עָמַד
𐤏𐤌𐤃
ʻâmad
H5976 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To stand, remain standing, be positioned; to take one's stand, to be stationary or fixed in place, to endure; in extended senses, to serve or attend (as in officials standing before a superior), to stand firm (resist), to arise or appear, and occasionally (rarely) to halt or stop. Its semantic range encompasses both the physical act of standing and metaphorical or institutional station or presence.
Semantic Range
to stand upright, to remain (in place), to be stationed (attend/serve), to endure or persist, to arise/appear, to halt or stop, to stand firm or resist
Root / Etymology
Root עמד. The root conveys the idea of standing, being stationed, or standing firm. The verb עָמַד is qal, meaning 'to stand' in the basic sense, but also in the sense of being present or stationed for a task. It is distinct from related roots such as יָשַׁב ('to sit') or נָצַב ('to set, station'). Derived nouns (e.g. עָמֵד, 'pillar') also show a notion of uprightness or steadfastness.
Historical & Contextual Notes
עָמַד appears very frequently throughout the Hebrew Bible in a wide range of contexts, from simple descriptions of standing (physically upright), to legal or ceremonial usage (standing before judges, royalty, or at the sanctuary), and metaphorically for persistence or endurance (e.g., 'stand firm against' or 'endure calamity'). The verb often marks not only physical position, but also role or status, as with officials who 'stand before' a ruler or deity. In priestly texts, it denotes ministerial presence or station. Later, in post-exilic and Second Temple literature, the idea of standing often acquires judicial or symbolic connotations (standing in judgment, standing before divine presence). English translations may flatten the nuance, so specific context is important for discerning whether the sense is simply 'to be upright,' 'to be stationed/serve,' or 'to endure.' Contrasts exist with verbs like יָשַׁב (to sit/dwell) or הָלַךְ (to go, walk), emphasizing differing bodily attitudes or roles.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
for מָעַד; to shake; be at a stand.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עמד (ʿ-m-d) — to stand, to be stationary, to endure
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4612 | מַעֲמָד | their standing-place |
| H4613 | מׇעֳמָד | standing place |
| H5975 | עָמַד | he stood |
| H5977 | עֹמֶד | their standing-place |
| H5979 | עֶמְדָּה | his standing-place |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5976-01 |
וְ/הַעֲמַדְתָּ֥ | vehaamadeta | HC/Vhq2ms |
and you made stand | and you caused to stand | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5976-01 |
Ezekiel 29:7 | וְ/הַעֲמַדְתָּ֥ | vehaamadeta | HC/Vhq2ms |
and you made stand | and you caused to stand |