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קִדְמָה

𐤒𐤃𐤌𐤄

qidmâh

H6926 noun

SILEX Entry

Root קדם to precede, come before, face forward, be in front

Definition

A noun denoting the directional concept of 'east' or 'eastern region,' as well as 'forward' or 'in front,' especially in terms of geographical orientation. In some contexts, it can signify facing toward the sunrise, or denote territories or locations lying east of a central reference point (such as the land east of the Jordan River). Sometimes used adverbially to mean 'eastward' or 'to the east.'

Semantic Range

east, eastern region, eastward, in front, forward, the territory to the east, toward the sunrise

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root קדמ, which relates to notions of being 'in front,' 'to precede,' or 'to be prior.' The noun form qidmâh combines the sense of prior position with directional orientation, hence its use for the cardinal direction 'east'—the direction facing the sunrise, and metaphorically, that which is before or in front.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the biblical world, orientation was commonly established by facing east, toward the rising sun. Thus, 'qidmâh' carries both the sense of 'east' as a direction and 'forward' in spatial terms. In Israelite geography, qidmâh designates territories east of central landmarks, such as the Jordan River (e.g., the Transjordan). Though English translations often render this as 'east' or 'eastward,' the underlying concept includes facing forward, being at the fore, or being in a place of origin (since east was also associated with antiquity or beginnings in some contexts, cf. the related term 'qedem'). In narrative texts, it may refer to regions east of the land of Israel, while in poetry and prophecy, it can bear symbolic qualities. Modern translations often flatten the nuance to simple cardinal direction, sometimes losing the cultural orientation toward the east as 'forward.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of קֶדֶם; the forward part (or relatively) East (often adverbially, on the east or in front); east(-ward).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

קדם (q-d-m) — to precede, come before, face forward, be in front

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6917 קָדוּם those from before
H6921 קָדִים the east
H6923 קָדַם I will go ahead to meet
H6924 קֶדֶם the front
H6925 קֳדָם before you

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6926-01 קִדְמַ֣ת qidemat HNcfsc east of front/eastern region of 4

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6926-01 Genesis 2:14 קִדְמַ֣ת qidemat HNcfsc east of front/eastern region of
H6926-01 Genesis 4:16 קִדְמַת qidemat HNcfsc east of front/eastern region of
H6926-01 1 Samuel 13:5 קִדְמַ֖ת qidemat HNcfsc east-of front/eastern region of
H6926-01 Ezekiel 39:11 קִדְמַ֣ת qidemat HNcfsc east front/eastern region of
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