NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, WEST
The Hebrew words used for the four directions where Abram was supposed to direct his gaze were: north (tzafona-צָפֹנָה), south (negba-נֶגְבָּה), east (kedma-קֵדְמָה) and west (yama-יָמָּה). In English, these words signify exclusive directions, but given Hebrew’s intense physicality as a language we are able to see the origin of these words. The ending “ה” when attached to the end of a word signifies direction (similar to the English “to the…”).The Hebrew phrase "negba" translated as “to the south” literally means “to the Negev”. The Hebrew phrase "yama" translated as “to the west” literally means “to the sea” (sea is "yam" in Hebrew), while the Hebrew phrase "kedma" translated as “to the east” evokes the image of the Garden being planted on the east of Eden (Gen.2:8) as well as the direction of the rising of the sun. The Hebrew phrase that signifies “to the north” “tzfona” is connected to the mount of Zaphon in Syria, which is in front of Abram when God told him all the directions.
