End

Vine's Expository Dictionary of OT Words

A. Nouns.

'Ephes ( אֶפֶס , Strong'S #657), “end; not; nothing; only.” The 42 occurrences of this word appear in every period of biblical literature. It has a cognate in Ugaritic. Basically, the noun indicates that a thing “comes to an end” and “is no more.”

Some scholars suggest that this word is related to the Akkadian apcu (Gk. abuccoc ), the chasm of fresh water at the edge of the earth (the earth was viewed as a flat surface with four corners and surrounded by fresh water). But this relationship is highly unlikely, since none of the biblical uses refers to an area beyond the edge of the earth. The idea of the “far reaches” of a thing is seen in passages such as Prov. 30:4: “Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends [boundaries] of the earth?” (cf. Ps. 72:8). In other contexts, 'ephes means the “territory” of the nations other than Israel: “… With them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth …” (Deut. 33:17). More often, this word represents the peoples who live outside the territory of Israel: “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the [very ends] of the earth for thy possession” (Ps. 2:8). In Ps. 22:27, the phrase, “the ends of the world,” is synonymously parallel to “all the [families] of the nations.” Therefore, “the ends of the earth” in such contexts represents all the peoples of the earth besides Israel.

'Ephes is used to express “non-existence” primarily in poetry, where it appears chiefly as a synonym of ‘ayin (“none, nothing”). In one instance, 'ephes is used expressing the “non-existence” of a person or thing and is translated “not” or “no”: “Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him?” (2 Sam. 9:3). In Isa. 45:6, the word means “none” or “no one”: “That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me” (cf. v. 9).

In a few passages, 'ephes used as a particle of negation means “at an end” or “nothing”: “And all her princes shall be nothing,” or “unimportant” and “not exalted” to kingship (Isa. 34:12). The force of this word in Isa. 41:12 is on the “non-existence” of those so described: “… They that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.”

This word can also mean “nothing” in the sense of “powerlessness” and “worthlessness”: “All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and [meaningless]” (Isa. 40:17).

In Num. 22:35, 'ephes means “nothing other than” or “only”: “Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shall speak” (cf. Num. 23:13). In such passages, 'ephes (with the Hebrew particle ki ) qualifies the preceding phrase. In 2 Sam. 12:14, a special nuance of the word is represented by the English “howbeit.”

In Isa. 52:4, 'ephes preceded by the preposition be (“by; because of”) means “without cause”: “… And the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.”

Qêts ( קֵץ , Strong'S #7093), “end.” A cognate of this word occurs in Ugaritic. Biblical Hebrew attests qêts about 66 times and in every period.

First, the word is used to denote the “end of a person” or “death”: “And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me …” (Gen. 6:13). In Ps. 39:4, qêts speaks of the “farthest extremity of human life,” in the sense of how short it is: “Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.”

Second, qêts means “end” as the state of “being annihilated”: “He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection …” (Job 28:3).

Third, related to the previous meaning but quite distinct, is the connotation “farthest extremity of,” such as the “end of a given period of time”: “And after certain years [literally, “at the end of years”] he went down to Ahab to Samaria …” (2 Chron. 18:2; cf. Gen. 4:3—the first biblical appearance).

A fourth nuance emphasizes a “designated goal,” not simply the extremity but a conclusion toward which something proceeds: “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie …” (Hab. 2:3).

In another emphasis, qêts represents the “boundary” or “limit” of something: “I have seen an end of all perfection” (Ps. 119:96).

In 2 Kings 19:23, the word (with the preposition le ) means “farthest”: “… And I will enter into the lodgings of his borders, and into the forest of his Carmel.”

Qâtseh ( קֵצֶה , Strong'S #7097), “end; border; extremity.” The noun qâtseh appears 92 times and in all periods of biblical Hebrew.

In Gen. 23:9, qâtseh means “end” in the sense of “extremity”: “That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field.…” The word means "[nearest] edge or border” in Exod. 13:20: “And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in the Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.” At other points, the word clearly indicates the “farthest extremity”: “If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee” (Deut. 30:4).

Second, qâtseh can signify a “temporal end,” such as the “end of a period of time”; that is the use in Gen. 8:3, the first biblical occurrence of the word: “… After the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated.”

One special use of qâtseh occurs in Gen. 47:2, where the word is used with the preposition min —(“from”): “And from among his brothers he took five men and presented them to Pharaoh” (RSV; cf. Ezek. 33:2). In Gen. 19:4, the same construction means “from every quarter (or “part”) of a city”: “… The men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter.” A similar usage occurs in Gen. 47:21, except that the phrase is repeated twice and is rendered “from one end of the borders of Egypt to the other.” In Jer. 51:31, the phrase means “in every quarter” or “completely.”

Qâtsâh ( קָצָה , Strong'S #7098), “end; border; edge; extremity.” The noun qâtsâh appears in the Bible 28 times and also appears in Phoenician. This word refers primarily to concrete objects. In a few instances. however, qâtsâh is used of abstract objects; one example is of God’s way (Job 26:14): “These are but the fringe —of his power; and how faint the whisper that we hear of him!” (NEB).

'Achărı̂yth ( אַחֲרִית , Strong'S #319), “hind-part; end; issue; outcome; posterity.” Akkadian, Aramaic, and Ugaritic also attest this word. It occurs about 61 times in biblical Hebrew and in all periods; most of its occurrences are in poetry.

Used spatially, the word identifies the “remotest and most distant part of something”: “If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost —parts of the sea …” (Ps. 139:9).

The most frequent emphasis of the word is “end,” “issue,” or “outcome.” This nuance is applied to time in a superlative or final sense: “… The eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year” (Deut. 11:12). A slight shift of meaning occurs in Dan. 8:23, where 'achărı̂yth —is applied to time in a relative or comparative sense: “And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.” Here the word refers to a “last period,” but not necessarily the “end” of history. In a different nuance, the word can mean “latter” or “what comes afterward”: “O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!” (Deut. 32:29). In some passages, 'achărı̂yth represents the “ultimate outcome” of a person’s life. Num. 23:10 speaks thus of death: “Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!”

In other passages, 'achărı̂yth refers to “all that comes afterwards.” Passages such as Jer. 31:17 use the word of one’s “descendants” or “posterity” (KJV, “children”). In view of the parallelism suggested in this passage, the first line should be translated “and there is hope for your posterity.” In Amos 9:1, 'achărı̂yth is used of the “rest” (remainder) of one’s fellows. Both conclusion and result are apparent in passages such as Isa. 41:22, where the word represents the “end” or “result” of a matter: “Let them bring them forth, and show us what shall happen: let them show the former things what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.”

A third nuance of 'achărı̂yth indicates the “last” or the “least in importance”: “Your mother shall be sore confounded; she that bare you shall be ashamed: behold. the hindermost of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert” (Jer. 50:12).

The fact that 'achărı̂yth used with “day” or “years” may signify either “a point at the end of time” or “a period of the end time” has created considerable debate on fourteen Old Testament passages. Some scholars view this use of the word as noneschatological— that it merely means “in the day which follows” or “in the future.” This seems to be its meaning in Gen. 49:1 (its first occurrence in the Bible): “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.” Here the word refers to the entire period to follow. On the other hand, Isa. 2:2 uses the word more absolutely of the “last period of time”: “In the last days, … the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established [as the chief of the mountains].…” Some scholars believe the phrase sometimes is used of the “very end of time”: “Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days” (Dan. 10:14). This point, however, is much debated.

B. Adverb.

'Ephes ( אֶפֶס , Strong'S #657), “howbeit; notwithstanding; however; without cause.” This word’s first occurrence is in Num. 13:28: " Nevertheless —the people be strong that dwell in the land.…”

King James Dictionary

END, n.

1. The extreme point of a line, or of anything that has more length than breadth as the end of a house the end of a table the end of a finger the end of a chain or rope. When bodies or figures have equal dimensions, or equal length and breadth, the extremities are called sides. 2. The extremity or last part, in general the close or conclusion, applied to time.

At the end of two months, she returned.  Judges 11 .

3. The conclusion or cessation of an action.

Of the increase of his government there shall be no end.  Isaiah 9

4. The close or conclusion as the end of a chapter. 5. Ultimate state or condition final doom.

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace.  Psalms 37

6. The point beyond which no progression can be made.

They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.  Psalms 107

7. Final determination conclusion of debate or deliberation.

My guilt be on my head and there's an end!

8. Close of life death decease.

Unblamed through life, lamented in thy end.

9. Cessation period close of a particular state of things as the end of the world. 10. Limit termination.

There is no end of the store. Hahum 2.

11. Destruction.  Amos 8 .

The end of all flesh is come.  Genesis 6

12. Cause of death a destroyer.

And award

Either of you to be the other's end.

13. Consequence issue result conclusive event conclusion.

The end of these things is death.  Romans 6

14. A fragment or broken piece.

Old odd ends.

15. The ultimate point or thing at which one aims or directs his views the object intended to be reached or accomplished by any action or scheme purpose intended scope aim drift as private ends public ends.

Two things I shall propound to you, as ends.

The end of the commandments is charity.  50Tim 1

A right to the end, implies a right to the means necessary for attaining it.

16. An end, for on end, upright erect as, his hair stands an end. 17. The ends of the earth, in scripture, are the remotest parts of the earth, or the inhabitants of those parts.

END, To finish to close to conclude to terminate as, to end a controversy to end a war.

On the seventh day God ended his work.  Genesis 2

1. To destroy to put to death.

King Harry, thy sword hath ended him.

END, To come to the ultimate point to be finished as, a voyage ends by the return of a ship.

1. To terminate to close to conclude. The discourse ends with impressive words. 2. To cease to come to a close. Winter ends in March, and summer in September. A good like ends in peace.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) That which is left; a remnant; a fragment; a scrap; as, odds and ends.

(2): ( n.) Point beyond which no procession can be made; conclusion; issue; result, whether successful or otherwise; conclusive event; consequence.

(3): ( n.) Termination of being; death; destruction; extermination; also, cause of death or destruction.

(4): ( n.) The object aimed at in any effort considered as the close and effect of exertion; ppurpose; intention; aim; as, to labor for private or public ends.

(5): ( n.) The extreme or last point or part of any material thing considered lengthwise (the extremity of breadth being side); hence, extremity, in general; the concluding part; termination; close; limit; as, the end of a field, line, pole, road; the end of a year, of a discourse; put an end to pain; - opposed to beginning, when used of anything having a first part.

(6): ( n.) One of the yarns of the worsted warp in a Brussels carpet.

(7): ( v. t.) To form or be at the end of; as, the letter k ends the word back.

(8): ( v. t.) To destroy; to put to death.

(9): ( v. i.) To come to the ultimate point; to be finished; to come to a close; to cease; to terminate; as, a voyage ends; life ends; winter ends.

(10): ( v. t.) To bring to an end or conclusion; to finish; to close; to terminate; as, to end a speech.

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Numbers 23:10 (a) He would like to die as a righteous man though he had not lived as one.

 Deuteronomy 32:29 (a) This refers to the outcome of Israel's disobedience and path of rebellion.

 Psalm 37:37 (a) This end is death or the manner of death.

 Psalm 73:17 (a) This describes the outcome of the sinner's life even though it be a life of prosperity and financial success.

 Isaiah 45:22 (a) The ends of the earth are those countries, nations and tribes which are farthest removed in every direction from Palestine. The word is used to illustrate the wide scope of the love of GOD.

 1 Corinthians 15:24 (a) The word here refers to the very end of the history of this earth and all that pertains to it.

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

This word would not have needed particular attention, but for that the Lord Jesus on the throne called himself by it. ( Revelation 21:6) And when we consider in how many ways the Lord is, both the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega, surely it is very blessed to make him, what the Father hath made him, as the Mediator and head of his church and people, the first and the last in all our pursuits, affections, and designs: Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and for ever.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Hebrews 13:7 Ekbasin   1 Corinthians 10:13

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(קץ , ḳēc , אפס , 'epheṣ , כּלה , kālāh  ; τέλος , télos , συντελέω , sunteléō ): The end of anything is its termination , hence, also, final object or purpose . It is the translation of several Hebrew and Greek words, chiefly in the Old Testament of ḳēc (properly, "a cutting off") and other words from the same root ( Genesis 6:13 , "The end of all flesh is come before me"); 'aḥărı̄th , "hinder part," is also frequently translated "end" ( Deuteronomy 11:12;  Psalm 37:37 ,  Psalm 37:38 , American Revised Version: "There is a happy end to the man of peace ... The end of the wicked shall be cut off"; the English Revised Version "latter end" ( Psalm 37:37 ), margin "reward" or "future posterity";  Psalm 73:17;  Jeremiah 5:31 ); ṣōph (from ṣūph "to come to an end") is several times translated "end" ( 2 Chronicles 20:16;  Ecclesiastes 3:11;  Ecclesiastes 7:2 ). "End" in the sense of purpose is the translation of lema‛an , "to the intent" ( Exodus 8:22 , "to the end thou mayest know"), and of dibhrāh (from dābhar , "to speak");  Ecclesiastes 7:14 "to the end that man should find nothing after him" (the Revised Version (British and American) "should not find out anything (that shall be) after him"). "Ends of the earth" is the translation of 'epheṣ , "extremities" ( Deuteronomy 33:17;  Psalm 22:27 ), also of kānāph , "wing" ( Job 37:3;  Job 38:13 ). Other words are necaḥ , "utmost" ( Job 34:36 ), teḳūphāh , "circuit," "revolution" ( Exodus 34:22;  2 Chronicles 24:23 , the Revised Version, margin "revolution"), etc. The verb occurs almost invariably in the phrase "to make an end," as the translation of kālāh , "to finish," "complete" (Gen 17:30;  Deuteronomy 20:9;  Jeremiah 26:8 , etc.); also of nālāh , "to complete" ( Isaiah 33:1 ), and shālam , "to finish" ( Isaiah 38:12 ,  Isaiah 38:13 ).

In  Daniel 9:24 , the Iteb text has חתם , ḥātham , "to seal up" ("to complete or finish"), but the margin, followed by the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American), Driver and most moderns, has התם , hāthēm , "to finish," "end," "complete," a difference of one letter, but practically none in the sense, "to bring to an end"; compare "to finish the transgression," which precedes.

In the New Testament the common word for "end" is telos "an end," "completion," "termination" ( Matthew 10:22;  Matthew 24:6;  John 13:1 , the Revised Version, margin "to the uttermost";  Romans 6:21 , "The end of those things is death";  Romans 6:22 , "the end eternal life;  Romans 10:4 , Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness";  Revelation 21:6;  Revelation 22:13 , etc.); ékbasis , "outgoing" ( Hebrews 13:7 , the Revised Version (British and American) "issue"); suntéleia , "full end," is used of "the end of the world" ( Matthew 13:39;  Hebrews 9:26 ); péras , "extremity," "the ends of the world" ( Romans 10:18 ); ákros , "a point, end" ( Matthew 24:31 , "from one end of heaven to the other"). End as purpose is the translation of eis tó , "with a view to" ( Acts 7:19;  Romans 1:11;  Romans 4:16;  1 Thessalonians 3:13 ); of eis toúto , "unto this" ( John 18:37;  Romans 14:9;  2 Corinthians 2:9 ); of prós tó , "toward this" ( Luke 18:1 ). "To end" (verb) is plēróō , "to fill up" ( Luke 7:1;  Acts 19:21 ); once gı́nomai , "to become" ( John 13:2 , "supper being ended," which the Revised Version (British and American) corrects, giving, "during supper").

For "end" the Revised Version (British and American) has "uttermost part" ( Joshua 15:8 , etc.), "latter end" ( Psalm 73:17; the English Revised Version  Psalm 37:38;  Proverbs 5:4 ); "issue" ( Daniel 12:8 , margin "latter end";  Hebrews 13:7 ); "side" ( Ezekiel 41:12 ). Conversely, it has "end" for "uttermost part" ( Joshua 15:5 ); for "side" ( Deuteronomy 4:32 ); for "conclusion" ( Ecclesiastes 12:13 ); for "an end" ( Proverbs 23:18 ); "a reward," margin "sequel" or "future," Hebrew "latter end"; "final" ( Hebrews 6:16 ); for "an end of" ( Job 18:2 ), "snares for" (the American Standard Revised Version "hunt for"); for "at one end" ( Jeremiah 51:31 ), "on every quarter"; for "until the day and night come to an end" ( Job 26:10 ), "unto the confines of light and darkness"; for "have an end" ( Luke 22:37 ), "hath fulfillment," margin, Greek "end"; for "to the end for" ( 1 Peter 1:13 ), "perfectly on"; "at the end of" for "in these last days" ( Hebrews 1:2 ); "His end was nigh" for "He died" ( Hebrews 11:22 ); "its own end," instead of "for himself" ( Proverbs 16:4 , margin "his own purpose"); "neither is there any end to" instead of "for thine iniquities are infinite" ( Job 22:5 ); "to this end" for "therefore" ( Mark 1:38;  1 Timothy 4:10 ); for "for this cause," "to this end" ( John 18:37 twice), "unto this end" (  1 Peter 4:6 ); "to this end" for "for this purpose" ( Acts 26:16;  1 John 3:8 ); "to which end" for "wherefore" ( 2 Thessalonians 1:11 ); "to the end" is inserted in  Genesis 18:19 bis , and several other passages. For "ends of the earth" see Astronomy , III, 2.