◄ 4328. meyussadah ►
Lexical Summary
meyussadah: Foundation

Original Word: מְיֻסָּדָה
Part of Speech: verb; noun
Transliteration: myuccadah
Pronunciation: meh-yoo-sah-DAH
Phonetic Spelling: (meh-yoos-saw-daw')
KJV: foundation
Word Origin: [(properly) feminine passive participle of H3245 (יָסַד - founded)]

1. something founded, i.e. a foundation

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
foundation

Properly, feminine passive participle of yacad; something founded, i.e. A foundation -- foundation.

see HEBREW yacad

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
fem. pass. part. of yasad, q.v.

Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Etymology

מְיֻסָּדָה (meyussādāh) carries the idea of something “having been founded” or “firmly laid.” Although this exact feminine passive participle does not appear in the extant Old Testament text, it is transparently related to the root יסד (yāsad, “to found, establish, lay a foundation”). The root’s basic imagery is architectural: the deliberate, measured placement of a base that can bear weight, provide stability, and guarantee longevity.

Theological Significance of the Foundation Motif

1. Divine Architect. Scripture consistently portrays the Lord as the One who “laid the foundations of the earth” (Psalm 104:5) and “founded Zion” (Psalm 87:1). Foundation-language thus highlights God’s sovereign initiative and wisdom in creation and redemption.
2. Covenant Security. A well-laid foundation symbolizes the unshakable nature of God’s covenant promises. When the Psalmist prays, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne” (Psalm 89:14), he declares that God’s moral order is as immovable as bedrock.
3. Eschatological Hope. Isaiah 28:16 promises, “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken.” The promise of a flawless, God-given foundation anticipates the Messiah and the future stability of His kingdom.

Old Testament Parallels (Root יסד)

• 1 Kings 6:37 — Solomon “laid the foundations of the house of the LORD.”
• Ezra 3:10 — Returned exiles celebrate when “the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD.”
• Job 38:4 — God’s rhetorical question, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?” underscores divine supremacy.

Although מְיֻסָּדָה itself is unrecorded, these passages reveal the broader semantic field in which the participle would have functioned.

Christological Fulfillment

New Testament writers seize the Isaianic imagery to identify Jesus Christ as the ultimate, God-appointed foundation:
• “For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11)
• “Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.” (Ephesians 2:20)

The Messiah not only fulfills the promise of a secure foundation; He Himself is that foundation, rendering every believer a living stone in a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:4-6).

Historical Background

In the Ancient Near East, foundation laying was accompanied by ceremony, inscriptions, and often sacrifice, testifying to the permanence and sacredness of the structure. Biblical accounts mirror this cultural backdrop yet reorient the focus: the celebratory songs in Ezra 3, for instance, are directed exclusively to the Lord, underscoring that true security comes from Him, not from human engineering.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Doctrinal Stability. Believers are called to “continue in the faith, established and firm” (Colossians 1:23). Sound doctrine is to the church what a foundation is to a building.
• Discipleship Strategy. Effective ministry begins with ensuring converts are rooted in Jesus Christ rather than in personalities, programs, or cultural trends.
• Perseverance Amid Trial. Storm imagery in Matthew 7:24-25 reminds disciples that lives built on the words of Christ withstand adversity. The unseen foundation determines visible endurance.
• Church Planting. When new congregations are “founded,” leaders must prioritize biblical preaching and Christ-centered worship so that the assembly rests on an unmovable base.

Devotional Reflection

Though מְיֻסָּדָה never graces the inspired pages, its concept reverberates throughout Scripture: God establishes, God secures, God endures. Every stone laid in the redemptive account points to the Cornerstone, and every believer joined to Him finds a footing that can never be shaken.

Links
Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts
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