Lexical Summary mizrach: East, sunrise, place of sunrise Original Word: מִזְרָח Strong's Exhaustive Concordance east side, sunrise From zarach; sunrise, i.e. The east -- east (side, -ward), (sun-)rising (of the sun). see HEBREW zarach NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom zarach Definition place of sunrise, the east NASB Translation east (41), east side (2), east side* (2), east* (9), eastern (2), eastward (5), rising (6), sunrise (3), sunrise* (3), sunrising (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מִזְרָח noun [masculine] place of sunrise, east — absolute ׳מ Joshua 11:3 21t.; construct מִזְרַח Numbers 21:10 19t., with ה locative מִזְרָ֫חָה Exodus 27:13 28t., construct מִזְרְחָה Deuteronomy 4:41; Joshua 12:1; Judges 21:19 (not in Genesis Leviticus Samuel Ezekiel etc.); — 1 sunrise always of quarter of the heavens = east (ה)שׁמשׁ ׳מ Numbers 21:11 (P), Deuteronomy 4:41,47; Joshua 1:15; Joshua 12:1; Joshua 13:5 (all D), Joshua 19:12,27,34 (all P), Judges 20:43; Judges 21:19; 2 Kings 10:33; Isaiah 41:25; Isaiah 45:6; Isaiah 59:19, compare שׁמשׁ לארץ ׳מ Judges 11:18; שׁמשׁ וְעַדמְֿבוֺאוֺ ׳מִמִּז Psalm 50:1; Psalm 113:3; Malachi 1:11; more often 2 without שֶׁמֶשׁ: a. the east ׳כִּרְחֹק מ מִמַּעֲרָב֑ Psalm 103:12. b. ׳מִמּ from the east Isaiah 41:2; Isaiah 43:5 (opposed to מִמַּעֲרָב), Isaiah 46:11; Daniel 11:44 (+ מִצַּפוֺן); ׳מִמּ וּמִמַּעֲרָב֑ מִצָּפוֺן וּמִיָּם Psalm 107:3. c. to or toward the place of sunrise, to the east, eastward:-1מִוְרָ֫חָה Numbers 32:19 (P), Deuteronomy 3:17,27 (1 Chronicles 26:17 (+ לַצָּפ֫וֺנָה, לַנֶּ֫גְבָּה), Nehemiah 3:26; לַמִּזְרָ֫חָה2Chronicles 31:14; (4) ׳אֶלהַֿמּ Daniel 8:9 (+ אֶלהַֿנֶּגֶב, אֶלהַֿצֶּבִ֑י); (5) מִיָּם עָדיָֿם וּמִצָּפוֺן עַדמִֿזְ רָךְ Amos 8:12. d. (on) the east side of, construct קְצֵה מִזְרַה יְרִיחוֺ Joshua 4:19 (P); also with לְמִזְרַח הַנָּ֑יְא לְ 1 Chronicles 4:39, הַיַּרְדֵּן ׳לְמ 1 Chronicles 6:63; with מִן, ׳מִמִּז Joshua 11:3 (opposed to מִיָּם) compare Joshua 17:10 (+ מצָּפוֺן; both J E), also Joshua 16:6 (P). e. after a construct לגלעד ׳עַלכָּֿלמְּֿנֵי מ 1 Chronicles 5:10; ׳רְחוֺב הַמּ2Chronicles 29:4; ׳שַׁעַר הַמּ Nehemiah 3:29; ׳אֶרֶץ מ Zechariah 8:7 (opposed to ארץ מְבוֺא הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ). מִזְרָח (mizrach) designates the east, the place of sunrise, or something oriented toward the east. Throughout the Old Testament its approximately seventy-four occurrences range from literal geography to rich symbolic and prophetic motifs. Geographical Orientation 1. Boundary Markers. Mizrach frequently marks the eastern limits of the Promised Land (Numbers 34:10-15; Joshua 13:5). It anchors maps, legal allotments, and travel narratives, reminding readers that God assigns borders and habitation. Tribal and Military Arrangements In the wilderness camp the tribes of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun pitched “on the east side, toward the sunrise” (Numbers 2:3, 10). The east thus became the direction of first light on the camp, linking leadership with illumination and readiness for movement. Temple Architecture and Worship 1. Gateways and Courts. The east gate dominates Ezekiel’s temple vision (Ezekiel 40:6; 43:1-4). The glory of the LORD enters “from the east,” signaling divine approach and acceptance. Metaphors of Illumination and Salvation The east portrays the certainty and universality of God’s revelation: Light breaking from the east becomes an emblem of gospel outreach and the spread of divine glory. Prophetic and Eschatological Uses 1. Cyrus and Future Deliverers. Isaiah 41:2 asks, “Who has stirred up one from the east, calling him in righteousness to His service?” God controls history by summoning agents from mizrach. Moral Polarities: East and West The phrase “from the rising of the sun to its setting” frames complete scope. Blessing, glory, fear of the LORD, and even judgment (Isaiah 59:19) span the whole horizon, affirming that no realm lies outside God’s reach. Pastoral and Homiletical Applications • God’s faithfulness is as regular as sunrise; believers can order life around His sure mercies. Summary Mizrach joins the tangible orientation of daily life with the theological themes of light, deliverance, judgment, and glory. By tracing its occurrences, one sees a Scripture-wide testimony that the God who calls the sun to rise also calls nations, kings, and ordinary people to the light of His redeeming presence. Englishman's Concordance Exodus 27:13 HEB: לִפְאַ֛ת קֵ֥דְמָה מִזְרָ֖חָה חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים אַמָּֽה׃ NAS: of the court on the east side KJV: side eastward [shall be] fifty INT: side the east eastward fifty cubits Exodus 38:13 Numbers 2:3 Numbers 3:38 Numbers 21:11 Numbers 32:19 Numbers 34:15 Deuteronomy 3:17 Deuteronomy 3:27 Deuteronomy 4:41 Deuteronomy 4:47 Deuteronomy 4:49 Joshua 1:15 Joshua 4:19 Joshua 11:3 Joshua 11:8 Joshua 12:1 Joshua 12:1 Joshua 12:3 Joshua 12:3 Joshua 13:5 Joshua 13:8 Joshua 13:27 Joshua 13:32 Joshua 16:1 74 Occurrences |
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