the front of something, and so the place facing or across from it: in front of, opposite, over against
This word names the front of something, and from there the place directly across from it. Used on its own or with a small helping word, it works almost entirely as a location marker, telling you that one thing sits facing, in front of, or across from another.
Most often it fixes a place by what it faces. Israel camps across from a sea, a town, or a mountain; a window looks out on the window across from it; an army lines up over against the enemy. In a handful of cases it points instead to the front part of a single object, such as the front of a priest's garment, the front of the turban, or the leading edge of a battle line.
The idea stays simple and physical throughout. Even where Moses is told to stand toward God for the people, the picture is the same: someone positioned facing another, here as their representative.