uphold His people. He enables them to "stand" even when the foundations seem to "shake." This aligns with the biblical emphasis on God's steadfast love (חֶסֶד, `{{H2617}}`) and His role as a rock and fortress.
3. **Steadfastness of the Righteous:** The concept of the righteous "standing firm" while the wicked "totter" or "slip" is a recurring motif in the Psalms and Wisdom literature. `{{H5976}}` could, in its rare nuance, capture the precarious yet divinely sustained steadfastness of those who walk in God's ways, enduring the "shaking" of the world.
4. **The Sovereignty of God:** Ultimately, the ability to "be at a stand" when everything else "shakes" points to a source of strength beyond oneself. This implicitly directs attention to the sovereign power of God, who remains unshakeable and provides stability to those who trust in Him.
### Summary
`{{H5976}}` (עָמַד) is a highly unusual and textually problematic Hebrew lemma. Its base definition, "for `{{H4600}}`; to shake; be at a stand," encapsulates a striking semantic paradox: the simultaneous experience of instability and stability. While etymologically linked to "tottering" (`{{H4600}}`), it also denotes a state of being firm or stationary.
A direct contextual analysis of its biblical occurrences is hindered by its apparent absence in standard Hebrew texts, despite Strong's Concordance linking it to [[Psalm 38:16]]. This suggests `{{H5976}}` may represent an extremely rare textual variant or a unique interpretative assignment within Strong's system.
Conceptually, `{{H5976}}` relates to the broader themes of human vulnerability, divine steadfastness, and the ability to endure trials. Theologically, it prompts reflection on how individuals or communities can "stand" firm in faith and character even when faced with circumstances that cause them to "shake," ultimately pointing to God as the ultimate source of unshakeable stability and support. Its rarity underscores the nuanced and often complex layers of meaning embedded within the Hebrew lexicon.
TRV