Hebrew · Strong's H4217
מִזְרָח
(miz-RAKH)
noun, masculine
This noun refers to the direction of the sunrise, indicating the east or the eastern quarter.
The Hebrew noun מִזְרָח (mizrakh) literally means "sunrise" and is consistently used to denote the geographical direction of the east. This is a common understanding across ancient cultures, where the rising sun served as a primary orienting point. While primarily geographical, the term carries subtle theological undertones as the place from which God's light often appears. It frequently serves as a cardinal direction in descriptions of land boundaries, tribal allotments, and the layout of the tabernacle and temple in the Old Testament. The east is often juxtaposed with other directions to convey a sense of totality or expanse.
The concept of the east also appears in prophetic literature, sometimes pointing to the origin of divine judgment or salvation. Figures and events associated with the east can carry significance within the broader biblical narrative, such as the expulsion from Eden toward the east or the wise men from the east seeking the Christ child. While seemingly a simple geographical term, its repeated use in crucial contexts highlights its importance in the biblical worldview.
In some instances, מִזְרָח takes on a metaphorical sense, as in Psalm 103:12, where sin is removed "as far as the east is from the west." This emphasizes an immeasurable distance, illustrating the completeness of God's forgiveness. The consistent use of מִזְרָח, whether for practical directional purposes or as a component of profound theological statements, shows its integral role in biblical discourse.
Common English renderings
- east
- eastward
- sunrising
Key verses
"The Mighty One, God, Jehovah, hath spoken, And called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof."
Read in context →
"On the four sides were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south."
Read in context →
"And the people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, on the east border of Jericho."
Read in context →
"And gathered out of the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south."
Read in context →
"Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;"
Read in context →
"They inclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and trod them down at their resting-place, as far as over against Gibeah toward the sunrising."
Read in context →