קַדְמֹנִי (qad.mo.ni)
qad.mo.ni
eastern
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew adjective qadmoni generally means "eastern," referring to the direction of the rising sun. In the Old Testament, it appears five times, primarily in prophetic books like Zechariah, Malachi, and Joel. The word is often used geographically to describe lands or winds coming from the east, a common orientation in ancient Near Eastern culture.
However, qadmoni also carries the sense of "former" or "ancient." This dual meaning connects physical direction with temporal priority, as the east was where the day began. For instance, in Zechariah 10:12, it describes people who walked from ancient times, linking their history to their origin. Translators sometimes render it as "eastern" and other times as "former," depending on whether the context emphasizes location or antiquity.
This word highlights how biblical authors viewed space and time as intertwined. The east was not just a direction but a symbol of beginnings and heritage. By using qadmoni, the text reminds readers that their identity is rooted in both where they come from and who they were before them.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word qadmoni points us toward the east, the direction where the sun rises each morning. In ancient times, this was not just a geographical marker but a symbol of new beginnings and light breaking through darkness. When Scripture speaks of the eastern sea or eastern lands, it reminds us that God’s creation is ordered with purpose, guiding our days from dawn to dusk.
There is also a sense of antiquity woven into this term. It connects the present moment with the ancient past, suggesting that what comes from the beginning holds enduring value. This dual meaning invites reflection on how our history shapes our identity and how God’s faithfulness spans generations. We are part of a long story, rooted in promises made long ago.
For your daily walk, this word offers comfort. Just as the sun reliably rises in the east, God’s steadfast love meets us each new day. His covenant with His people has remained constant through ages, offering stability when circumstances shift. You can trust that the same God who guided ancient Israel is present with you now, bringing hope and renewal.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <the>/ eastern2×
- former1×
- and/ ancient [things]1×
- and/ [those] before1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קַדְמֹנִיּֽוֹת\׃1×
- וְ֝/קַדְמֹנִ֗ים1×
- וְ/קַדְמֹנִיּ֖וֹת1×
- הַ/קַּדְמוֹנִ֔י1×
- הַ/קַּדְמֹנִ֔י1×
Key Verses
-
Joel 2:20
But I will remove the northern army far away from you, and will drive it into a barren and desolate land, its front into the eastern sea, and its back into the western sea; and its stench will come up, and its bad smell will rise.” Surely he has done great things.
This verse uses the term to locate the defeated army's retreat into the eastern sea, grounding God's judgment in specific geography.
-
Zechariah 14:8
It will happen in that day that living waters will go out from Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea, and half of them toward the western sea. It will be so in summer and in winter.
Here the word describes living waters flowing toward the eastern sea, symbolizing divine provision and life originating from Jerusalem.
-
Malachi 3:4
Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to Yahweh as in the days of old and as in ancient years.
The translation reflects the 'ancient years' sense, linking Judah's future offering to the faithful practices of their forebears.