### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Tsᵉdâd**, represented by `{{H6657}}`, is a proper noun for the place **Zedad**. The name is derived from a root meaning a "siding." It appears **2 times** across **2 unique verses**, where it functions exclusively as a geographical landmark.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical appearances, `{{H6657}}` is consistently used to define the northern boundary of the land of Israel. In Numbers, as God instructs Moses on the borders of the promised inheritance, the line is marked from Mount Hor to the entrance of Hamath, with its final point being **Zedad** [[Numbers 34:8]]. Centuries later, the prophet Ezekiel reaffirms this boundary in a vision, describing the northern border of the land as running along "the way of Hethlon, as men go to **Zedad**" [[Ezekiel 47:15]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help establish the geographic and administrative context of Zedad:
* `{{H1366}}` **gᵉbûwl** (border): Defined as a boundary or the territory enclosed, this word is used in both verses where Zedad is mentioned, establishing Zedad's function as a point on this divinely appointed **border** ([[Numbers 34:8]], [[Ezekiel 47:15]]).
* `{{H6828}}` **tsâphôwn** (north): This term specifies the direction or quarter. Zedad is explicitly located on the **north** side of the land in the description given in [[Ezekiel 47:15]].
* `{{H2023}}` **Hôr** (Hor): The name of a mountain peak, **Hor** serves as the starting landmark from which the northern border is to be marked out toward Zedad [[Numbers 34:8]].
* `{{H2574}}` **Chămâth** (Hamath): A walled city in Syria, **Hamath** is another key location mentioned in close proximity to Zedad, further defining the northern frontier [[Numbers 34:8]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H6657}}` is entirely rooted in its geographical role as a boundary marker.
* **A Divine Boundary Marker:** Zedad is not merely a location but part of a border that God commands the Israelites to "point out" `{{H8376}}`, signifying its importance in the divine plan for the land [[Numbers 34:8]].
* **The Northern Frontier:** Its placement alongside locations like Hamath `{{H2574}}` and Hethlon `{{H2855}}` solidifies its identity as a landmark on the northernmost edge of the territory promised to Israel.
* **A Tangible Promise:** The specificity of naming places like Zedad demonstrates that God's covenant promise of land was not an abstract concept but a concrete, delineated territory with clearly defined "goings forth" `{{H8444}}` [[Numbers 34:8]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6657}}` is a specific geographical place name, Zedad, whose sole function in scripture is to mark the northern border of the promised land. Though it appears only twice, its role is crucial for understanding the physical dimensions of God's covenant with Israel. It transforms the promise of a land into a measured and defined inheritance with fixed points on a map.
TRV