The term "southeast" is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible; however, the concept of cardinal directions, including southeast, is implicit in various biblical narratives and descriptions of geography. Understanding the significance of directions in biblical times can provide insight into the cultural and historical context of the Scriptures.

Geographical Context

In biblical geography, directions were often used to describe the location of territories, the movement of people, and the positioning of significant events. The land of Israel, situated at the crossroads of Africa, Asia, and Europe, was influenced by its surrounding regions. The southeast direction from Israel would generally point towards the Arabian Peninsula, a region that played a role in the history of the Israelites and their neighbors.

Biblical References

While the specific term "southeast" does not appear, the Bible frequently uses directions to describe the movement of people and the location of lands. For example, the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land involved travel that would have included southeastward movements at various points. The Berean Standard Bible provides numerous instances where directions are significant:

· Genesis 12:9 : "And Abram journeyed on, continuing toward the Negev." The Negev is a desert region located to the south of Israel, and Abram's journey from the north would have included a southeastward direction at times.

· Ezekiel 47:19 : "On the south side it will run from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribah Kadesh, then along the Wadi of Egypt to the Great Sea. This will be the southern boundary." This passage describes the southern boundary of the land, which would encompass areas to the southeast.

Cultural and Symbolic Significance

In biblical symbolism, directions often carry deeper meanings. The east, for example, is associated with the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:8) and the return of Christ (Matthew 24:27). The south, on the other hand, is sometimes associated with warmth and abundance, as seen in the Queen of Sheba's visit to Solomon from the south (1 Kings 10:1-13).

The southeast, as a combination of these directions, could symbolically represent a blend of new beginnings and prosperity. It is a direction that might suggest movement towards growth and divine encounters, as seen in the journeys of biblical figures who traveled through or towards regions in the southeast.

Historical Interactions

The regions to the southeast of Israel, including parts of Arabia, were home to various peoples and cultures that interacted with the Israelites. The Bible records interactions with the Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites, who lived to the southeast of Israel. These interactions ranged from conflict to cooperation and are documented throughout the Old Testament.

Conclusion

While the specific term "southeast" is not used in the Bible, understanding the geographical and symbolic significance of directions enhances the study of biblical narratives. The southeast direction, in particular, offers insights into the movement and interactions of biblical peoples, as well as the symbolic meanings associated with their journeys.1. (n.) The point of the compass equally distant from the south and the east; the southeast part or region.

2. (a.) of or pertaining to the southeast; proceeding toward, or coming from, the southeast; as, a southeast course; a southeast wind.

NORTHEAST, SOUTHEAST

These words occur in Acts 27:12, "if by any means they could reach Phoenix, and winter there; which is a haven of Crete, looking north-east and south-east." the Revised Version margin has, "Greek, down the south-west wind and down the north-west wind," which is a literal translation of the Greek: eis Phoinika.... limena tes Kretes bleponta (looking) kata liba (the southwest wind) kai kata choron (the northwest wind). Choros does not appear to occur except here, but the corresponding Latin caurus or corus is found in Caesar, Vergil, and other classical authors. the King James Version has "lieth toward the south west and north west." kata, with a wind or stream, means, "down the wind or stream," i.e. in the direction that it is blowing or flowing, and this interpretation would indicate a harbor open to the East. If lips, and choros, are used here as names of directions rather than of winds, we should expect a harbor open to the West. There is good reason for identifying Phoenix (the King James Version "Phenice") with Loutro on the south shore of Crete (EB, under the word "Phenice"), whose harbor is open to the East. See PHOENIX.

Alfred Ely Day

SOUTHEAST

See NORTHEAST.

2148. Eurokludon -- Euroklydon, northeast wind
... Euroklydon, northeast wind From Euros (the east wind) and kludon; a storm from the
East (or southeast), ie (in modern phrase) a Levanter -- Euroklydon. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2148.htm - 6k8603. Tophel -- a place Southeast of the Dead Sea
... 8602b, 8603. Tophel. 8604 . a place Southeast of the Dead Sea. Transliteration:
Tophel Phonetic Spelling: (to'-fel) Short Definition: Tophel. ...
/hebrew/8603.htm - 6k

4586. Meunim -- a people Southeast of the Dead Sea
... Meunim or Meinim. 4587 . a people Southeast of the Dead Sea. Transliteration:
Meunim or Meinim Phonetic Spelling: (meh-oo-nee') Short Definition: Meunites. ...
/hebrew/4586.htm - 6k

2362. Chavran -- a district Southeast of Mount Hermon
... 2361, 2362. Chavran. 2363 . a district Southeast of Mount Hermon. Transliteration:
Chavran Phonetic Spelling: (khav-rawn') Short Definition: Hauran. ...
/hebrew/2362.htm - 6k

2128. Ziph -- a son of Judah, also a city Southeast of Hebron and ...
... Ziph. 2129 . a son of Judah, also a city Southeast of Hebron and a city in S.
Judah. Transliteration: Ziph Phonetic Spelling: (zeef) Short Definition: Ziph. ...
/hebrew/2128.htm - 6k

6924b. qedem -- eastward, toward the east
... the same as qedem Definition eastward, toward the east NASB Word Usage east (9),
east side (2), east* (2), eastern (1), eastward (10), side (1), southeast* (1 ...
/hebrew/6924b.htm - 5k

5045. negeb -- south country, the Negeb, south
... unused word Definition south country, the Negeb, south NASB Word Usage Negev (36),
South (11), south (45), south side (2), south* (3), southeast* (1), southern ...
/hebrew/5045.htm - 6k

Jesus Heals Two Gergesene Demoniacs.
... Some sixteen miles away and to the southeast, and seven miles back from
the lake, was the well-known city of Gadara. Further on ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lvi jesus heals two gergesene.htm

Chapter x
... Gimirrai. "Magog," according to Josephus, represents the ancient Scythian
hordes, found originally southeast of the Black Sea. Perhaps ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter x.htm

The Heroic Women of Early Indiana Methodism.
... extending from the Ohio at Madison, to Fort Wayne, embracing all of the present
North Indiana Conference and about one-half of the Southeast, requiring him to ...
/.../the heroic women of early indiana methodism/the heroic women of early.htm

Chapter xiv
... having a separate king. "Bela," or "Zoar," had best be placed at the southeast
corner of the Dead Sea. Note the unconnected perfect ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xiv.htm

His Unconscious Preparation for his Work
... together. 15. The place of his birth was Tarsus, the capital of the province
of Cilicia, in the southeast of Asia Minor. It stood ...
/.../stalker/the life of st paul/chapter ii his unconscious preparation.htm

The Writings of Israel's Philosophers
... Since Job and his friends live out on the borders of the Arabian desert to the east
or southeast of Palestine, it seems clear that the tradition came to the ...
/.../xi the writings of israels.htm

Joshua's Conquest.
... were the Philistines, west of Judah, the Phoenician kingdoms on the north, Arameans
or Syrians on the northeast, and on the east and southeast, the Ammonites ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter viii joshuas conquest.htm

The Captivity of Judah.
... by many canals. It was on the river, or canal, Chebar (Ez.1:1.3; 3:15,
etc.) which ran southeast from Babylon to Nippur. It was ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xv the captivity of.htm

End of Three Months' Ministry in Jerusalem.
... pillars. It is generally supposed to have been in the southeast part of
the temple inclosure, overlooking the valley of the Kedron. ...
/.../the new testament commentary vol iii john/end of three months ministry.htm

Liii. Repentance Enjoined. Parable of the Barren Fig-Tree.
... The pool of Siloam lies near the southeast corner of Jerusalem, at the entrance
of the Tyrop??an village which runs up between Mt. Zion and Moriah. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/liii repentance enjoined parable of.htm

Southeast (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The point of the compass equally distant
from the south and the east; the southeast part or region. ...
/s/southeast.htm - 8k

Jattir (4 Occurrences)
... It is now Khirbet `Attir, an important ruin, in the extreme South of the hill country,
5 miles Southeast of edh Dhariyeh and 20 miles Southeast of Belt Jibrin. ...
/j/jattir.htm - 8k

Geology
... A notable area of Paleozoic occurs Southeast of the Dead Sea. ... Those Southeast
of the Dead Sea are the oldest of all, being of Cambrian age. ...
/g/geology.htm - 16k

Elamites (2 Occurrences)
... across. On a steep hill to the southern side and a little Southeast of
the wide expanse is Kh. esh-Shuweikeh, the site of Socoh. ...
/e/elamites.htm - 39k

Elam (24 Occurrences)
... across. On a steep hill to the southern side and a little Southeast of
the wide expanse is Kh. esh-Shuweikeh, the site of Socoh. ...
/e/elam.htm - 48k

Northeast (1 Occurrence)
... course; a northeast wind. 3. (adv.) Toward the northeast. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia. NORTHEAST, SOUTHEAST. These words occur in ...
/n/northeast.htm - 8k

Jabeshgilead (12 Occurrences)
... Others (Oliphant, Land of Gilead, 277; Merrill, East of Jordan, 430, etc.) would
identify it with the ruins of Meriamin, about 3 miles Southeast of Pella, on ...
/j/jabeshgilead.htm - 13k

Jabesh-gilead (12 Occurrences)
... Others (Oliphant, Land of Gilead, 277; Merrill, East of Jordan, 430, etc.) would
identify it with the ruins of Meriamin, about 3 miles Southeast of Pella, on ...
/j/jabesh-gilead.htm - 13k

Derbe (4 Occurrences)
... DERBE. dur'-be (Derbe, Acts 14:20, 21; Acts 16:1; Derbaios, 20:4; Derbetes, Strabo,
Cicero): A city in the extreme Southeast corner of the Lycaonian plain is ...
/d/derbe.htm - 15k

Bethdagon (2 Occurrences)
... It may be represented by the modern Beit Dijan, about 6 miles Southeast of Jaffa.
This however is a modern site, and not in the Shephelah. ...
/b/bethdagon.htm - 8k

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