The Hebrew word môwtsâʼ, represented by H4161, describes a going forth, an exit, or a source. Its meaning is diverse, encompassing the literal act of an egress or the place of an exit, and by extension, a source or product. The term can refer to the rising of the sun (the East), an utterance from the mouth, a gate, a fountain, or even a mine.
Morphologically, môwtsâʼ is a noun derived from the root H3318 (yâtsâʼ, “to go out”), functioning as a verbal noun. This grammatical structure inherently emphasizes the place, act, or product of “going out.” It is the tangible result or fixed point of an egress. This foundational sense allows for its wide semantic range, from the physical orifice of a spring or a mine to the abstract concept of an utterance or the temporal point of dawn. The term thus encapsulates both the dynamic process of emergence and the static reality of an origin point.
In the biblical narrative, môwtsâʼ is applied in various contexts. It can denote a physical source, such as a “spring of the waters” that Elisha healed 2 Kings 2:21 or a “vein for the silver” in the earth Job 28:1. It also describes a point of departure or exit, as when Moses recorded the Israelites' “goings out” on their journeys Numbers 33:2. In a temporal sense, it signifies the beginning of the day, as seen in the “outgoings of the morning” Psalm 65:8. The word is also used for spoken words, referring to “that which is gone out of thy lips” as a binding promise Deuteronomy 23:23.
môwtsâʼ also delineates specific architectural and strategic elements. In Ezekiel's vision of the temple, the term meticulously describes the design of “all their goings out” for the chambers of the sanctuary, emphasizing precise exits and entrances Ezekiel 42:11, and the “going forth of the sanctuary” itself Ezekiel 44:5. Similarly, it can denote points of economic exchange, as when Solomon's merchants facilitated the “bringing out” of horses from Egypt 1 Kings 10:28, 2 Chronicles 1:16. In a crucial prophetic context, môwtsâʼ marks the divine decree for Jerusalem's restoration, described as the “going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem” Daniel 9:25, signifying a divinely appointed commencement of a historical period.
The theological weight of môwtsâʼ is significant, particularly in its connection to God's creative and sustaining power.
- The Divine Word: The word underscores the power and permanence of God's decrees. Man lives by the “word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD” Deuteronomy 8:3. God's covenant is established by “the thing that is gone out of my lips,” which He will not alter Psalm 89:34.
- God as the Source: It portrays God as the ultimate source of life and renewal. He promises to make the one He guides like a “spring of water, whose waters fail not” Isaiah 58:11 and to turn the wilderness into “watersprings” Psalm 107:35.
- Sovereign Appearances: The term is used to describe God's own reliable coming, whose “going forth is prepared as the morning” Hosea 6:3. This connects His divine action to the dependable cycle of creation, which He governs.
- Human Accountability for Utterances: The usage of môwtsâʼ for human speech carries significant ethical and covenantal weight, underscoring the binding nature of words. A vow that “is gone out of thy lips” Deuteronomy 23:23 must be kept, and a woman's vow “whatsoever proceeded out of her lips” could be made void by her husband Numbers 30:12. This highlights the accountability associated with spoken words, whether in divine covenant or human promise. Jeremiah also affirms the truthfulness of “that which came out of my lips” before the Lord Jeremiah 17:16.
The Hebrew term H4161 môwtsâʼ is a profoundly versatile word, encompassing the fundamental concepts of “going forth,” “exit,” and “source.” As a nominal form derived from the verb H3318 (yâtsâʼ, “to go out”), its meaning ranges from the literal physical egress to the metaphorical origin point. It is applied to diverse contexts such as the rising of the sun, the source of water, the exit of a building, the economic “bringing out” of goods, and the definitive utterance of words or decrees.
