a fixed standing-place or post: the spot where someone stands, a military outpost, or the position a person holds
TranslatabilityApproximateCertaintyStrong
This word belongs to a family built on the idea of standing firm in one place. At its core it names a standing-position: a place that is fixed and occupied.
From that single picture it reaches in three directions:
- the literal spot where a person's feet are planted, as at the Jordan crossing;
- a military outpost where soldiers are stationed, which is its most common use;
- the position or office a person holds, as when a royal steward is stripped of his post.
The military use can slide between the place and the people: when the account says a garrison "went out" or "trembled," it means the men posted there, not the ground they stood on. A close cousin, נְצִיב, covers much the same military ground, while מַצֵּבָה is a standing stone rather than a standing post.
Nuances
1athe spot where someone stands: the place their feet occupy
Jos 4:3Jos 4:9
1ba military post: an outpost where troops are stationed, and the troops posted there
1Sa 13:231Sa 14:11Sa 14:41Sa 14:61Sa 14:111Sa 14:152Sa 23:14
1ca person's station or office: the standing they hold
Isa 22:19