Rising and Setting Sun

There are various places in Scripture that speak of "from the rising of the sun to it's setting." Studying all the places which make such statements leads one to the conclusion that this is a way of Yahweh referring to the entirety of the earth, from the east to the west, all places which are habitable to humanity.

I ran across this in preaching through Malachi. Studying through Malachi chapter 1 verse 11 makes the following statement:

"For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations, says Yahweh of hosts." (NKJV, Malachi 1:11)

Notice here that Yahweh makes reference to the rising and setting sun but then goes on in the second part of the verse to say "in every place." Furthermore, notice these other references in Scripture that are parallel:

Psalm 50:1 - "The Mighty One, Elohim Yahweh, Has spoken and called the earth from the rising of the sun to its goping down..."

Psalm 113:3 - "From the rising of the sun to its going down Yahweh's name is to be praised."

Isaiah 45:6 (KJV) - "That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me, I am Yahweh, and there is none else."

Isaiah 59:19 (KJV) - "So shall they fear the name of Yahweh from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun..."

Commentator John Gill comments on Malachi 1:11 thusly (in part):

"...from East to West which is all habitable; not so North and South, as Kimchi observes, the extremes of which are not habitable..."

Pastor John MacArthur also comments similarly on the verse:

"The phrase is a way of referring to the whole earth... as the subsequent phrase, 'In every place,' indicates..."


Matthew Janzen