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(1) Usually (×™×, yaÌ„m), “sea†because the Mediterranean lies to the West of Palestine; not usually in figurative expressions; but compare . (2) Often (מערב, ma‛ăraÌ„bh); compare Arabic (gharb), and (maghrib), “west†(maghrib-ush-shems), or simply (maghrib), “sunset.†(3) (הש××ž×©× ×ž×‘×•×, mebhoÌ„' ha-shemesh), “entrance of the sun,†(מבו×, maÌ„bhoÌ„', root בּו×, boÌ„'), “to come in.†(Just as מזרח, mizraÌ„hÌ£, is the rising of the sun, or east, so מבו×, maÌ„bhoÌ„' (or מערב, ma‛ăraÌ„bh, is the setting of the sun, or west: “From the rising of the sun (mizrahÌ£-shemesh) unto the going down (maÌ„bhoÌ„') thereof†(; compare ; ).) (4) (δυσμηÌ, dusmeÌ„Ì, from δυÌω, duÌoÌ„), “to enter,†“sink,†“set.†The Greek usage is parallel to the Hebrew just cited: “Many shall come from the east anatoleÌ„Ì, “risingâ€) and the west†(dusmeÌ„Ì, “settingâ€) ().
The chief figurative use of the word “west†is in combination with “east†to denote great or infinite distance, as:
“As far as the east is from the west,
So far hath he removed our transgressions from us†().