### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun פְּקִדֻת (pᵉqiduth, `{{H6488}}`) is derived from the verbal root פָּקַד (paqad, `{{H6485}}`), a verb with a rich and broad semantic range encompassing actions such as "to visit," "to attend to," "to muster," "to appoint," "to inspect," "to take account of," and "to punish." Consequently, pᵉqiduth denotes the *act* or *result* of such a visitation, inspection, or reckoning. Its base definitions include "supervision" and "ward." More specifically, it refers to:
1. **The time or season of visitation:** Often carrying the connotation of a decisive moment when divine attention is focused, leading to an accounting or judgment.
2. **The act of reckoning or punishment:** The consequence of divine oversight, particularly when sin is found.
3. **An office or position of oversight:** Though less prominent in its biblical occurrences compared to the related noun `{{H6486}}` (pᵉquddah), the underlying sense of "supervision" points to this potential.
In its biblical usage, pᵉqiduth primarily emphasizes the divine act of "visitation," almost exclusively in a context of impending judgment or accountability.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The noun pᵉqiduth (`{{H6488}}`) appears eight times in the Hebrew Bible, predominantly in the prophetic books, particularly Jeremiah. Its consistent usage points to a specific theological nuance:
* **[[Isaiah 23:17]]**: "And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will *visit* Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth." Here, "pᵉqiduth Yahweh" (visitation of the LORD) signifies a divine intervention or reckoning for Tyre after a period of desolation, hinting at both a restoration to activity and continued moral compromise. While "visitation" can imply restoration, the context of Tyre's subsequent actions suggests a continued state of accountability.
* **[[Jeremiah 10:15]]**: "They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their *visitation* they shall perish." This verse, repeated in [[Jeremiah 51:18]], explicitly links "the time of their pᵉqiduth" to the perishing of idolaters and their idols. It is a clear declaration of divine judgment.
* **[[Jeremiah 11:23]]**: "And there shall be no remnant of them: for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, even the year of their *visitation*." Here, "the year of their pᵉqiduth" is the appointed time for God to bring calamity upon the inhabitants of Anathoth for their plotting against Jeremiah.
* **[[Jeremiah 23:12]]**: "Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their *visitation*, saith the LORD." This refers to the false prophets whose evil deeds will lead to their downfall at the "year of their visitation," emphasizing divine retribution.
* **[[Jeremiah 46:21]]**: "Also her hired men are in the midst of her like fatted bullocks; for they also are turned back, and are fled together: they did not stand, because the day of their calamity was come upon them, and the time of their *visitation*." This describes the flight of Egypt's mercenaries, attributing their defeat to "the time of their pᵉqiduth," a divinely appointed moment of judgment.
* **[[Jeremiah 48:44]]**: "He that fleeth from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for I will bring upon it, even upon Moab, the year of their *visitation*, saith the LORD." Similar to other Jeremiah passages, this declares the inevitability of judgment for Moab.
* **[[Jeremiah 50:27]]**: "Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their *visitation*." This pronouncement against Babylon again uses "the time of their pᵉqiduth" as the appointed moment for their destruction.
Across these occurrences, pᵉqiduth consistently denotes a divinely appointed time of reckoning, almost invariably associated with judgment, punishment, or calamity, particularly for those who have defied God or engaged in idolatry.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of pᵉqiduth (`{{H6488}}`) is closely intertwined with its root and cognates:
* **פָּקַד (paqad, `{{H6485}}`)**: The foundational verb from which pᵉqiduth is derived. Its broad meaning of "to visit, muster, appoint, attend to, punish" provides the conceptual framework. While paqad can denote both merciful and punitive visitation, the noun pᵉqiduth tends to highlight the latter in its biblical usage.
* **פָּקִיד (paqid, `{{H6496}}`)**: The agent noun, meaning "an overseer," "officer," or "deputy." This is the one who performs the act of "paqad," carrying out the supervision or accounting.
* **פְּקֻדָּה (pᵉquddah, `{{H6486}}`)**: Another noun derived from paqad, often translated as "visitation," "oversight," "charge," "office," or "punishment." Pᵉquddah has a wider range of meaning than pᵉqiduth, encompassing not only punitive visitation but also the positive sense of "office" or "responsibility" (e.g., Numbers 3:32, 4:16) and even "provision" (Job 10:12). While both can refer to "visitation," pᵉqiduth specifically emphasizes the *time* or *event* of reckoning, often with a more consistently negative connotation in its prophetic contexts.
Concepts related to pᵉqiduth include:
* **Divine Justice:** The inherent righteousness of God that demands accountability for sin.
* **Divine Sovereignty:** God's absolute control over history and the timing of events, including judgment.
* **Accountability:** The principle that individuals and nations are answerable to God for their actions.
* **Prophetic Warning:** The declaration of future judgment as a call to repentance.
### Theological Significance
The consistent use of pᵉqiduth (`{{H6488}}`) in the prophetic literature carries profound theological weight:
1. **God's Active Engagement in History:** The concept of "the time of their visitation" underscores that God is not a distant deity but actively intervenes in human affairs, observing and ultimately judging the actions of nations and individuals. This highlights His immanence and sovereign control over history.
2. **The Certainty of Divine Judgment:** Pᵉqiduth serves as a solemn reminder that sin, idolatry, and rebellion against God will not go unpunished. There is an appointed "day" or "year" when God will bring about a reckoning, demonstrating His unwavering justice. This provides both a warning to the wicked and an assurance to the righteous that God sees and will act.
3. **Accountability for Idolatry and Unrighteousness:** The contexts in Jeremiah repeatedly link pᵉqiduth to the judgment of those who practice idolatry or act wickedly. This emphasizes that God holds His creation accountable, particularly for spiritual infidelity and moral corruption.
4. **The Nature of Prophetic Warning:** The prophets use pᵉqiduth to articulate God's impending judgment, not merely as a prediction, but as a dire warning intended to elicit repentance. The "visitation" is inevitable if the people do not turn from their ways.
5. **God's Control Over Time:** The repeated phrase "the year/time of their visitation" indicates that God's judgments are not random but are part of His divine plan, executed at His appointed time. This demonstrates His patience and long-suffering, but also the certainty and precision of His justice.
### Summary
The Hebrew noun פְּקִדֻת (pᵉqiduth, `{{H6488}}`), derived from the root פָּקַד (paqad, `{{H6485}}`), signifies the act or time of supervision, reckoning, or judgment. In its limited but impactful biblical occurrences, particularly in the book of Jeremiah, pᵉqiduth almost exclusively denotes a divinely appointed "time" or "year of visitation," consistently referring to a period of divine judgment, punishment, or calamity upon individuals and nations for their sin and idolatry. Theologically, pᵉqiduth underscores God's active engagement in history, His unwavering justice, the certainty of accountability for unrighteousness, and His sovereign control over the timing of all events, serving as a potent prophetic warning.
TRV