Lexical Summary maarab or maarabah: West, sunset, evening Original Word: מַעֲרָב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance west Or (feminine) maearabah {mah-ar-aw-baw'}; from arab, in the sense of shading; the west (as a region of the evening sun) -- west. see HEBREW arab NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as ereb Definition west NASB Translation setting (1), west (11), west side (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. מַעֲרָב noun [masculine] west (late) (place of sunset); — מִמַּעֲרָבָה ( = בָ֯הּ, compare De Ges § 91 e) Isaiah 45:6 from its setting-place (opposed to מִמִּזְרַחשֶֿׁמֶשׁ); מַעֲרָב opposed to מִזְרָח also Isaiah 43:5; Isaiah 59:19; Psalm 103:12; Psalm 107:3, so ׳לַמּ westward 1 Chronicles 7:28; 1 Chronicles 12:16 (van d. H. v.1 Chronicles 12:15), 1 Chronicles 26:16,18; ׳מ opposed to מוֺצָא Psalm 75:7; מִןהַּֿמַּעֲרָב (alone) Daniel 8:5; with ה locative מַעֲרָ֑בָה 1 Chronicles 26:30 westward, followed by לְ = to the west of2Chronicles 32:30; 33:14, לַגִּבְעָה ׳מִמּ Judges 20:33 according to ᵐ5 (not B) ᵑ9 Be GFM and others (see [ מַעֲרֶה]). VI. ערב (√ of following; compare Arabic Topical Lexicon Summary of the termמַעֲרָב denotes the “west,” “western side,” or “setting place of the sun.” Throughout its fourteen Old Testament occurrences it functions both as a literal compass point and as a theological marker that highlights God’s sovereignty over space, history, and salvation. Geographical and tribal boundaries In 1 Chronicles 7:28 מַעֲרָב marks the western border of the territory of Joseph’s sons, situating their inheritance within the covenant allotment. The direction therefore helps fix the promised land’s contours, reinforcing the historicity of Israel’s settlement. Similar boundary language reappears in 1 Chronicles 26:16, 18, 30, where Levitical gatekeepers are assigned to guard the “western” approaches of the temple mount and royal precincts. Their watch underscores that every compass point of the sanctuary is under ordered priestly care. Military mustering and divine deliverance When David’s forces gather at Ziklag, warriors described as coming “from the west” (1 Chronicles 12:16) reveal the breadth of national unity around the anointed king. Later, Hezekiah’s waterworks reach “west of the City of David” (2 Chronicles 32:30), a civil engineering feat that shields Jerusalem from Assyria. Manasseh likewise fortifies the “western” part of the city wall (2 Chronicles 33:14). In these texts מַעֲרָב is a vantage for potential invasion yet also for God-enabled protection. Liturgical and moral symbolism Psalm 103:12 famously contrasts east and west to illustrate complete forgiveness: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” The choice of מַעֲרָב provides an immeasurable span; unlike north-south lines that meet at the poles, east and west move infinitely apart on the human horizon. The psalmist thereby extols the unbounded reach of divine mercy. Psalm 75:6 declares, “Exaltation does not come from the east, nor from the west, nor from the desert,” abolishing any claim that human promotion arises from geographic power centers. The verse positions God, not regional might, as the ultimate source of authority. Psalm 107:3 completes the re-gathering motif: the redeemed are brought “from the east and west, from north and south.” Here מַעֲרָב attests that return from exile is all-encompassing and global, foreshadowing the messianic ingathering. Prophetic universality Isaiah enlarges the concept. “I will bring your offspring from the east and gather you from the west” (Isaiah 43:5). The west becomes one quarter of a worldwide compass affirming Israel’s future restoration. Isaiah 45:6 proclaims that people “may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none but Me.” The paired terms “rising” (east) and “setting” (west) proclaim monotheism to the ends of the earth. Isaiah 59:19 foretells that “from the west they will fear the name of the Lord,” indicating global reverence born through the promised Redeemer. Eschatological anticipation Daniel’s vision of the goat “coming from the west over the face of the whole earth without touching the ground” (Daniel 8:5) situates imminent geopolitical upheaval. The rapid west-originating conquest—fulfilled in Alexander the Great—serves as a reminder that the Lord controls history, raising and removing empires as part of a redemptive trajectory culminating in the everlasting kingdom. Practical ministry implications 1. Global mission. The east-west pairing highlights God’s claim on every longitude. Evangelistic outreach must span every horizon, confident that the gospel of Christ is destined to be heard “from the rising of the sun to its setting.” 2. Assurance of forgiveness. Psalm 103:12 supplies pastoral comfort: repentant believers can rest in the infinite separation God places between them and their sins. 3. Vigilant stewardship. The Chronicler’s gatekeepers illustrate that every “side” of ministry—visible or unseen—requires faithful guardianship. No sector of church life lies outside divine order. 4. Hope in exile. Passages promising gathering from the west sustain those scattered physically or spiritually. God’s covenant fidelity secures return and restoration. Conclusion מַעֲרָב serves not merely as a directional term but as a theological compass point. Whether demarcating land, directing worship, or signifying universal restoration, it testifies that the God who sets the sun is the same God who sets boundaries, removes transgressions, and gathers His people for everlasting praise. Forms and Transliterations הַֽמַּעֲרָב֙ המערב וְלַֽמַּעֲרָ֗ב וְלַֽמַּעֲרָֽב׃ וּמִֽמַּעֲרָ֑ב וּמִֽמַּעֲרָ֖ב וּמִמַּ֣עֲרָבָ֔הּ ולמערב ולמערב׃ וממערב וממערבה לַֽמַּעֲרָ֑ב לַֽמַּעֲרָ֔ב למערב מִֽמַּֽעֲרָ֑ב מִֽמַּעֲרָב֙ מַּעְרָ֖בָה מַעְרָ֑בָה מַעְרָבָה֩ ממערב מערבה ham·ma·‘ă·rāḇ hamma‘ărāḇ hammaaRav lam·ma·‘ă·rāḇ lamma‘ărāḇ lammaaRav ma‘·rā·ḇāh ma‘rāḇāh maRavah mim·ma·‘ă·rāḇ mimaaRav mimma‘ărāḇ ū·mim·ma·‘ă·rā·ḇāh ū·mim·ma·‘ă·rāḇ umimaaRav umiMaaraVah ūmimma‘ărāḇ ūmimma‘ărāḇāh velammaaRav wə·lam·ma·‘ă·rāḇ wəlamma‘ărāḇLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 7:28 HEB: וְלַמִּזְרָ֣ח נַעֲרָ֔ן וְלַֽמַּעֲרָ֗ב גֶּ֤זֶר וּבְנֹתֶ֙יהָ֙ NAS: Naaran, and to the west Gezer KJV: Naaran, and westward Gezer, INT: the east Naaran the west Gezer towns 1 Chronicles 12:16 1 Chronicles 26:16 1 Chronicles 26:18 1 Chronicles 26:30 2 Chronicles 32:30 2 Chronicles 33:14 Psalm 75:6 Psalm 103:12 Psalm 107:3 Isaiah 43:5 Isaiah 45:6 Isaiah 59:19 Daniel 8:5 14 Occurrences |
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be black, 
crow (raven, rook, etc.); Assyrian ârivu, êribu; Aramaic 
, עוְּרְבָּא, all crow, raven).