Not all the references to the North seem to have an earthly reference. When Ezekiel has a vision of God, it seems it comes out of the North.

“I looked, and, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, a great cloud, with flashing lightning, and a brightness round about it, and out of the midst of it as it were glowing metal, out of the midst of the fire.” Ezek 1:4 WEB

Then there follows a dazzling vision of God and of the four living creatures which surround him.

God? From the North?

There are other references, which could be taken more than one way.

“Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth,
Is Mount Zion, on the north sides,
The city of the great King.” Psa 48:2 WEB

The KJV and the New King James Version says “on the sides of the north.” The New American Standard Bible, 1995 edition, and the English Standard Version say “Mount Zion in the far north.” Taken this way it would seem to say that the “true” Mount Zion is in the far north, and earthly Mount Zion is only symbolic of the true Zion in heaven!

The Hebrew word is yerekah, and can mean the side of something, the flanks, or can mean the extremes or far parts of something. None of the translations are entirely satisfying. Mount Zion on the North sides? Well, maybe, but look at some maps. Mount Zion in the far North? Mount Zion is not really in the North at all, of anything. Perhaps we should come back to this.

Or again, where does exaltation come from?

“6 For neither from the east, nor from the west,
Nor yet from the south, comes exaltation.
7 But God is the judge.
He puts down one, and lifts up another.”
Psa 75:6-7 WEB

Here is another enigmatic passage. Exaltation is clearly from the Lord, but look how it states this. Exaltation is not from the east or the west or south, … but it leaves out the North, and says exaltation is from God, and seems to imply that His throne is in the North!

When Isaiah writes of Satan’s revolt
against God in Isaiah 14, it says.

“You said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; and I will sit on the mountain of congregation, in the uttermost parts of the north;” Isa 14:13 WEB

This is a far plainer passage about where “heaven” is. Further this word “uttermost” is again that word yerekah. If you take the KJV on this passage, then heaven is “in the sides of the north,” “above the stars of God“!

Where does God come from?

The book of Job of course far precedes those later times when Assyria and Babylon are such powerful entities. But Job speaks of the North in more than one place.

“Out of the north comes golden splendor;
With God is awesome majesty.”
Job 37:22 WEB

Other translations are more explicit.

“He comes from the north as golden splendor;
With God is awesome majesty.”
Job 37:22 New King James Version

Putting them together, it does seem to suggest that heaven is North of our earth, and that God will come out of the North.

KJV is the King James Version, 1611.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901