Outgoing
The Word and Its Meanings
The English word "outgoing" appears in older Bible translations to render several Hebrew terms derived from the root "yatsa," meaning "to go forth" or "to go out." Depending on context, this word can refer to the rising of the sun, the boundaries or extremities of a territory, or the active going forth of God's power. Modern translations typically replace "outgoing" with more specific terms such as "rising," "borders," or "goings out," but the older rendering captures a dynamic sense of movement and extension.
The Outgoings of Morning and Evening
The most poetic use of "outgoing" appears in Psalm 65:8: "You make the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice." Here the Hebrew word "motsa" refers to the place from which the sun goes forth, meaning the east, the point of sunrise. The verse paints a beautiful picture of God causing the very dawn and dusk to shout for joy. The entire created order, from the moment the sun rises until it sets, responds with gladness to God's sovereign care. This imagery connects to other psalms that celebrate God's mastery over the natural world (Psalm 19:1-6; Psalm 104:19-23).
Territorial Boundaries
In the book of Joshua, "outgoings" takes on a geographic meaning, referring to the endpoints or extremities of tribal boundaries. In Joshua 17:18, the borders of Ephraim and Manasseh are described with reference to their "outgoings" or terminal points. Similarly, Numbers 34:5 and other boundary descriptions use the related term to mark where a border line ends, often at a significant geographic feature such as a river, sea, or prominent landmark. These detailed boundary descriptions reflect the careful division of the promised land among the twelve tribes.
God's Going Forth
The concept of "going out" extends to descriptions of God's own activity. Micah 5:2 speaks of the ruler who will come from Bethlehem, whose "goings forth" are from of old, from everlasting. While a different Hebrew word is used here, the idea of divine outgoing carries profound theological weight. God is not static; he goes forth in creation, in providence, and in redemption. His outgoings encompass the entire sweep of history, from the dawn of creation to the coming of the Messiah.
Creation Rejoicing
The image in Psalm 65:8 of the outgoings of morning and evening rejoicing connects to the broader biblical theme of creation praising its Creator. The sunrise and sunset are not merely natural phenomena; they are daily declarations of God's faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 ties God's mercies to the morning: "They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Each outgoing of the sun becomes a fresh reminder that God sustains and renews his world.
Significance for Bible Readers
The biblical concept of outgoing reminds readers that God's activity is dynamic and purposeful. Whether the word describes the sun breaking over the horizon, the limits of a territory, or the eternal purposes of God, it conveys forward movement and divine intention. Nothing in creation is accidental; every boundary and every sunrise reflects the design and delight of the Creator.
Biblical Context
Outgoing appears in Psalm 65:8 to describe the sunrise and sunset rejoicing before God, and in Joshua 17:18 and Numbers 34:5 to mark territorial boundaries. The related concept of divine 'going forth' appears in Micah 5:2 regarding the Messiah. The term connects to the broader biblical theme of creation declaring God's glory (Psalm 19:1-6).
Theological Significance
The concept of outgoing in Scripture reveals God as actively involved in his creation. The daily rising and setting of the sun are portrayed not as mechanical processes but as expressions of joy in response to God's sovereignty. The outgoings of boundaries demonstrate God's intentional ordering of the land for his people. Together, these uses affirm that God is both transcendent and intimately involved in the details of the natural world and human history.
Historical Background
In the ancient Near East, the rising and setting of the sun held deep cultural and religious significance. Many neighboring cultures worshiped the sun as a deity, but Israel understood the sun as a creation of Yahweh, subject to his command (Joshua 10:12-13). The careful delineation of territorial boundaries was essential to ancient Near Eastern society, where land ownership determined tribal identity, inheritance rights, and political sovereignty.