Topical Encyclopedia The term "about" in the context of the Bible can refer to various concepts, including proximity, approximation, or surrounding circumstances. It is often used to describe the setting or context of events, the estimation of time or numbers, and the spatial arrangement of people or objects. Below are some key instances and themes where "about" is relevant in the biblical narrative.Proximity and Surrounding Circumstances 1. Encampment and Surrounding: The Israelites often encamped "about" the tabernacle during their wilderness journey. This arrangement signified the centrality of God's presence among His people. Numbers 2:2 states, "The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting at a distance from it, each man under his standard, with the banners of his family." 2. Protection and Defense: The term is also used to describe God's protective presence around His people. Psalm 34:7 declares, "The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them." 3. Surrounding Nations and Enemies: The Bible frequently mentions nations "about" Israel, often in the context of conflict or influence. For example, Judges 2:12 warns, "They forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt, and followed other gods, the gods of the peoples around them." Approximation of Time and Numbers 1. Estimation of Time: The Bible sometimes uses "about" to indicate an approximate time frame. In Acts 1:15 , it is recorded, "In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (a gathering of about a hundred and twenty) and said..." 2. Estimation of Numbers: Similarly, "about" is used to approximate numbers, as seen in the feeding of the five thousand. Matthew 14:21 notes, "About five thousand men were fed, besides women and children." Spatial Arrangement and Movement 1. Movement and Travel: The term is used to describe the movement of individuals or groups. In Acts 9:3 , it is written, "As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him." 2. Positioning and Location: "About" can also refer to the positioning of objects or people. In the description of the New Jerusalem, Revelation 21:12 states, "The city had a great, high wall with twelve gates inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel." Symbolic and Figurative Use 1. Symbolic Surrounding: The Bible uses "about" in a symbolic sense to describe spiritual truths. For instance, in Zechariah 2:5 , God promises, "For I will be a wall of fire around it, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory within it." 2. Figurative Language: The term is also employed in figurative language to convey deeper meanings. In Psalm 125:2 , it is written, "As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people, both now and forevermore." In summary, the use of "about" in the Bible encompasses a range of meanings, from literal descriptions of physical arrangements to symbolic representations of divine protection and presence. It serves as a versatile term that helps convey the richness and depth of biblical narratives and teachings. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (prep.) Around; all round; on every side of.2. (prep.) In the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place; by or on (one's person). 3. (prep.) Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout. 4. (prep.) Near; not far from; -- determining approximately time, size, quantity. 5. (prep.) In concern with; engaged in; intent on. 6. (prep.) On the point or verge of; going; in act of. 7. (prep.) Concerning; with regard to; on account of; touching. 8. (adv.) On all sides; around. 9. (adv.) In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the outside; as, a mile about, and a third of a mile across. 10. (adv.) Here and there; around; in one place and another. 11. (adv.) Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence, in quality, manner, degree, etc.; as, about as cold; about as high; -- also of quantity, number, time. 12. (adv.) To a reserved position; half round; in the opposite direction; on the opposite tack; as, to face about; to turn one's self about. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia ABOUTa-bout': The use of this word as a preposition, in the sense of "around," is confined to the Old Testament. In the New Testament, generally an adverb, for Greek hos or "hosei." The Revised Version (British and American) adopts it in several idiomatic translations of mello, referring to what is about to be, i.e. on the point of occurring, or immediately impending, amending the King James Version, in Acts 5:35; Acts 27:2 Revelation 12:4, etc. Greek 4013. periago -- to lead around, to go about ... to lead around, to go about. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: periago Phonetic Spelling: (per-ee-ag'-o) Short Definition: I lead about, go about Definition ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4013.htm - 6k 3195. mello -- to be about to 4012. peri -- about, concerning, around (denotes place, cause or ... 4022. perierchomai -- to go about 4064. periphero -- to carry about 3329. metago -- to turn about, to direct 5007. talanton -- a balance, hence that which is weighed, ie a ... 1704. emperipateo -- to walk about in or among 4020. periergazomai -- to waste one's labor about (a thing) 1330. dierchomai -- to go through, go about, to spread Strong's Hebrew 5437. sabab -- to turn about, go around, surround... sabab. 5438 . to turn about, go around, surround. Transliteration: sabab Phonetic Spelling: (saw-bab') Short Definition: surrounded. Word Origin a prim. ... /hebrew/5437.htm - 7k 5439. sabib -- circuit, round about 5503. sachar -- to go around or about, travel about 7751a. shut -- to go or rove about 1157. baad -- away from, behind, about, on behalf of 5473. sug -- to fence about 6335a. push -- probably to spring about 7540. raqad -- to skip about 5823. azaq -- to dig about 7751. shuwt -- to go or rove about Library Quiet Talks about Jesus About Generosity About the Book Prayerful About Everything. A Tale About Words About the Electronic Edition. Whether Magnanimity is About Honors? Whether Justice is About the Passions? Whether it is Lawful to be Solicitous About Temporal Matters? As when I was Writing About Things, I Introduced the Subject with ... Thesaurus About (7631 Occurrences)... 8. (adv.) On all sides; around. 9. (adv.) In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the outside; as, a mile about, and a third of a mile across. 10. ... /a/about.htm - 8k Slaughtered (72 Occurrences) Side-chambers (10 Occurrences) Quail (5 Occurrences) Sprinkled (55 Occurrences) Smyrna (2 Occurrences) Version Sherghat Valid (10 Occurrences) Argument (45 Occurrences) Resources Questions about the Books of the Bible | GotQuestions.orgTopical Bible Questions (All) | GotQuestions.org Questions about Family & Parenting (All) | GotQuestions.org About: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance About (7631 Occurrences)About appears 7631 times in 12 translations. You can narrow your search using the Advanced Bible Search. Subtopics Related Terms |
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