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גֶּדֶר

𐤂𐤃𐤓

geder

H1444 noun

SILEX Entry

Root גדר to enclose, to wall in, to fence

Definition

A physical barrier or structure built as an enclosure or protection, typically a wall or fence made of stones, earth, or similar materials; used to demarcate or defend property, vineyards, sheepfolds, or settlements. The term's semantic range can extend to figurative uses as a symbol of protection, separation, or limitation, but its primary sense is that of a literal constructed enclosure.

Semantic Range

wall, fence, enclosure, protective barrier, separator; figuratively: protection, separation, limitation

Root / Etymology

From the root גדר meaning 'to wall in, fence, enclose.' גֶּדֶר (geder) is a noun derived directly from this root, referring to the product of enclosing or building a boundary.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, גֶּדֶר typically refers to physical structures such as walls or fences used to protect agricultural holdings (e.g., vineyards, sheepfolds), demarcate land, or fortify settlements. Unlike חוֹמָה (ḥomah), which often denotes city walls or strong defensive barriers, גֶּדֶר tends to refer to smaller enclosures or fences, especially in rural or agricultural contexts (e.g., fences around vineyards in Numbers 22:24; Psalm 62:3). In poetic and figurative language, גֶּדֶר can symbolize protection or division (e.g., Psalms 80:13–14). In later texts and post-biblical Hebrew, derivatives of the root continued to denote physical and metaphorical boundaries. English translations often render גֶּדֶר as 'fence,' 'wall,' or 'enclosure,' but may not fully distinguish its agricultural and non-militaristic connotations from those of larger city walls. The word does not carry the idea of a fortified defensive structure unless the context specifically requires it.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from גָּדַר; a circumvallation; wall.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גדר (g-d-r) — to enclose, to wall in, to fence

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1013 בֵּית־גָּדֵר enclosing wall
H1443 גָּדַר he fenced in
H1445 גֶּדֶר Geder
H1446 גְדֹר Fortified Enclosure
H1447 גָּדֵר enclosure wall

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1444-02 וְ/גֶ֖דֶר vegeder HC/Ncmsc and wall and enclosure-of 1
H1444-01 גֶּ֣דֶר geder HNcmsc the wall enclosure-wall 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1444-01 Ezekiel 42:10 גֶּ֣דֶר geder HNcmsc the wall enclosure-wall
H1444-02 Proverbs 24:31 וְ/גֶ֖דֶר vegeder HC/Ncmsc and wall and enclosure-of
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