קֵ֫דֶם
qe.dem (H6924G)
east
AI Word Study
# Qedem (קֵ֫דֶם): The Hebrew Word for East The Hebrew word *qedem* appears 22 times in the Bible with the primary meaning of "east." As a directional term, it identifies the cardinal direction of the rising sun and functions as a fundamental orientation marker in biblical geography and narrative. The word's consistent translation across its occurrences suggests a straightforward denotation without significant semantic variation. The significance of *qedem* in biblical texts lies in its role as a spatial reference point. In ancient Near Eastern contexts, directional terms held practical importance for navigation, land description, and theological geography. With 22 documented instances, *qedem* appears frequently enough to indicate that east-west orientation was a meaningful framework for biblical authors describing locations, movements, and divine activity. The word's prevalence suggests that identifying "the east" was essential to how biblical writers organized their descriptions of the physical and spiritual landscape. The provided lexical data alone does not reveal whether *qedem* carries figurative or symbolic meanings beyond its literal directional sense, nor does it indicate whether the word's usage varies across different biblical books or historical periods. A complete understanding of the word's full range would require examining its specific contexts throughout the biblical text.
AI synthesis uses only provided lexicon data -- never training knowledge.
Yahweh God planted a garden eastward, in Eden, and there he put the man whom he had formed.
So he drove out the man; and he placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
Their dwelling extended from Mesha, as you go toward Sephar, the mountain of the east.
As they traveled from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they lived there.
He left from there to go to the mountain on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to Yahweh and called on Yahweh’s name.
So Lot chose the Plain of the Jordan for himself. Lot traveled east, and they separated themselves from one other.
but Abraham gave gifts to the sons of Abraham’s concubines. While he still lived, he sent them away from Isaac his son, eastward, to the east country.
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.
He took up his parable, and said, “From Aram has Balak brought me, the king of Moab from the mountains of the East. Come, curse Jacob for me. Come, defy Israel.
The border shall go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain. The border shall go down, and shall reach to the side of the sea of Chinnereth eastward.
Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, “Go up and spy out the land.” The men went up and spied out Ai.
Gideon went up by the way of those who lived in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and struck the army; for the army felt secure.
Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.
His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children of the east.
For you have forsaken your people, the house of Jacob, because they are filled from the east, with those who practice divination like the Philistines, and they clasp hands with the children of foreigners.
The Syrians in front, and the Philistines behind; and they will devour Israel with open mouth. For all this, his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
They will fly down on the shoulders of the Philistines on the west. Together they will plunder the children of the east. They will extend their power over Edom and Moab, and the children of Ammon will obey them.
Of Kedar, and of the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck. Yahweh says: “Arise, go up to Kedar, and destroy the children of the east.
Yahweh’s glory went up from the middle of the city, and stood on the mountain which is on the east side of the city.
Then Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made himself a booth, and sat under it in the shade, until he might see what would become of the city.
His feet will stand in that day on the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in two, from east to west, making a very great valley. Half of the mountain will move toward the north, and half of it toward the south.