Topical Bible: Westward

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Topical Encyclopedia

The term "westward" in the Bible often signifies direction, movement, or orientation towards the west. It is used both in a literal geographical sense and in a symbolic or prophetic context. The west, as a cardinal direction, holds various significances throughout the biblical narrative.

Geographical Significance:

In the Old Testament, "westward" is frequently used to describe the layout and boundaries of the Promised Land. For instance, in the division of the land among the tribes of Israel, the western boundary is often delineated. Numbers 34:6 states, "Your western boundary will be the coastline of the Great Sea; this will be your boundary on the west." Here, the Great Sea refers to the Mediterranean Sea, marking the western limit of the land allotted to the Israelites.

The direction westward is also mentioned in the context of the Tabernacle's construction. In Exodus 26:22, the west side of the Tabernacle is specified: "And for the rear of the tabernacle, to the west, you shall make six frames." This orientation was significant for the layout and function of the sacred space.

Symbolic and Prophetic Context:

Westward movement can also symbolize expansion and the fulfillment of God's promises. In Genesis 28:14, God promises Jacob, "Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south." This promise of expansion in all directions, including westward, underscores the vastness of God's blessing and the future growth of Jacob's lineage.

In the prophetic literature, westward is sometimes used to describe the movement of peoples or the direction of divine action. Isaiah 59:19 states, "So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun." Here, the west is part of a poetic expression indicating the universal recognition of God's power and glory.

Cultural and Theological Implications:

In biblical times, the west was often associated with the setting sun, which could symbolize the end of a day or era. This association might carry connotations of completion or judgment. However, it also holds the promise of a new beginning, as the cycle of day and night continues.

Theologically, the movement westward can be seen as part of God's redemptive plan, as the spread of the Gospel and the growth of the Church have historically moved from the East towards the West. This westward expansion reflects the fulfillment of the Great Commission, as believers are called to spread the message of Christ to all nations.

In summary, "westward" in the Bible encompasses a range of meanings, from literal geographical directions to profound symbolic and prophetic implications. It reflects God's promises, the expansion of His people, and the unfolding of His divine plan throughout history.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Sea-ward, i.e., toward the Mediterranean (Deuteronomy 3:27).

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (adv.) Alt. of Westwards.

2. (a.) Lying toward the west.

3. (n.) The western region or countries; the west.

Strong's Hebrew

8121. shemesh -- sun
... sundown* (1), sunrise* (3), sunset* (6), west* (1). east sideward, sun rising,
westward, window. From an unused root meaning to be ...
/hebrew/8121.htm - 6k

3220. yam -- sea
... sea NASB Word Usage red* (24), sea (278), seacoast* (5), seas (27), seashore (1),
seashore* (9), south (1), west (59), west side (4), western (1), westward (12 ...
/hebrew/3220.htm - 6k

3996. mabo -- entrance, a coming in, entering
... adverb with preposition) towards -- by which came, as cometh, in coming, as men
enter into, entering, entrance into, entry, where goeth, going down, + westward ...
/hebrew/3996.htm - 6k

Library

MAC Coxe. Western Missions.
... Western Missions. 1 Westward, Lord, the world alluring, Has Thy risen day-star beamed,
And, the sinking soul assuring, O'er the world's wide ocean streamed. ...
/.../various/book of hymns for public and private devotion/418 8 & 7s m.htm

Acts XXVII
... put to sea from that place, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds
were contrary." As the proper course of the ship was westward, the contrary ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xxvii.htm

Patriotic Hymns.
... and died there in 1800. "WESTWARD THE COURSE OF EMPIRE.". Usually misquoted
"Westward the Star of Empire," etc. This poem of Bishop ...
/.../brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/chapter ix patriotic hymns.htm

(And Last): Homeward Bound
... The hunger for travel had been aroused"above all for travel westward"and would not
be satisfied. ... But the longing to go westward was on us nevertheless. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter xvii and last homeward.htm

The Review of the Troops at Doriscus.
... While, therefore, the fleet went directly westward along the coast, the army turned
to the eastward, a place of rendezvous having been appointed on the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/xerxes/chapter vi the review of.htm

Plus Ultra Vs. Ne Plus Ultra.
... discovery of America by Columbus, the Spaniards prided themselves on the supposed
fact that their country was the last point of solid land on the earth westward ...
/.../iii plus ultra vs ne plus.htm

Ballad of Earl Haldan's Daughter
... The tale is full to-day. Now hey bonny boat, and ho bonny boat! Sail
Westward ho! away!'. Devonshire, 1854 From Westward Ho! ...
/.../kingsley/andromeda and other poems/ballad of earl haldans daughter.htm

The Account Given in the Aforesaid Book of the Place of Our Lord's ...
... Thence, to the westward, is seen the church of Golgotha, in which is also to be
found the rock which once bore the Cross to which the Lord's body was nailed ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xvi the account given.htm

The Story of the Tower of Babel
... All the people of the earth spoke one language; and as they travelled westward,
they found a broad valley in the land of Babylonia, and made their home there. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the story of the tower.htm

The Project of French Empire and Evangelization --Its Wide and ...
... continent, was to be drawn a cordon of posts, military, commercial, and religious,
with other outlying stations at strategic points both eastward and westward. ...
/.../bacon/a history of american christianity/chapter iii the project of.htm

Thesaurus

Westward (35 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Westward (35 Occurrences). ... (YLT). Exodus 26:22 For the
far part of the tabernacle westward you shall make six boards. ...
/w/westward.htm - 19k

Alongside (10 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 26:16 To Shuppim and Hosah westward, by the gate of Shallecheth,
at the causeway that goes up, watch against watch. (See NIV). ...
/a/alongside.htm - 10k

Northern (18 Occurrences)
... of the Jebusite southward--the same is Jerusalem--and the border went up to the
top of the mountain that lieth before the Valley of Hinnom westward, which is ...
/n/northern.htm - 12k

Frames (47 Occurrences)
... boards, (See RSV NIV). Exodus 26:22 For the far part of the tabernacle westward
you shall make six boards. (See RSV NIV). Exodus 26:23 ...
/f/frames.htm - 17k

Boards (50 Occurrences)
... NAS). Exodus 26:22 For the far part of the tabernacle westward you shall make
six boards. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS). Exodus ...
/b/boards.htm - 21k

Northward (41 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/n/northward.htm - 21k

Southward (42 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/s/southward.htm - 20k

Outgoings (21 Occurrences)
... Joshua 16:3 and gone down westward unto the border of Japhleti, unto the border
of Beth-Horon the lower, and unto Gezer, and its outgoings have been at the sea ...
/o/outgoings.htm - 12k

Answerable (7 Occurrences)
... holy offering and of the possession of the city, in front of the holy offering and
in front of the possession of the city, on the west side westward, and on ...
/a/answerable.htm - 10k

Southern (9 Occurrences)
... of the Jebusite southward--the same is Jerusalem--and the border went up to the
top of the mountain that lieth before the Valley of Hinnom westward, which is ...
/s/southern.htm - 9k

Resources

Who was Brigham Young? | GotQuestions.org

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

Who was Lydia in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Westward: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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

Concordance

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 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 26:22
For the far part of the tabernacle westward you shall make six boards.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Exodus 26:27
and five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the far part westward.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Exodus 36:27
For the far part of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Exodus 36:32
and five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the hinder part westward.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Numbers 2:18
The standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their hosts shall be westward; and the prince of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud;
(DBY YLT)

Numbers 3:23
The families of the Gershonites shall encamp behind the tabernacle westward.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

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 5:1
It happened, when all the kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, who were by the sea, heard how that Yahweh had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we had passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Joshua 12:7
These are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the children of Israel struck beyond the Jordan westward, from Baal Gad in the valley of Lebanon even to Mount Halak, that goes up to Seir. Joshua gave it to the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions;
(WEB JPS ASV YLT)

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 15:10
and the border turned about from Baalah westward to Mount Seir, and passed along to the side of Mount Jearim on the north (the same is Chesalon), and went down to Beth Shemesh, and passed along by Timnah;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Joshua 15:46
From Ekron and westward all that are by the side of Ashdod, and their hamlets.
(DBY YLT)

Joshua 16:3
and it went down westward to the border of the Japhletites, to the border of Beth Horon the lower, even to Gezer; and ended at the sea.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Joshua 16:6
The border went out westward at Michmethath on the north. The border turned about eastward to Taanath Shiloh, and passed along it on the east of Janoah.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS)

Joshua 16:8
From Tappuah the border went along westward to the brook of Kanah; and ended at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim according to their families;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Joshua 18:12
Their border on the north quarter was from the Jordan. The border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the hill country westward. It ended at the wilderness of Beth Aven.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Joshua 18:15
The south quarter was from the farthest part of Kiriath Jearim. The border went out westward, and went out to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah.
(WEB JPS ASV YLT NAS)

Joshua 19:11
Their border went up westward, even to Maralah, and reached to Dabbesheth. It reached to the brook that is before Jokneam.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY RSV)

Joshua 19:26
Allammelech, Amad, Mishal. It reached to Carmel westward, and to Shihorlibnath.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Joshua 19:34
The border turned westward to Aznoth Tabor, and went out from there to Hukkok. It reached to Zebulun on the south, and reached to Asher on the west, and to Judah at the Jordan toward the sunrise.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Joshua 22:7
Now to the one half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given inheritance in Bashan; but to the other half gave Joshua among their brothers beyond the Jordan westward. Moreover when Joshua sent them away to their tents, he blessed them,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Joshua 23:4
Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.
(KJV WBS)

1 Chronicles 7:28
Their possessions and habitations were Bethel and its towns, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with its towns; Shechem also and its towns, to Azzah and its towns;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

1 Chronicles 26:16
To Shuppim and Hosah westward, by the gate of Shallecheth, at the causeway that goes up, watch against watch.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

1 Chronicles 26:18
For Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

1 Chronicles 26:30
Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brothers, men of valor, one thousand seven hundred, had the oversight of Israel beyond the Jordan westward, for all the business of Yahweh, and for the service of the king.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Isaiah 11:14
And they have flown on the shoulder of the Philistines westward, Together they spoil the sons of the east, Edom and Moab sending forth their hand, And sons of Ammon obeying them.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 41:12
As to the building that 'is' at the front of the separate place 'at' the corner westward, the breadth 'is' seventy cubits, and the wall of the building five cubits broad all round about, and its length ninety cubits.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 46:19
Then he brought me through the entry, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy chambers for the priests, which looked toward the north: and behold, there was a place on the hinder part westward.
(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 48:18
The remainder in the length, answerable to the holy offering, shall be ten thousand eastward, and ten thousand westward; and it shall be answerable to the holy offering; and its increase shall be for food to those who labor in the city.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Ezekiel 48:21
The residue shall be for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy offering and of the possession of the city; in front of the twenty-five thousand of the offering toward the east border, and westward in front of the twenty-five thousand toward the west border, answerable to the portions, it shall be for the prince: and the holy offering and the sanctuary of the house shall be in its midst.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

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)

Subtopics

Westward

Related Terms

Torrent (49 Occurrences)

Westward (35 Occurrences)

Wet (25 Occurrences)

Northwards (4 Occurrences)

Eastwards (3 Occurrences)

Marealah (1 Occurrence)

Micmethath (2 Occurrences)

Amead (1 Occurrence)

Sun-rising (14 Occurrences)

Har-jearim (1 Occurrence)