Original Word: מוֹסָד
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: mowcad
Pronunciation: mo-sawd'
Phonetic Spelling: (mo-sawd')
KJV: foundation
NASB: foundations
Word Origin: [from H3245 (יָסַד - founded)]

1. a foundation

foundation

From yacad; a foundation -- foundation.

see HEBREW yacad

Word Origin
from yasad
Definition
foundation
NASB Translation
foundations (13).

[מוֺסָד] noun masculine^{Psalm 18:8} foundation; — plural absolute מוֺסָדוֺת Jeremiah 51:26; construct מוֺסְדוֺת Psalm 18:16 2t.; מֹסְדוֺת 2 Samuel 22:16; מוֺסְדֵי Deuteronomy 32:22 6t.; מֹסְדֵי Micah 6:2; — foundations ׳אֶבֶן למ Jeremiah 51:26; מוֺסְדֵי אֶרֶץ foundations of the earth Micah 6:2; Isaiah 24:18; Jeremiah 31:37; Psalm 82:5; Proverbs 8:29; ׳הא ׳מ Isaiah 40:21; תֵּבֵל ׳מ Psalm 18:16 = 2 Samuel 22:16; הרים ׳מ Deuteronomy 32:22; Psalm 18:8; 2 Samuel 22:8 has (less well) שׁמים ׳מ; דורוֿדור ׳מ Isaiah 58:12 ("" חָרְבוֺת עולם) i.e. ancient foundations, now ruined.

Concept of Foundational Stability

The term מוֹסָד (mosad) evokes the image of a solid footing, the structural base on which something rests securely. In Scripture it is applied figuratively to the created order, portraying the earth as a carefully laid edifice whose permanence depends on the wise and righteous rule of God. Thus, when the “foundations” tremble, the disturbance symbolizes moral or cosmic disorder.

Occurrences and Immediate Context

• Psalm 82:5 – The psalm confronts unjust earthly judges. Their corruption blinds them and “all the foundations of the earth are shaken.” The verse presents societal injustice as so grave that it undermines the very order God built into creation.
• Proverbs 8:29 – Wisdom speaks, recalling that at creation God “laid out the foundations of the earth.” Here מוֹסָד underscores divine craftsmanship; the world is not accidental but purposefully grounded in God’s wise decree.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Order versus Human Disorder

– In Psalm 82 unrighteous leadership threatens cosmic stability. God’s moral law is integral to the world’s structure; when ignored, chaos ensues (compare Psalm 11:3; Isaiah 24:18–20).
2. Wisdom in Creation

– Proverbs 8 personifies Wisdom presiding at creation. The foundations are laid by God’s wisdom, implying that life aligned with wisdom participates in that same stability (Proverbs 3:19–20).
3. Eschatological Expectation

– Shaken foundations foreshadow final judgment when God will “remove what can be shaken” (Hebrews 12:27). Thus מוֹסָד becomes a prophetic signpost pointing to the ultimate re-creation under Christ.

Historical and Literary Background

Ancient Near Eastern cosmology commonly depicted the earth as resting on pillars or foundations. Scriptural usage adapts this imagery but avoids mythological personification; Yahweh alone establishes and upholds the foundations (Job 38:4–6). The psalmist’s protest in Psalm 82 would have been especially provocative, exposing societal leaders who prided themselves on preserving order while, in fact, destabilizing it.

Messianic and Apostolic Resonances

Jesus identifies Himself as the immovable rock (Matthew 7:24–25). The apostolic writings likewise describe the Church “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20). These passages echo מוֹסָד by shifting the locus of stability from physical creation to the redemptive community grounded in Christ.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Justice Ministry: Psalm 82 encourages confronting systemic injustice; safeguarding the vulnerable preserves society’s foundations.
• Apologetics: Proverbs 8 situates wisdom at creation, supporting the coherence of a theistic worldview over secular chaos.
• Counseling: Believers shaken by life’s upheavals can be pointed to God’s unshakable foundation (Isaiah 28:16; 2 Timothy 2:19).

Homiletical Insights

A sermon might pair Psalm 82:5 with Matthew 7:24–27, contrasting collapsing houses on sand with lives anchored to Christ. Another approach is a thematic study titled “When Foundations Tremble,” linking societal ethics, personal holiness, and eschatological hope.

Related Biblical Imagery

Pillars (1 Timothy 3:15), Cornerstone (Psalm 118:22), Rock (Deuteronomy 32:4), and Root (Isaiah 11:10) all complement the concept conveyed by מוֹסָד, depicting multifaceted aspects of God’s sustaining power.

Summary

מוֹסָד highlights the nexus between moral order, divine wisdom, and cosmic stability. Whether warning corrupt judges or celebrating God’s creative wisdom, Scripture employs the term to remind readers that true security rests only on the foundation God Himself has set—ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

מ֣וֹסְדֵי מ֥וֹסְדֵי מוסדי mō·ws·ḏê Mosdei mōwsḏêInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts