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מוּסָדָה

𐤌𐤅𐤎𐤃𐤄

mûwçâdâh

H4145 noun

SILEX Entry

Root יסד to establish, to found, to lay a foundation

Definition

A structural foundation or base of a building, with extension to the concept of that which is securely established, either physically as the groundwork supporting a structure or, by metaphor, that which forms the basis for something more abstract (such as an institution or system). The term refers first and foremost to the solid lower component upon which walls and edifices are constructed, and in figurative usage, to anything upon which something else is reliably established.

Semantic Range

foundation of a building, structural base, basis for something (metaphorical), that which is established or securely grounded

Root / Etymology

From the root יסד (y-s-d), meaning 'to establish, found, lay a foundation.' The word is a feminine noun derived from the root, emphasizing a specific foundational or establishing element.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מוּסָדָה occurs infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, with uses primarily in poetic or highly literary contexts. It denotes the foundational understructure in a literal architectural sense, especially in passages describing creation or the physical world (e.g., the 'foundations of the earth'). Figuratively, it may refer to the enduring principles or basic tenets upon which something (such as a community or a relationship) is established, though such uses are rare and typically poetic. The term is distinguished from related words like יְסוֹד (yesod), which more frequently appears in historical and legal texts for the base or foundation of structures, and from אֶבֶן (even, 'stone'), which refers to an individual stone rather than the concept of underpinning. Later translation traditions have sometimes rendered מוּסָדָה as 'appointment' or with figurative senses that are broader than those in the original Hebrew, often reflecting later theological interpretations rather than biblical usage. Its use in post-exilic or non-biblical Hebrew is limited, with the core sense of physical foundation predominating in all attested periods.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of מוּסָד; a foundation; figuratively, an appointment; foundation, grounded. Compare מְיֻסָּדָה.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

יסד (y-s-d) — to establish, to found, to lay a foundation

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3245 יָסַד in their being established
H3246 יְסֻד foundation of
H3247 יְסוֹד the foundation
H3248 יְסוּדָה his foundation
H4143 מוּסָד founded base

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4145-02 מוּסְד֤וֹת musedot HNcfpc foundations foundations of 1
H4145-01 מֽוּסָדָ֔ה musadah HNcfsa appointed foundation 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4145-01 Isaiah 30:32 מֽוּסָדָ֔ה musadah HNcfsa appointed foundation
H4145-02 Ezekiel 41:8 מוּסְד֤וֹת musedot HNcfpc foundations foundations of
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