The East

Excerpt

The ot terminology for ‘east’ is derived chiefly from two sources. First, it is drawn from language associated with sunrise (Heb.mizrakh, ‘rising, shining,’ Josh. 4:19), sometimes with sun (Shemesh, Judg. 21:19) or going forth (motsah, Ps. 75:7) with the sun (Ps. 19:5-7), and morning (boker, Ps. 65:9). Second, it is drawn from derivatives from the root meaning ‘before, in front’ (kdm). Since one orients oneself by facing east, the east is what is before or in front of one. Several derivatives of the root meaning ‘east’ are found in Gen. 11:2; Ezek. 40:6; Gen. 2:14; and Ezek. 10:19. A common use of ‘east’ in the OT, especially in poetry, the listing of the four cardinal points to express totality (‘everywhere,’ Joel 2:20; Ps. 75:7; Job 23:8-9). In the NT, ‘east’ (Gk. Anatole) is similarly used (Matt. 8:11; Luke 13:29). The east is the source of such OT wisdom figures as Job (Job 1:3), Agur (Prov. 30:1), and Lemuel (Prov. 31:1), as well as of the NT Magi (Matt. 2:1). More

Achtemeier, Paul J., Harper & Row and Society of Biblical Literature. Harper’s Bible dictionary 1985: 233. Print.