North

North is the rendering which the A.V. gives in Job 37:9, for the Hebrew nezarim‘,מזָרַים; properly, as the margin reads, scattering winds, i.e. winds which scatter the clouds, and bring clear, cold weather. (The Sept. has ἀκρωτήρια, the Vulg. arcturus.) But Aben-Ezra and Michaelis understand Mezarim to mean a constellation, and the same as Mazzaroth (q.v.).

The Hebrews considered the cardinal points of the heavens in reference to a man whose face was turned towards the east, the north was consequently on his left hand (Genesis 13:14; Joshua 15:10; Judges 21:19; Jeremiah 1:13); hence “the left hand” designates the north (Genesis 14:15; Job 23:9). They also regarded what lay to the north as higher, and what lay to the south as lower; hence they who traveled from south to north were said to “go up” (Genesis 45:25; Hosea 8:9; Acts 18:3; 19:1), while they who went from north to south were said to “go down” (Genesis 12:10; 26:2; 38:1; 1 Samuel 30:15-16; 25:1; 26:2).

Elsewhere, the word north in our version stands for the Hebrew tsaphon‘, צָפוֹן, which is used in several senses:

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Author: McClintock and Strong Cyclopedia

Keywords: North

Bible reference(s): 1 Chronicles 9:24, 1 Kings 7:25, 1 Samuel 25:1, 1 Samuel 26:2, 1 Samuel 30:15, Acts 18:3, Acts 19:1, Daniel 11:6, Ecclesiastes 1:6, Ezekiel 1:4, Ezekiel 20:47, Ezekiel 26:7, Ezekiel 32:30, Ezekiel 40:44, Ezekiel 8:14, Genesis 12:10, Genesis 13:14, Genesis 14:15, Genesis 26:2, Genesis 38:1, Genesis 45:25, Hosea 8:9, Isaiah 43:6, Jeremiah 1:13, Jeremiah 2:27, Jeremiah 25:26, Jeremiah 34:1, Jeremiah 46:6, Job 23:9, Job 26:7, Job 37:9, Joshua 15:10, Judges 21:19, Judith 16:4, Luke 13:29, Numbers 34:7, Proverbs 25:23, Proverbs 27:16, Psalms 107:3, Psalms 48:2, Revelation 21:13, Sirach/Ecclesiasticus 43:20, Song of Solomon 4:16, Zechariah 4:12, Zephaniah 2:13

Source: John McClintock and James Strong, Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature.

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