Psalm 46/Notes/Phrasal.v. 9.630098

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In the collocation to the ends of the earth (עד־קצה הארץ), the "end" is part of the divided whole, that is, the earth. The preposition עד here connotes "the idea of being or acting within some definite region”[1], more specifically "up to" a point or landmark in space. Of interest here is also the notion of a far-reaching action or event (cf. עד לשמים [2 Chr 28:9; Ezra 9:6]). Cumulatively, עד־קצה הארץ signifies the extent of God's focused and comprehensive termination of armed conflicts. The definite article in הארץ (vv. 9, 10, 11) is due to the noun's identifiability, i.e., it marks a unique referent.[2]

  1. ↑ GK§119h; cf. BHRG §39:19 (1).
  2. ↑ The article is often used because the thing it is attached to is the only one of its kind (but note the occurrences of "earth" without the article in vv. 3, 7).