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מִזְרָח

𐤌𐤆𐤓𐤇

mizrâch

H4217 noun

SILEX Entry

Root זרח to rise (of light/sun), to shine, to appear

Definition

Direction of the sunrise, i.e., 'east'; also the place or region toward which the sun rises. In poetic and narrative contexts, it can refer to the eastern region or the act of sunrise ('rising of the sun') itself. The term is used both literally for orientation and metaphorically for new beginnings or light.

Semantic Range

east, the direction of sunrise, place of sunrise, sunrise/the act of rising, eastern side/region, (metaphorically:) beginning or newness

Root / Etymology

From the root זרח (z-r-ḥ), meaning 'to rise (especially of light/the sun),' 'to shine,' 'to appear.' מִזְרָח is a noun of place or direction derived from this root, signifying 'the place of arising/shining' (i.e., 'east' or 'rising').

Historical & Contextual Notes

מִזְרָח occurs throughout the Hebrew Bible as the regular term for 'east' or 'eastern side,' especially in geographical, cultic, and orientation contexts (e.g., the east gate of the temple, or eastward regions as seen from Israel). In poetic usage, it may symbolize beginnings, hope, or illumination due to its association with the sunrise. While later translations sometimes render the term as 'sunrising' or 'rising of the sun,' its primary meaning remains spatial or directional. מִזְרָח can sometimes overlap with קֶדֶם (qedem), another term for 'east,' but קֶדֶם additionally connotes 'ancient times' and is often used with temporal nuance, while מִזְרָח is more strictly geographical or directional. In post-exilic literature and later Hebrew, the term retains its core spatial sense, occasionally gaining symbolic resonance associated with light and renewal. English translations often capture the main sense, but rarely reflect the full association with shining or dawn implicit in the Hebrew.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from זָרַח; sunrise, i.e. the east; east (side, -ward), (sun-) rising (of the sun).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

זרח (z-r-ḥ) — to rise, to shine, to appear

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2224 זָרַח as shining forth
H2225 זֶרַח your shining-forth
H2226 זֶרַח to Shining-One
H2227 זַרְחִי the Zerahite
H2228 זְרַחְיָה and Yah-has-shone-forth

Word Forms

11 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4217-07 מִזְרָ֖חָ/ה mizerachah HNcmsa/Sd sunrise-ward 27
H4217-05 מִ/מִּזְרַ֖ח mimizerach HR/Ncmsc from the sunrise-place 16
H4217-06 מִזְרַ֖ח mizerach HNcmsc place of rising 15
H4217-08 מִזְרְחָ֖/ה mizerechah HNcmsc/Sd toward the sunrise 3
H4217-02 לַ/מִּזְרָ֔ח lamizerach HRd/Ncmsa to the sunrise-place 3
H4217-01 הַ/מִּזְרָ֖ח hamizerach HTd/Ncmsa the rising-place 3
H4217-11 וְ/לַ/מִּזְרָ֗ח velamizerach HC/Rd/Ncmsa and to the rising-place 2
H4217-04 לְ/מִזְרַ֣ח lemizerach HR/Ncmsc toward the rising-place 2
H4217-03 לַ/מִּזְרָ֔חָ/ה lamizerachah HRd/Ncmsa/Sd toward the rising-place 1
H4217-10 וּ/מִזְרָ֖חָ/ה umizerachah HC/Ncmsa/Sd and toward the sunrise-place 1

Occurrences in Scripture

74 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4217-07 Exodus 27:13 מִזְרָ֖חָ/ה mizerachah HNcmsa/Sd sunrise-ward
H4217-07 Exodus 38:13 מִזְרָ֖חָ/ה mizerachah HNcmsa/Sd sunrise-ward
H4217-07 Numbers 2:3 מִזְרָ֔חָ/ה mizerachah HNcmsa/Sd sunrise-ward
H4217-07 Numbers 3:38 מִזְרָ֜חָ/ה mizerachah HNcmsa/Sd sunrise-ward
H4217-05 Numbers 21:11 מִ/מִּזְרַ֖ח mimizerach HR/Ncmsc from the sunrise-place
H4217-07 Numbers 32:19 מִזְרָֽחָ/ה mizerachah HNcmsa/Sd sunrise-ward
H4217-07 Numbers 34:15 מִזְרָֽחָ/ה mizerachah HNcmsa/Sd sunrise-ward
H4217-07 Deuteronomy 3:17 מִזְרָֽחָ/ה mizerachah HNcmsa/Sd sunrise-ward
H4217-10 Deuteronomy 3:27 וּ/מִזְרָ֖חָ/ה umizerachah HC/Ncmsa/Sd and toward the sunrise-place
H4217-08 Deuteronomy 4:41 מִזְרְחָ֖/ה mizerechah HNcmsc/Sd toward the sunrise
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