Lexical Summary misderon: Arrangement, order, sequence Original Word: מִסְדְּרוֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance porch From the same as ceder; a colonnade or internal portico (from its rows of pillars) -- porch. see HEBREW ceder NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as seder Definition a porch, colonnade NASB Translation vestibule (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מִסְדְּרוֺן] noun [masculine] porch, colonnade ? (place of a row (of pillars) ?); — only with, ה locative: וַיֵּצֵא אֵהוּד הַמִּסְדְּר֑וֺנָה Judges 3:23 precise meaning dubious, compare GFM. סהר (√ of following = be round?; compare Late Hebrew סַ֫הַר a round place; Assyrian sîru, enclosing wall; also Phoenician סהרו proper name, of a location). Topical Lexicon Occurrence and Narrative Context The sole appearance of מִסְדְּרוֹן (misderon) is in Judges 3:23, where the writer describes the chamber from which Ehud exits after striking down Eglon: “Then Ehud went out through the porch, closing and locking the doors of the upper room behind him” (Judges 3:23). The verse anchors the word within one of Israel’s early deliverance narratives, highlighting both a physical space and a pivotal moment in the cycle of rebellion, oppression, repentance, and rescue that characterizes the period of the Judges. Historical Setting Judges 3:12–30 records Israel’s subjugation under Moab and God’s raising of Ehud, a left-handed Benjamite, as deliverer. Eglon has taken up residence in Jericho (“the City of Palms,” Judges 3:13), a location known for its warm climate. Cooling upper chambers or roof-level porches were common architectural features in such regions, providing ventilation and privacy. Thus the misderon in which Eglon sat likely functioned as a summer parlor, a place of relaxation for a monarch who felt secure in his dominance over Israel. Ironically, the room designed for comfort becomes the site of divine judgment. Architectural Insight Ancient Near-Eastern houses often included an elevated chamber accessed by an external stair or a ladder within the house (cf. Deuteronomy 22:8; 1 Samuel 9:25). These rooms served multiple purposes—storage (Joshua 2:6), prayer and prophetic ministry (2 Kings 4:10), hospitality (Acts 9:37), and, here, royal leisure. The careful mention that Ehud “closed and locked” the doors underscores the presence of hinged, latchable doors even on a roof structure, hinting at the sophistication of Iron Age domestic architecture. Theological Themes 1. Divine Reversal: The luxurious porch of a pagan oppressor becomes the stage for Israel’s liberation. Scripture repeatedly displays God’s ability to overturn human power structures within their own strongholds (cf. Esther 7:8; Daniel 5:5–30). Ministry Applications • Vigilance in Private Spaces – The misderon account cautions against moral complacency in presumed “safe” quarters. Whether a modern study, office, or living room, private areas must remain places of holiness, not indulgence. Cross-Canon Parallels and Typology • Deliverer Motif – Ehud prefigures the greater Deliverer, Jesus Christ, who defeats the enemy in an unexpected manner (Colossians 2:15). Practical Reflections for Believers 1. Prepare personal “upper rooms” for prayer and study, expecting God’s transformative work. The singular mention of מִסְדְּרוֹן thus serves more than a descriptive purpose; it frames a theological portrait of how God can repurpose ordinary structures for extraordinary redemption. Forms and Transliterations הַֽמִּסְדְּר֑וֹנָה המסדרונה ham·mis·də·rō·w·nāh hammisdeRonah hammisdərōwnāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 3:23 HEB: וַיֵּצֵ֥א אֵה֖וּד הַֽמִּסְדְּר֑וֹנָה וַיִּסְגֹּ֞ר דַּלְת֧וֹת NAS: went out into the vestibule and shut KJV: went forth through the porch, and shut INT: went Ehud the vestibule and shut the doors 1 Occurrence |
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