or תֹּצָאָה; from יָצָא; (only in plural collective) exit, i.e. (geographical) boundary, or (figuratively) deliverance, (actively) source; border(-s), going(-s) forth (out), issues, outgoings.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **tôwtsâʼâh**, represented by `{{H8444}}`, literally means an exit or a going forth. It appears **23 times** across **23 unique verses** in the Bible. While its base definition from the root word `{{H3318}}` `yâtsâʼ` (to go out) is simple, it is primarily used in a collective sense to describe the extremities or termination points of geographical borders, and figuratively as a source or deliverance.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H8444}}` is overwhelmingly used in a geographical context to define the precise limits of land promised and allotted by God. It marks the final point where a boundary line terminates, often described as its "**outgoings**" or "**goings out**." This is seen in the delineation of Israel's national borders, where the southern border's "**goings out**" end at the sea [[Numbers 34:5]]. It is also used repeatedly in Joshua to detail the tribal inheritances, such as the border of Ephraim, whose "**goings out**" were at the sea [[Joshua 16:8]]. Figuratively, the word is used to denote a source, as in Proverbs, where the heart is the source of "the **issues** of life" [[Proverbs 4:23]]. It can also signify deliverance, as God alone holds "the **issues** from death" [[Psalms 68:20]], meaning the escape or exit from it.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the meaning of `{{H8444}}` as an exit point or boundary:
* `{{H3318}}` **yâtsâʼ** (to go out): As the primitive root of `tôwtsâʼâh`, this verb describes the action of going forth. `tôwtsâʼâh` is the resulting noun, the place of exit. For example, a border is said to "**go out**" (`yâtsâʼ`) to a location, and its final termination points are its "**goings out**" (`tôwtsâʼâh`) [[Joshua 15:11]].
* `{{H1366}}` **gᵉbûwl** (border, boundary): This word for a border is frequently paired with `tôwtsâʼâh`. A `gᵉbûwl` is the entire boundary line, while its "**goings forth**" (`tôwtsâʼâh`) are its specific endpoints [[Numbers 34:8]].
* `{{H7097}}` **qâtseh** (end, extremity): This term is also used to describe the end of a boundary. In Joshua, the "**outgoings**" (`tôwtsâʼâh`) of the southern border are located at the "**end**" (`qâtseh`) of the Jordan River, reinforcing the idea of a final limit [[Joshua 18:19]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H8444}}` is found in its dual application to both physical and spiritual realities.
* **Divine Boundaries and Inheritance:** The frequent use of `tôwtsâʼâh` to mark the "outgoings" of tribal territories underscores God's sovereignty in establishing the precise limits of the inheritance (`nachălâh` `{{H5159}}`) He promised to His people [[Joshua 16:8]]. These are not mere geographical markers but divinely decreed boundaries of blessing and possession.
* **The Source of Life:** In Proverbs, the word shifts from a physical exit to a spiritual source. The "issues of life" (`tôwtsâʼâh` `chay` `{{H2416}}`) flow from the heart (`lêb` `{{H3820}}`), establishing the heart as the wellspring of a person's existence and moral character [[Proverbs 4:23]].
* **Deliverance from Death:** Psalms portrays God as holding the "issues from death" (`tôwtsâʼâh` `mâveth` `{{H4194}}`). This presents God as the exclusive source of deliverance and escape from the ultimate finality, showing His supreme authority over life and death [[Psalms 68:20]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H8444}}` is a term that moves from the concrete to the conceptual. It begins as a practical geographical word defining the specific "outgoings" or termination points of a border, establishing the God-given limits of the land. It then elevates to a profound spiritual metaphor, identifying the heart as the "source" of life and God Himself as the only "exit" or deliverance from death. This illustrates how a simple word for a boundary's end can also describe the origin of life and the only escape from death.
TRV