← H4662 H4664 →

מִפְקָד

𐤌𐤐𐤒𐤃

Miphqâd

H4663 noun

SILEX Entry

Root פקד to appoint, assign, muster, number

Definition

An appointed place, designated site, or area assigned for assembly, especially relating to gatherings for census, inspection, or official activity; also used as a proper name for a specific gate in Jerusalem (the Miphqad Gate). The term carries the sense of an appointed or mustering location, highlighting its official or administrative context.

Semantic Range

appointed place, assigned location, site of inspection or mustering, area for assembly, gate designated for muster or registration, administrative or military checkpoint, proper noun (Miphqad Gate in Jerusalem)

Root / Etymology

From the root פקד (pqd), which at the root level means 'to appoint, assign, number, muster.' מִפְקָד is a derived noun form denoting 'place of assignment' or 'site of mustering/inspection.' The specific sense is shaped by the administrative or organizational function implied by the root.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, מִפְקָד appears both as a common noun and as a place name. As a common noun, it refers to a designated place for assembling people, such as a meeting place for review, registration, or inspection, especially in administrative or military contexts (see e.g., Nehemiah 3:31 where 'the Gate of Miphqad' is mentioned). The use as a proper name (the 'Miphqad Gate' in Jerusalem) suggests a location set aside for the mustering or numbering of those entering or leaving the city—likely an area associated with official registration or inspection. The English translations as 'Miphkad' or 'Muster Gate' attempt to represent this sense, but 'Miphkad' has become standard in many versions, preserving the Hebrew term rather than translating its meaning directly. The meaning is closely related to the functions of census-taking and official mustering, reflecting the administrative vocabulary of ancient Israelite society. Over the course of the biblical period, the term does not shift significantly, but its context—military, civic, or religious—may vary depending on the specific passage. Not to be confused with other nouns derived from פקד (such as פָּקִיד, 'officer' or 'overseer').

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

the same as מִפְקָד; assignment; Miphkad, the name of a gate in Jerusalem; Miphkad.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

פקד (p-q-d) — appoint, assign, muster, number, inspect

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4662 מִפְקָד at mustering-of
H6485 פָּקַד I will appoint
H6486 פְּקֻדָּה their appointed oversight
H6487 פִּקָּדוֹן in an entrusted deposit
H6488 פְּקִדֻת oversight

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4663-01 הַ/מִּפְקָ֔ד hamifeqad HTd/Ncmsa Miphkad the appointed-muster site 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4663-01 Nehemiah 3:31 הַ/מִּפְקָ֔ד hamifeqad HTd/Ncmsa Miphkad the appointed-muster site
← H4662 Hebrew Lexicon H4664 →