BIBLE HEBREW WORD STUDY
Maqom — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
Maqom (מָקוֹם) is a common Hebrew noun meaning 'place' or 'standing place', referring to a specific locality or, figuratively, a condition.
Meaning of the word
The noun מָקוֹם (maqom) literally denotes a standing place or spot — a physical location where someone or something is situated. The lexicon entry defines it as 'properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific)', indicating its broad applicability to any geographical point.
Beyond concrete geography, מָקוֹם also extends figuratively to 'a condition (of body or mind)'. This allows the word to describe not just where one is, but the state or situation in which one finds oneself, giving the term a range that bridges spatial and existential senses.
Several forms appear in the biblical text. The singular מָקוֹם refers to a single place, the construct form מְקוֹם links to a following noun (as in 'the place of Shechem'), and the plural מְקֹמוֹת designates multiple places. These inflections confirm מָקוֹם is a flexible and frequent term in biblical Hebrew.
Usage in Scripture
In the early creation account, מָקוֹם describes the gathering of waters in Genesis 1:9: 'Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear.' Here it marks the singular spatial point where God commands the waters to collect, establishing the foundational notion of designated places in the created order.
The word frequently identifies specific sites tied to divine encounter or worship. In Exodus 20:24, God instructs Israel that 'in every place where I record my name I will come unto thee and I will bless thee', showing מָקוֹם as the marker for sanctified locations. Similarly, the poetic and reflective texts — Psalms 103 and Ecclesiastes 3 — use מָקוֹם to denote places that vanish at death ('the place thereof shall know it no more', Psalms 103:16) and settings where injustice paradoxically dwells ('in the place of justice, that wickedness was there', Ecclesiastes 3:16). Ecclesiastes 3:20 then generalizes: 'All go unto one place; all are of the dust'.
The word in detail
- H4725 Strong's H4725, מָקוֹם (maqom): a standing place, spot, or locality, used both of physical locations (Genesis 1:9; Genesis 12:6) and figuratively of a condition or state (per the lexicon entry). The singular, construct, and plural forms (e.g., מְקֹמוֹת in Psalms 103:22) make it a flexible noun throughout the Old Testament.
Example verses
- Genesis 1:9 מָקוֹם here marks the singular 'one place' where God gathers the waters, the first biblical use of the word and the origin of the concept of designated locations in creation.
- Exodus 20:24 In 'every place where I record my name', מָקוֹם identifies sanctified sites of worship, showing the word's role in marking locations set apart for divine encounter.
- Ecclesiastes 3:16 The Teacher observes that 'in the place of justice, wickedness was there', using מָקוֹם to highlight a poignant contrast: the location itself and what actually inhabits it.
- Ecclesiastes 3:20 'All go unto one place' uses מָקוֹם of the common destination of all the dead, functioning as a generalized 'place' that elides individual distinctions in the grave.
Common questions
What does מָקוֹם mean in Hebrew?
מָקוֹם (maqom, H4725) means 'place' or 'standing place' — literally a spot or locality, and figuratively a condition or state of body or mind.
Is מָקוֹם used only for physical locations?
No. While the word's primary sense is a geographical locality (as in Genesis 1:9 or Genesis 12:6), the lexicon entry notes that it can also refer to a condition of body or mind, expanding it beyond purely spatial meaning.
What is the difference between the singular and plural forms of מָקוֹם?
The singular מָקוֹם refers to a single place (as in Exodus 20:24), while the plural מְקֹמוֹת refers to multiple places (as in Psalms 103:22, 'all places of his dominion'). The construct form מְקוֹם links to a following noun (as 'the place of Shechem' in Genesis 12:6).