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גְּדֵרָה

𐤂𐤃𐤓𐤄

Gederah

H1448 noun

SILEX Entry

Root גדר to wall, to build a fence, to enclose

Definition

A physical enclosure or walled area, particularly one constructed to contain flocks or herds; by extension, may refer to an animal pen, sheepfold, or protected enclosure for livestock. In some contexts, can denote an area surrounded by a barrier (wall or hedge) for the purpose of security, protection, or demarcation. The term is almost always associated with pastoral activities and the management of domesticated animals, especially sheep.

Semantic Range

enclosure, walled area for flocks, sheepfold, animal pen, animal shelter, protected yard, boundary marker, place or city with distinctive enclosures

Root / Etymology

From the root גדר meaning 'to wall, fence, enclose.' גְּדֵרָה is a feminine noun formation from גֶּדֶר (masculine), which refers to a wall or enclosure in a general sense. The feminine may indicate a specific or demarcated place constructed for a particular purpose, namely the shelter or corral for animals.

Historical & Contextual Notes

גְּדֵרָה in the Hebrew Bible most often appears in pastoral contexts, referring to enclosures for sheep or goats. While English translations sometimes use 'sheepfold,' 'cote,' or 'pen,' these do not always capture the broader potential for enclosures for various types of livestock. In some texts (e.g., 2 Chronicles 32:28), the word is part of lists of agricultural holdings, reflecting its practical usage in animal husbandry during the Israelite monarchy. The city's name (Gederah in Joshua 15:36) derives from the same noun, possibly indicating historical function or feature of that location (i.e., a settlement with notable animal enclosures or fortified bounds). In post-exilic Aramaic and later Hebrew, cognate forms retain the sense of enclosure, but may extend metaphorically to guarded or protected places. Unlike other words for animal shelter (e.g., דִּיר), גְּדֵרָה emphasizes the aspect of being fenced or walled, highlighting the separation between the domesticated interior and the untamed exterior. Standard English translations may not always reflect the technical distinction between גְּדֵרָה (walled area) and related terms. The word does not have direct religious overtones in most usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of גָּדֵר; enclosure (especially for flocks); (sheep-) cote (fold) hedge, wall.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גדר (g-d-r) — to wall, fence, enclose

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1013 בֵּית־גָּדֵר enclosing wall
H1443 גָּדַר he fenced in
H1444 גֶּדֶר enclosure-wall
H1445 גֶּדֶר Geder
H1446 גְדֹר Fortified Enclosure

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1448-04 גִּדְרֹ֥ת giderot HNcfpc sheepfolds walled enclosures of 2
H1448-08 וְ/גִדְרֹ֥ת vegiderot HC/Ncfpc and folds and flock-enclosures of 2
H1448-01 בַּ/גְּדֵר֑וֹת bagederot HRd/Ncfpa in the walls in the enclosures 2
H1448-05 הַ/גְּדֶ֣רֶת hagederet HTd/Ncfsa the wall the walled enclosure 1
H1448-03 גְּדֵרֹתָ֑י/ו gederotayv HNcfpc/Sp3ms his fences his walled enclosures 1
H1448-06 וּ/גְדֵרָ֑ה ugederah HC/Np and Gederah walled livestock enclosure 1
H1448-02 גְּדֵרָ֔/הּ gederah HNcfsc/Sp3fs her wall her walled enclosure 1
H1448-07 וּ/גְדֵרֹ֖ת ugederot HC/Ncfpa and folds and flock-enclosures 1

Occurrences in Scripture

11 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1448-04 Numbers 32:16 גִּדְרֹ֥ת giderot HNcfpc sheepfolds walled enclosures of
H1448-07 Numbers 32:24 וּ/גְדֵרֹ֖ת ugederot HC/Ncfpa and folds and flock-enclosures
H1448-08 Numbers 32:36 וְ/גִדְרֹ֥ת vegiderot HC/Ncfpc and folds and flock-enclosures of
H1448-04 1 Samuel 24:4 גִּדְר֨וֹת giderot HNcfpc the sheepfolds walled enclosures of
H1448-01 Jeremiah 49:3 בַּ/גְּדֵר֑וֹת bagederot HRd/Ncfpa in-the-hedges in the enclosures
H1448-05 Ezekiel 42:12 הַ/גְּדֶ֣רֶת hagederet HTd/Ncfsa the wall the walled enclosure
H1448-02 Hosea 2:8 גְּדֵרָ֔/הּ gederah HNcfsc/Sp3fs her wall her walled enclosure
H1448-01 Nahum 3:17 בַּ/גְּדֵרוֹת֙ bagederot HRd/Ncfpa in the walls in the enclosures
H1448-08 Zephaniah 2:6 וְ/גִדְר֥וֹת vegiderot HC/Ncfpc and folds and flock-enclosures of
H1448-03 Psalms 89:41 גְּדֵרֹתָ֑י/ו gederotayv HNcfpc/Sp3ms his fences his walled enclosures
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