Part of Speech: Verb
Strong's Number: H3318
Original Word: yasa’
Usage Notes: "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 bô’ ("come") means movement toward some point. Yasa’ 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 (1Sam 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" (bô’) 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).
Yasa’ 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 (1Sam 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 (1Kings 3:7). Yasa’ 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 "threshold 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).
Yasa’ is not used of God's initial creative act, but only of His using what already exists to accomplish His purposes, such as His causing water to "come out" of the rock (Deut 8:15). Because yasa’ can mean "to bring forth," it is often used of "divine deliverance," as the One who "bringeth me forth from mine enemies" (2Sam 22:49) "into a large place" (2Sam 22:20). One of the most important formulas in the Old Testament uses the verb yasa’; "the Lord [who] brought [Israel] out of [Egypt]"; He brought them from slavery into freedom (Exod 13:3).
Usage Number: 2
Part of Speech: Noun
Strong's Number: H4161
Original Word: môsa’
Usage Notes: "place of going forth; that which comes forth; going forth." The word occurs 23 times. Môsa’ is a word for "east" (cf. Psa 19:6), where the sun rises ("goes forth"). The word also represents the "place of departure" or "exit" from the temple in Ezekiel's vision (Ezek 42:11), and the "starting point" of a journey (Num 33:2). Môsa’ may also refer to that which "comes forth," for example, an "utterance" (Num 30:13), and the "going forth" of the morning and evening, the dawn and dusk (Psa 65:8). Finally, the word can represent the "actual going forth" itself. So Hosea says that the Lord's "going forth" to redeem His people is as certain as the sunrise (Hos 6:3).
Usage Number: 3
Strong's Number: H8444
Original Word: tôsa’ôt
Usage Notes: "departure; place of departure." The word tôsa’ôt can connote both the source or place of "departure" (Prov 4:23) and the actual "departure" itself ("escape," Psa 68:20). However, the word may also represent the extremity of a territory or its "border", the place where one departs a given territory (Josh 15:7).
