Hedge
Hedge
the rendering in the A.V. (besides derivatives from or ,. rendered as a verb), 1, of three words from the same root (), which, as well as their Greek equivalent (), denotes simply that which surrounds or encloses, whether it be a stone wall ( ge’der, Pro 24:31; Eze 42:10) or a fence of other materials. , gader’, and , gederah’, are used of the hedge of a vineyard (Num 22:24; Psa 89:40; 1Ch 4:23); and the latter is employed to describe the wide walls of stone, or fences of thorn, which served as a shelter for sheep in winter and summer (Num 32:16). The stone walls which surround the sheepfolds of modern Palestine are frequently crowned with sharp thorns (Thomson, Land and Book, 1, 299), a custom at least as ancient as the time of Homer (Od. 14, 10), when a kind of prickly pear () was used for that purpose, as well as for the fences of cornfields at a later period (Arist. Eccl. 355). In order to protect the vineyards from the ravages of wild beasts (Psa 80:12), it was customary to surround them with a wall of loose stones or mud (Mat 21:33; Mar 12:1), which was a favorite haunt of serpents (Ecc 10:8), and a retreat for locusts from the cold (Nah 3:17). Such walls are described by Maundrell as surrounding the gardens of Damascus. They are built of great pieces of earth, made in the fashion of brick and hardened in the sun. In their dimensions they are each two yards long and somewhat more than one broad, and half a yard thick. Two rows of these, placed one upon another, make a cheap, expeditious, and, in this dry country, a durable wall (Early Travels in Pal. p. 487). A wall or fence of this kind is clearly distinguished in Isa 5:5 from the tangled hedge, 2, , mzesukah’ 1(, Mic 7:4), which was planted as an additional safeguard to the vineyard (comp. Sir 28:24), and was composed of the thorny shrubs with which Palestine abounds. The prickly pear, a species of cactus, so frequently employed for this purpose in the East at present, is believed to be of comparatively modern introduction. The aptness of the comparison of a tangled hedge of thorn to the difficulties which a slothful man conjures up as an excuse for his inactivity will at once be recognized (Pro 15:19; comp. Hos 2:6). The narrow paths between the hedges of the vineyards and gardens, : with a fence on this side and a fence on that side (Num 22:24), are distinguished from the ~ highways, or more frequented tracks, in Luk 14:23 (Hackett, Illustra. of Scripture, p. 166; Trench, On the Parables, p. 193). Smith, s.v.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Hedge
geder and mesukah. It was customary to surround vineyards with a wall of loose stones or mud, often crowned with thorns to keep off wild beasts; so Israel fenced by God (Psa 80:12; Mat 21:33). The haunt of serpents (Ecc 10:8; “whoso breaketh an hedge a serpent shall bite him,” i.e., maliciously pulling down his neighbour’s hedge wall he brings on himself his own punishment; Deu 19:14; Amo 5:19), and of locusts in cold weather (Nah 3:17), “which camp in the hedges in the cold day (the cold taking away their power of flight), but when the sun ariseth … fleeaway;” so the Assyrian hosts shall suddenly disappear, not leaving a trace behind.
Maundrell describes the walls round the gardens of Damascus, they are built of great pieces of earth hardened in the sun, placed on one another in two rows, making a cheap, expeditious, and in that dry country a durable wall. Isaiah (Isa 5:5) distinguishes the “hedge” (mesukah) and the “wall” (geder); the prickly tangled “hedge” being an additional fence (Mic 7:4). Pro 15:19, “the way of the slothful is as an hedge of thorns”; it seems to lain as if a hedge of thorns were in his way (Pro 20:4; Pro 22:13; Pro 26:13), whereas all is clear to the willing. The narrow path between the hedges of vineyards is distinct from the “highways” (Luk 14:23; Num 22:24).
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
Hedge
HEDGE.This word belongs to the vocabulary of the parables of Jesus. It occurs in that of the Vineyard (Mat 21:33, Mar 12:1), and in that of the Great Supper (Luk 14:23).
1. Literal application.The hedge is a detail in the outfit of a vineyard, one of many other properties (Mat 21:33 ||) in such a possession. It is a feature in the landscape of Palestine in the other case (highways and hedges, Luk 14:23). There is a connexion between the uses and the associations of the word. The contour of the land is controlled by the tillage of the soil. Vines need hedges. The word () used for a hedge in the Gospels denotes a fence of any kind, whether hedge, or wall, or palings (Hastings, DB [Note: Dictionary of the Bible.] ii. 340a). Another word might rather have called up a stone wall. includes all the different kinds of hedges to be found in a country so furrowed with hills and valleys as is Palestine.
2. The parabolical use of the hedge is rooted in the education of Israel. God made sea and desert a hedge of Palestine. Cf. Ellertons hymn
Praise to our God, whose hounteous hand
Prepared of old our glorious land,
A garden fenced with silver sea.
He hedged the people. He gave them individuals, institutions, the whole national economy, as hedges to protect their life and to restrain it. Enemies raided the land and broke down the hedges (Psalms 79, 80). Patriots and prophets saw and sang their gaps, and did their best to repair the historic institutional hedges. The tragedy of Jesus and the hedges was that He wanted them rooted up, while the chief priests hated the idea of their removal (Mat 21:45). Through the tragedy gleams the philanthropic import of the hedge (Luk 14:23). The eye of love sees humanity submerged. Them also he would bring. He would make hedge-row people happy. He had seen their misery as He stole to silent midnight prayer, up the hillsides with their mosaic of fields, along whose hedges and through the gaps of which He passed to pray to the Father in secret. It is humanitys ragged regiment whom He would see housed by the compulsion of the love (Luk 14:23) that will not let them go.
Literature.Geikie, Life of Christ, i. ch. 17; Thomson, Land and Book, ch. 14; Philochristus, chs. 13 for Hedge of the Law.
John R. Legge.
Fuente: A Dictionary Of Christ And The Gospels
Hedge
HEDGE.(1) meskah, a thorn hedge (Isa 5:5). (2) gdr or gedrahprobably a stone wall (Psa 89:40 etc.). (3) phragmos (Gr.), Mat 21:33, Mar 12:1, Luk 14:23a partition of any kind.
E. W. G. Masterman.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Hedge
hej:
(1) , mesukhah, a thorn hedge, only in Mic 7:4.; , mesukkah, a hedge (Isa 5:5); , mesukhath hadhek, a hedge of thorns (Pro 15:19).
(2) , gadher, and , gedherah, translated hedges in the Revised Version (British and American) only in Psa 89:40, elsewhere fence. GEDERAH (which see) in the Revised Version margin is translated hedges (1Ch 4:23).
(3) , naacuc, thorn-hedges (Isa 7:19).
(4) , phragmos, translated hedge (Mat 21:33; Mar 12:1; Luk 14:23); partition in Eph 2:14, which is its literal meaning. In the Septuagint it is the usual equivalent of the above Hebrew words.
Loose stone walls without mortar are the usual fences around fields in Palestine, and this is what gadher and gedherah signify in most passages. Hedges made of cut thorn branches or thorny bushes are very common in the plains and particularly in the Jordan valley.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Hedge
A fence
Job 1:10; Isa 5:5; Jer 49:3; Lam 3:7; Eze 13:5; Eze 22:30; Hos 2:6; Mic 7:4; Mar 12:1
Of thorns
Pro 15:19
People dwelt in
Luk 14:23 Fence
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Hedge
Hedge. The Hebrew words, thus rendered, denote simply that which surrounds or encloses, whether it be a stone wall, geder, Pro 24:31; Eze 42:10, or a fence of other materials. The stone walls which surround the sheepfolds of modern Palestine are frequently crowned with sharp thorns.
Fuente: Smith’s Bible Dictionary
Hedge
denotes any sort of fence, hedge, palings or wall (akin to phrasso, “to fence in, stop”). It is used (a) in its literal sense, in Mat 21:33, lit. “(he put) a hedge (around);” Mar 12:1; Luk 14:23; (b) metaphorically, of the “partition” which separated Gentile from Jew, which was broken down by Christ through the efficacy of His expiatory sacrifice, Eph 2:14.
Fuente: Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament Words
Hedge
Job 1:10 (b) This figure represents GOD’s protection and care for Job, His servant.
Psa 80:12 (b) This is an illustration of the way GOD took care of Israel, and hindered her enemies from overcoming her. He removed His protection later on because of her disobedience and wickedness.
Pro 15:19 (a) The word describes the hateful and hurtful ways of some people who thus injure and harm others. The wicked words, ways and works of the ungodly are as thorns and briers in the lives of those they intend to injure.
Ecc 10:8 (b) By this figure we understand that if one breaks down the fence of the neighbor or in any way trespasses on his neighbor’s rights, he will be made to suffer for it.
Isa 5:5 (b) This is a picture of the protective measures taken by GOD to preserve Israel from their enemies when they came to dwell in the promised land. The hedge is the fence that is mentioned in verse 2. When Israel became disobedient and rebelled against GOD’s law, He removed every hindrance and His protecting arm, and gave them over to their enemies. (See also Psa 80:12; Psa 89:40; Mat 21:33; Mar 12:1).
Job 3:23 (a) This represents those hindrances which GOD puts around a man to close him in and prevent progress. (See Lam 3:7).
Jer 49:3 (c) We may learn from this that the enemies of GOD will seek hiding places from GOD and from His anger poured out. They find, however, that these places of refuge prove to be places of thorns, briers and hardship. (See Nah 3:17).
Eze 13:5 (a) By this figure we understand that the prophets were not protecting GOD’s people as they should by proper teaching, leading and example.
Eze 22:30 (a) This unusual passage teaches us that while GOD gives divine interference in order to protect and guard His people, He also needs godly men who will stand with Him and on His side to prevent the entrance of evil doctrines, evil programs, and evil teachings among the people of GOD.
Hos 2:6 (a) This type reveals that GOD will surround the people with troubles, sorrows, griefs and pains so that they can hardly escape and must be punished.
Luk 14:23 (b) This type represents the difficult places in our cities and villages where it is hard to find people for the Lord, and one is quite apt to have his feelings hurt, and sometimes his body as well, he seeks to reach hearts for CHRIST in the ungodly districts of the city.