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(
, 3318), “to come forth, go out, proceed, go forth, bring out, come out.”
This verb occurs in all Semitic languages, including biblical Aramaic and Hebrew. It
occurs in every period of Hebrew; the Old Testament attests the word about 1,070 times.
Basically, this word means “movement away” from some point, even as
(“come”)
means movement toward some point.
'
is the word used of “coming forth”—the
observer is outside the point of departure but also speaks from the perspective of that
departing point. For example, Gen. 2:10 (the first occurrence of the word) reports that a
river “came forth” or “flowed out” from the garden of Eden.
In comparison to this continuing “going out,” there is the one-time (punctiliar)
“coming forth,” as seen when all the animals “came out” of the ark (Gen. 9:10). Thus,
Goliath the champion of the Philistines “went forward” from the camp to challenge the
Israelites to a duel (1 Sam. 17:4). In the art of ancient warfare, a battle was sometimes
decided on the basis of two duelers.
This verb may be used with “come” ( ) as an expression for “constant activity.”
The raven Noah sent out “went forth to and fro” (literally, “in and out”) until the water
had abated (Gen. 8:7). Various aspects of a man’s personality may “go forth,” indicating
that they “leave” him. When one’s soul “departs” the body, the person dies (Gen. 35:18).
When one’s heart “departs,” he loses all inner strength and confidence (Gen. 42:28).
'
has a number of special uses. It can be used of “giving birth” (Exod. 21:22) or
of “begetting” descendants (Gen. 17:6). The “going forth” of a year is its close, as in the
harvest season (Exod. 23:16). Another special use of this verb has to do with “moving
out” a camp for either a military campaign (1 Sam. 8:20) or some other purpose (Deut.
23:10). “Going and coming” may also be used of “fighting” in wars. Toward the end of
his life Moses said he was unable to “come and go” (Deut. 31:2; cf. Josh. 14:11). He
probably meant that he could not engage in war (Deut. 31:3). On the other hand, this
phrase can refer to the normal activities of life (1 Kings 3:7).
'
also has a cultic use,
describing the “movement” of the priest in the tabernacle; bells were attached to the hem
of the priest’s robe so the people could follow his actions (Exod. 28:35).
When applied to God, the action of “going out” only infrequently refers to His
“abandoning” a certain location. In Ezek. 10:18, the glory of the Lord “left” the
“threshhold of the [temple], and stood over the cherubim,” and eventually departed the
temple altogether (Ezek. 10:19). Often this verb pictures the Lord as “going forth” to aid
His people, especially in texts suggesting or depicting His appearances among men
(theophanies; cf. Judg. 5:4). In Egypt, the Lord “went out” into the midst of the Egyptians
to smite their first born (Exod. 11:4). The Lord’s departure-point in such cases is
variously represented as Seir (Judg. 5:4) and His heavenly dwelling place (Mic. 1:3),
although it is often unexpressed.
The messenger of God also “goes forth” to accomplish specific tasks (Num. 22:32).
God’s providential work in history is described by Laban and Bethuel as “the thing
proceedeth from the Lord” (Gen. 24:50). Also, “going out” from the Lord are His hand
(Ruth 1:13), His Word (Isa. 55:11), His salvation (Isa. 51:5), His justice (Isa. 45:23), and
His wisdom (Isa. 51:4).