Topical Bible: Northward

◄ Northward ►

Jump to: Easton's • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical geography and symbolism, the term "northward" holds significant meaning and is often associated with direction, divine judgment, and the unfolding of God's plans. The concept of "northward" is mentioned in various contexts throughout the Bible, providing insight into its spiritual and historical implications.

Geographical Significance

In the ancient Near East, the north was often considered a direction of mystery and foreboding. The lands to the north of Israel, such as Assyria and Babylon, were frequently seen as sources of threat and invasion. For instance, in Jeremiah 1:14 , the Lord declares, "From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land." This association of the north with impending judgment is a recurring theme in the prophetic literature.

Symbolic Meaning

The north is also symbolically significant in Scripture. It is sometimes associated with God's majesty and sovereignty. In Psalm 48:2 , Mount Zion is described as "beautiful in loftiness, the joy of the whole earth, like the peaks of Zaphon," with "Zaphon" being a reference to the north. This imagery conveys the idea of God's holy mountain being exalted and majestic, akin to the revered mountains of the north.

Divine Judgment and Deliverance

The north is frequently mentioned in the context of divine judgment. The prophets often spoke of northern invaders as instruments of God's wrath. For example, in Ezekiel 38:15 , God speaks of bringing Gog "from your place out of the far north," indicating a divine orchestration of events for the purpose of judgment. Conversely, the north can also be a direction from which deliverance comes. In Isaiah 41:25 , God says, "I have raised up one from the north, and he will come," referring to a deliverer who will execute God's will.

Tribal Allotments and Movements

In the context of the Israelite tribal allotments, "northward" is used to describe territorial boundaries and movements. In Numbers 34:7 , the northern boundary of the land allotted to the Israelites is described: "Your northern border will run from the Great Sea to Mount Hor." This delineation of territory underscores the importance of the north in defining the Promised Land.

Worship and Ritual

The north also holds a place in the rituals and worship practices of ancient Israel. In Leviticus 1:11 , the instructions for burnt offerings specify that the animal is to be slaughtered "on the north side of the altar before the LORD." This detail highlights the north's role in the sacrificial system, possibly indicating a place of reverence and solemnity.

Conclusion

The concept of "northward" in the Bible is rich with geographical, symbolic, and theological significance. It serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty, the reality of divine judgment, and the hope of deliverance. Through its various uses, "northward" points to the unfolding of God's purposes in history and the spiritual journey of His people.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

(Hebrews tsaphon), a "hidden" or "dark place," as opposed to the sunny south (Deuteronomy 3:27). A Hebrew in speaking of the points of the compass was considered as always having his face to the east, and hence "the left hand" (Genesis 14:15; Job 23:9) denotes the north. The "kingdoms of the north" are Chaldea, Assyria, Media, etc.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (a.) Toward the north; nearer to the north than to the east or west point.

2. (adv.) Alt. of Northwards.

Strong's Hebrew

6828. tsaphon -- north
... Word Origin from tsaphan Definition north NASB Word Usage North (8), north (125),
north side (7), northern (1), northward (11). northern side, dark, gloomy. ...
/hebrew/6828.htm - 6k

Library

The Coast of the Asphaltites, the Essenes. En-Gedi.
... En-gedi, which is also asserted by the authors cited,"certainly, then, the maps
have laid it a long way distant from its own proper place, too much northward ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 6 the coast of.htm

Jesus at the Well of Sychar
... As we stand on the summit of the ridge, on the way from Shiloh, the eye travels
over the wide sweep, extending more than seven miles northward, till it rests ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter viii jesus at the.htm

The Story of Joseph and his Coat of Many Colors
... But Joseph was a boy who could take care of himself, and could be trusted; so he
went forth on his journey, walking northward over the mountains, past Bethlehem ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of joseph and.htm

Jesus Sets Out from Jud??a for Galilee.
... While John occupied the northern, Jesus worked in the southern district of Palestine;
but when John was removed, then Jesus turned northward, that he might sow ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxvi jesus sets out from.htm

Trinidad
... likeness of a certain rock to a galley under sail"along the east and south of the
island; turned eastward at Punta Galeota; and then northward, round Punta ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter iii trinidad.htm

And After. (xxx, xxxi, xxxix-Xliv. )
... We have seen how the heart of this son of Anathoth-in-Benjamin was early drawn to
the exiles from that province on which the northward windows of his village ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/4 and after xxx xxxi.htm

The Return of Xerxes to Persia.
... In carrying out this design, he concluded to march to the northward by land,
accompanied by a large portion of his army and by all his principal officers ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/xerxes/chapter xii the return of.htm

Afraid of Giants
... The whole march northward and back again comes in between verses 22 and 23; for
Eshcol was close to Hebron, and the spies would not encumber themselves with ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/afraid of giants.htm

The Land and the People.
... which he may often have cast his eye eastward to Gilboa, where Jonathan fell, and
to the graceful, cone-like Tabor"the Righi of Palestine"northward to the ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 17 the land and.htm

(And Last): Homeward Bound
... We ran northward up the magnificent land-locked channel between Tortola and Virgin
Gorda, to pass to leeward of Virgin Gorda and Anegada, and so northward ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter xvii and last homeward.htm

Thesaurus

Northward (41 Occurrences)
...Northward (41 Occurrences). ... (YLT). Exodus 40:22 He put the table in the Tent of Meeting,
on the side of the tabernacle northward, outside of the veil. ...
/n/northward.htm - 21k

Northern (18 Occurrences)
... the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the Valley of Hinnom
westward, which is at the uttermost part of the vale of Rephaim northward. ...
/n/northern.htm - 12k

Southward (42 Occurrences)
... Genesis 13:14 Yahweh said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, "Now, lift
up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward ...
/s/southward.htm - 20k

Slope (29 Occurrences)
... the border went up to the top of the mountain that lies before the valley of Hinnom
westward, which is at the farthest part of the valley of Rephaim northward. ...
/s/slope.htm - 16k

Southern (9 Occurrences)
... the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the Valley of Hinnom
westward, which is at the uttermost part of the vale of Rephaim northward. ...
/s/southern.htm - 9k

Westward (35 Occurrences)
... Genesis 13:14 Yahweh said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, "Now, lift
up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward ...
/w/westward.htm - 19k

North (164 Occurrences)
... 6. (adv.) Northward. Int. ... Exodus 40:22 He put the table in the Tent of Meeting,
on the side of the tabernacle northward, outside of the veil. ...
/n/north.htm - 43k

En (19 Occurrences)
... Joshua 15:7 The border went up to Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward,
looking toward Gilgal, that is over against the ascent of Adummim, which is ...
/e/en.htm - 14k

Eastward (72 Occurrences)
... Genesis 13:14 Yahweh said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, "Now, lift
up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward ...
/e/eastward.htm - 30k

Continued (148 Occurrences)
... Joshua 15:7 The border went up to Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward,
looking toward Gilgal, that is over against the ascent of Adummim, which is ...
/c/continued.htm - 34k

Resources

What is the significance of Assyria in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What were the quail mentioned in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of the Negev in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Northward: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Northward (41 Occurrences)

Genesis 13:14
Yahweh said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, "Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Genesis 28:14
and thy seed hath been as the dust of the land, and thou hast broken forth westward, and eastward, and northward, and southward, and all families of the ground have been blessed in thee and in thy seed.
(YLT)

Exodus 40:22
He put the table in the Tent of Meeting, on the side of the tabernacle northward, outside of the veil.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Leviticus 1:11
And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Numbers 2:25
The standard of the camp of Dan shall be northward according to their hosts; and the prince of the sons of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai;
(DBY YLT)

Numbers 3:35
And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail: these shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Deuteronomy 2:3
"You have encircled this mountain long enough. Turn northward.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Deuteronomy 3:27
Go up to the top of Pisgah, and lift up your eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and see with your eyes: for you shall not go over this Jordan.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Joshua 11:2
and to the kings that were northward in the mountains, and in the plain south of Chinneroth, and in the lowland, and on the upland of Dor on the west,
(DBY)

Joshua 15:7
The border went up to Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is over against the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the river. The border passed along to the waters of En Shemesh, and ended at En Rogel.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Joshua 15:8
The border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom to the side of the Jebusite southward (the same is Jerusalem); and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lies before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the farthest part of the valley of Rephaim northward.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Joshua 15:11
and the border went out to the side of Ekron northward; and the border extended to Shikkeron, and passed along to Mount Baalah, and went out at Jabneel; and the goings out of the border were at the sea.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Joshua 17:10
Southward it was Ephraim's, and northward it was Manasseh's, and the sea was his border. They reached to Asher on the north, and to Issachar on the east.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Joshua 18:16
The border went down to the farthest part of the mountain that lies before the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is in the valley of Rephaim northward. It went down to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of the Jebusite southward, and went down to En Rogel.
(WEB JPS ASV YLT NAS)

Joshua 18:17
It extended northward, went out at En Shemesh, and went out to Geliloth, which is over against the ascent of Adummim. It went down to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.
(WEB ASV NAS)

Joshua 18:18
It passed along to the side over against the Arabah northward, and went down to the Arabah.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Joshua 18:19
The border passed along to the side of Beth Hoglah northward; and the border ended at the north bay of the Salt Sea, at the south end of the Jordan. This was the south border.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Joshua 19:27
It turned toward the sunrise to Beth Dagon, and reached to Zebulun, and to the valley of Iphtah El northward to Beth Emek and Neiel. It went out to Cabul on the left hand,
(WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV)

Judges 12:1
The men of Ephraim were gathered together, and passed northward; and they said to Jephthah, "Why did you pass over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didn't call us to go with you? We will burn your house around you with fire!"
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT)

1 Samuel 14:5
The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.
(KJV WBS)

2 Kings 16:14
As to the altar of brass that 'is' before Jehovah -- he bringeth 'it' near from the front of the house, from between the altar and the house of Jehovah, and putteth it on the side of the altar, northward.
(YLT)

1 Chronicles 26:14
The lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counselor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

1 Chronicles 26:17
Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and for the storehouse two and two.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Jeremiah 46:6
The swift do not flee, nor do the mighty escape, Northward, by the side of the river Phrat, They have stumbled and fallen.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 8:5
Then said he to me, Son of man, lift up your eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up my eyes the way toward the north, and see, northward of the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Ezekiel 40:19
Then he measured the breadth from the forefront of the lower gate unto the forefront of the inner court without, an hundred cubits eastward and northward.
(KJV JPS DBY WBS YLT)

Ezekiel 40:20
As to the gate of the outer court whose front 'is' northward, he hath measured its length and its breadth;
(YLT)

Ezekiel 40:23
And there was a gate to the inner court over against the other gate, both on the north and on the east; and he measured from gate to gate a hundred cubits.
(See JPS)

Ezekiel 40:44
And on the outside of the inner gate 'are' chambers of the singers, in the inner court, that 'are' at the side of the north gate, and their fronts 'are' southward, one at the side of the east gate 'hath' the front northward.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 40:46
and the chamber, whose front 'is' northward, 'is' for priests keeping charge of the altar: they 'are' sons of Zadok, who are drawing near of the sons of Levi unto Jehovah, to serve Him.'
(YLT)

Ezekiel 41:11
And the opening of the side-chamber 'is' to the place left, one opening northward, and one opening southward, and the breadth of the place that is left 'is' five cubits all round about.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 42:1
And he bringeth me forth unto the outer court, the way northward, and he bringeth me in unto the chamber that 'is' over-against the separate place, and that 'is' over-against the building at the north.
(YLT NIV)

Ezekiel 42:11
And the way before them 'is' as the appearance of the chambers that 'are' northward, according to their length so 'is' their breadth, and all their outlets, and according to their fashions, and according to their openings.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 46:19
And he bringeth me in through the entrance that 'is' by the side of the gate, unto the holy chambers, unto the priests, that are looking northward, and lo, there 'is' a place in their two sides westward.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 47:2
Then he brought me out by the way of the gate northward, and led me round by the way outside to the outer gate, by the way of the gate that looks toward the east; and behold, there ran out waters on the right side.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Ezekiel 47:17
The border from the sea, shall be Hazar Enon at the border of Damascus; and on the north northward is the border of Hamath. This is the north side.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Ezekiel 48:1
Now these are the names of the tribes: From the north end, beside the way of Hethlon to the entrance of Hamath, Hazar Enan at the border of Damascus, northward beside Hamath, (and they shall have their sides east and west), Dan, one portion.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Ezekiel 48:10
And of these is the holy heave-offering for the priests, northward five and twenty thousand, and westward 'in' breadth ten thousand, and eastward 'in' breadth ten thousand, and southward 'in' length five and twenty thousand: and the sanctuary of Jehovah hath been in its midst.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 48:31
and the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel, three gates northward: the gate of Reuben, one; the gate of Judah, one; the gate of Levi, one.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Daniel 8:4
I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; and no animals could stand before him, neither was there any who could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and magnified himself.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Zechariah 14:4
And stood have His feet, in that day, On the mount of Olives, That 'is' before Jerusalem eastward, And cleft hath been the mount of Olives at its midst, To the east, and to the west, a very great valley, And removed hath the half of the mount towards the north. And its half towards the south.
(See RSV)

Subtopics

Northward

Related Terms

Northward (41 Occurrences)

Northwest (1 Occurrence)

Jiphthah-el (2 Occurrences)

Westwards (6 Occurrences)

Reached (152 Occurrences)

Opposite (137 Occurrences)

Har-jearim (1 Occurrence)