Mo’ed
Hebrew #4150
Definition: appointed time, appointed place, meeting
Other Words: feast, season(s),
“And Elohim said, ‘Let lights come to be in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and appointed times, and for days and years, and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth.’ And it came to be so.”
Berĕshith (Genesis) 1:14-15
“And [Yahuah] said to Aḇraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh, saying, “Shall I truly have a child, since I am old?” Is any matter too hard for [Yahuah]? At the appointed time I am going to return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah is to have a son.’”
Berĕshith (Genesis) 18:13-14
“Guard the Festival of Matzot. Seven days you eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the new moon of Aḇiḇ – for in it you came out of Mitsrayim – and do not appear before Me empty-handed;”
Shemoth (Exodus) 23:15
“Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, and say to them, ‘The appointed times of [Yahuah], which you are to proclaim as set-apart gatherings, My appointed times, are these: Six days work is done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a set-apart gathering. You do no work, it is a Sabbath to [Yahuah] in all your dwellings. These are the appointed times of [Yahuah], set-apart gatherings which you are to proclaim at their appointed times.’”
Wayyiqra (Leviticus) 23:2-4
“And Shemu’ĕl said to the cook, ‘Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I told you to set it aside.’ And the cook brought out the thigh with its upper part and set it before Sha’ul. And Shemu’ĕl said, ‘See what was kept back. It was set aside for you. Eat, for it has been kept for you for this appointed time, saying, I have invited the people.’ And Sha’ul ate with Shemu’ĕl on that day.”
Shemu’ĕl Aleph (1 Samuel) 9:23-24
“Your adversaries have roared In the midst of Your appointments;
They have set up their own signs as signs.”
Tehillim (Psalms) 74:4
“You Yourself shall arise And have compassion on Tsiyon, For the time to favour her, The appointed time, has come.”
Tehillim (Psalms) 102:13
“Even a stork in the heavens knows her appointed times. And a turtledove, and a swallow, and a thrush guard the time of their coming. But My people do not know the right-ruling of [Yahuah].”
Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 8:7
So… a word a week is a little too much for this busy family. But we came up with a solution we call WAM — Word A Month. Instead of studying a new word every week, we’ll focus on one word each month and publish it near the beginning of the month on Yahuah’s calendar.
Mo’ed. A simple word, yet filled with depth and purpose. It means appointed time, appointed place, or meeting—a moment set apart by Yahuah Himself. From the very beginning, Elohim established the lights in the heavens to mark His mo’edim, His sacred appointments with creation (Genesis 1:14–15). These were not man-made traditions or cultural holidays, but moments when He calls us to gather with Him and with His people.
Throughout Scripture, we see the pattern of His perfect timing. Abraham and Sarah’s long-awaited promise came “at the appointed time” (Genesis 18:14), revealing that Yahuah’s plans unfold with precision. In Exodus, the people were commanded to keep the Festival of Matzot “at the appointed time” (Exodus 23:15), remembering their deliverance and His faithfulness. Later, in Leviticus 23, Yahuah calls His people to proclaim His appointed times—set-apart gatherings designed for rest, remembrance, and rejoicing.
Even creation understands this divine rhythm. “The stork in the heavens knows her appointed times,” says Jeremiah 8:7, “but My people do not know the right-ruling of Yahuah.” His creation moves in harmony with His timing—shouldn’t we? Mo’ed reminds us that we are invited to step out of our schedules and into His, aligning our lives with the appointed days He has set to meet with us.
May we learn to recognize His mo’edim not just as dates on a calendar, but as invitations into His presence—times to pause, to listen, and to realign our hearts with His. As we slow down and meet Him at His appointed times, may we find that His timing is always good, His purpose always sure, and His desire always to dwell with His people.
Blessings and Shalom,
JS
