In biblical times, the term "compass" is not used in the modern sense of a navigational instrument. Instead, it often refers to the act of surrounding or encircling, as well as the concept of direction or guidance. The word appears in various contexts throughout the Bible, illustrating both physical and metaphorical meanings.

Old Testament Usage

1. Encircling or Surrounding: The Hebrew word often translated as "compass" is "sabab," which means to go around, encircle, or encompass. In Joshua 6:3-4, the Israelites are instructed to "compass" the city of Jericho, meaning to march around it: "March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the horns."

2. Divine Protection and Guidance: The concept of God encircling His people is a recurring theme. In Psalm 32:7, the psalmist declares, "You are my hiding place. You protect me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance." Here, the idea of God as a protective compass is evident, providing safety and guidance.

3. Boundary and Measurement: In some instances, "compass" refers to the setting of boundaries or measurements. In Job 26:10, it is written, "He has inscribed a circle on the face of the waters at the boundary between light and darkness." This usage highlights God's sovereignty in creation, establishing limits and order.

New Testament Usage

The New Testament does not frequently use the term "compass" in the same way as the Old Testament. However, the concept of guidance and direction is prevalent, particularly through the Holy Spirit and the teachings of Jesus Christ.

1. Guidance by the Holy Spirit: In John 16:13, Jesus promises the coming of the Holy Spirit, who will guide believers into all truth: "However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come." This guidance serves as a spiritual compass for Christians, directing them in their walk with God.

2. Moral and Ethical Direction: The teachings of Jesus and the apostles provide a moral compass for believers. In Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus summarizes the law with the greatest commandments: "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." This directive serves as a foundational guide for Christian conduct.

Symbolic and Metaphorical Interpretations

The compass, as a symbol, can represent God's omnipresence and omniscience, encircling the earth and its inhabitants with His care and authority. Proverbs 8:27 speaks of wisdom's presence at creation: "When He prepared the heavens, I was there; when He drew a circle on the face of the deep." This imagery underscores the divine order and purpose established by God.

In summary, while the term "compass" in the Bible does not refer to a physical instrument, its various uses convey themes of encirclement, protection, guidance, and divine order. These concepts are integral to understanding God's relationship with His creation and His people.1. (n.) A passing round; circuit; circuitous course.

2. (n.) An inclosing limit; boundary; circumference; as, within the compass of an encircling wall.

3. (n.) An enclosed space; an area; extent.

4. (n.) Extent; reach; sweep; capacity; sphere; as, the compass of his eye; the compass of imagination.

5. (n.) Moderate bounds, limits of truth; moderation; due limits; -- used with within.

6. (n.) The range of notes, or tones, within the capacity of a voice or instrument.

7. (n.) An instrument for determining directions upon the earth's surface by means of a magnetized bar or needle turning freely upon a pivot and pointing in a northerly and southerly direction.

8. (n.) A pair of compasses.

9. (n.) A circle; a continent.

10. (v. t.) To go about or entirely round; to make the circuit of.

11. (v. t.) To enclose on all sides; to surround; to encircle; to environ; to invest; to besiege; -- used with about, round, around, and round about.

12. (v. t.) To reach round; to circumvent; to get within one's power; to obtain; to accomplish.

13. (v. t.) To curve; to bend into a circular form.

14. (v. t.) To purpose; to intend; to imagine; to plot.

COMPASS; COMPASSES

kum'-pas, kum'-pas-iz: "Compass," noun, is the translation of chugh, "a circle," "vault" or "arch" ("when he set a compass upon the face of the depth" Proverbs 8:27 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American), the American Standard Revised Version "circle"; compare Job 26:10; and see CIRCLE; VAULT OF EARTH); of karkobh, "a margin" "border" (Exodus 27:5, "the compass of the altar," the Revised Version (British and American) "the ledge round," so 38:4); the phrase "to fetch a compass" is the translation of sabhabh, "to turn about," "go round about" (Numbers 34:5 Joshua 15:3, the Revised Version (British and American) "turn about," 2 Samuel 5:23 2 Kings 3:9, the Revised Version (British and American) "make a circuit"); of perierchomai, "to go about" (Acts 28:13, the Revised Version (British and American) "made a circuit"; margin "Some ancient authorities read cast loose"; see CIRCUIT).

"Compasses" is the Revised Version (British and American) for "compass," mechughah, an instrument for describing a circle: "He marketh it out with the compasses" (Isaiah 44:13) in making an idol.

The verb "to compass" occurs frequently in the senses of "to surround" and "to go round about," e.g. Genesis 2:11, "which compasseth the whole land of Havilah," Deuteronomy 2:1, "We compassed (went around) mount Seir many days"; in Jeremiah 31:22 we have "A new thing on the earth: a woman shall compass a man," the Revised Version (British and American) "encompass"; possibly as a suitor; but more probably as a protector. In those happy days, the protection of women (under God, 31:28) will be sufficient, while the men are at their work; "to encompass" ("The cords of death compassed me" Psalm 18:4; "the waves of death," 2 Samuel 22:5). "To gird" (Isaiah 50:11 the Revised Version (British and American)); "to lie around," "to be laid around" (Hebrews 5:2, "compassed with infirmity" (clothed with it); Hebrews 12:1, "compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses").

In Apocrypha we have "compassed about with yawning darkness" (The Wisdom of Solomon 19:17); "compassed the circuit of heaven" (Ecclesiasticus 24:5); "compassed with pomegranates of gold" (Ecclesiasticus 45:9); "The rainbow compasseth the heaven" (Ecclesiasticus 43:12); the course of the sun (1 Esdras 4:34).

W. L. Walker

4013. periago -- to lead around, to go about
... lead round, go round about. From peri and ago; to take around (as a companion);
reflexively, to walk around -- compass, go (round) about, lead about. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4013.htm - 6k

2944. kukloo -- to encircle
... to surround, encircle. From the same as kukloi; to encircle, ie Surround --
compass (about), come (stand) round about. see GREEK kukloi. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2944.htm - 6k

4033. perikukloo -- to encircle
... encircle, surround. From peri and kukloo; to encircle all around, ie Blockade
completely -- compass round. see GREEK peri. see GREEK kukloo. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4033.htm - 6k

4022. perierchomai -- to go about
... go about. From peri and erchomai (including its alternate); to come all around,
ie Stroll, vacillate, veer -- fetch a compass, vagabond, wandering about. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4022.htm - 6k

4107. planetes -- a wanderer
... noun derived from 4105 , "to wander") -- properly, a wandering star (planet);
(figuratively) a false teacher, operating without moral compass and -- ie ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4107.htm - 6k

4230. mechugah -- a compass
... 4229c, 4230. mechugah. 4231 . a compass. Transliteration: mechugah Phonetic
Spelling: (mekk-oo-gaw') Short Definition: compass. ...
/hebrew/4230.htm - 6k

5849. atar -- to surround
... 5848c, 5849. atar. 5849a . to surround. Transliteration: atar Phonetic
Spelling: (aw-tar') Short Definition: compass. compass, crown ...
/hebrew/5849.htm - 5k

6059. anaq -- to serve as a necklace
... Usage furnish him liberally (1), necklace (1). compass about as a chain,
furnish, liberally. A primitive root; properly, to choke ...
/hebrew/6059.htm - 6k

2329. chug -- vault, horizon
... circle, circuit, compass. From chuwg; a circle -- circle, circuit, compass. see
HEBREW chuwg. 2328, 2329. chug. 2330 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/2329.htm - 6k

4524. mesab -- that which surrounds or is round
... about (1), surrounding area (1), table (1). that compass about, place round
about, at table. Plural masculine mcibbiym {mes-ib-beem ...
/hebrew/4524.htm - 6k

5439. sabib -- circuit, round about
... surrounding area (1), surrounds (2), throughout (1). place, round about, circuit,
compass, on every side. Or (feminine) cbiybah {seb-ee-baw ...
/hebrew/5439.htm - 6k

3803. kathar -- to surround
... root Definition to surround NASB Word Usage crowned (1), encircled (1), surround
(2), surrounded (1), wait (1). beset round, compass about, be crowne, suffer. ...
/hebrew/3803.htm - 6k

2219. zarah -- to scatter, fan, winnow
... 1), winnowed (1), winnows (2). cast away, compass, disperse, fan, scatter
away, spread, strew, winnow. A primitive root (compare ...
/hebrew/2219.htm - 6k

247. azar -- to gird, encompass, equip
... bind compass about, gird up, with. A primitive root; to belt -- bind (compass) about,
gird (up, with). 246, 247. azar. 248 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/247.htm - 6k

5437. sabab -- to turn about, go around, surround
... about on every side, apply, avoid, beset (about), besiege, bring again, carry (about),
change, cause to come about, X circuit, (fetch a) compass (about, round ...
/hebrew/5437.htm - 7k

The Needle of the Compass of Need.
... The Need The Needle of the Compass of Need. Let us look a little at these peoples. ...
So we'll begin there. The needle of a magnetic compass always points north. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks with world winners/the needle of the compass.htm

Great Love Divine, Whose Compass Broad
... HYMNS OF THE EARLY CHURCH Great love Divine, whose compass broad. 8,8,8,8,8,8. Great
love Divine, whose compass broad. Involves the utmost point from God; ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the early church/great love divine whose compass.htm

Still More Popular in Its Own Day was the Second Hymn that Luther ...
... Still more popular in its own day was the second hymn that Luther ever wrote; no
doubt from its containing in short compass a complete epitome. ...
/.../winkworth/christian singers of germany/still more popular in its.htm

For as a Fountain Within a Narrow Compass, is More Plentiful...
... Book XII Chapter XXVII For as a fountain within a narrow compass, is more
plentiful? For as a fountain within a narrow compass ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter xxvii for as a.htm

Behold all Ye that Kindle a Fire, that Compass Yourselves About ...
... Behold all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks, walk
in the light of your fire and in the sparks that ye have kindled. ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/behold all ye that kindle.htm

Psalm 118
... 10The nations, joining all in one,. did compass me about: But in the Lord's most
holy name. ... 11They compass'd me about; I say,. they compass'd me about: ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/scottish psalter and paraphrases/psalm 118.htm

Unsound Spiritual Trading
... Travelling some time ago in an iron steamboat to the Continent, the captain told
me that the compass was far from trustworthy where so much iron was on every ...
/.../spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/unsound spiritual trading.htm

A Description of the Sea-Coast, Out of Pliny and Strabo.
... Tyrus, heretofore an island, &c. It is in compass nineteen miles, Palae-Tyre, lying
within, being included. The town itself contains two-and-twenty furlongs. ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 10 a description of.htm

Psalm XLIX.
... The iniquity of my heel shall compass me" (ver.5). He beginneth something obscurely. ...
For why should he fear? Will the iniquity of his heel compass him? ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xlix.htm

It was Therefore Better for Me to Hide Myself, and to Wait for ...
... scrupled not to utter such calumnies against me, before the great Augustus, and
who so violently assailed Bishops and Virgins, sought also to compass my death. ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/35 it was therefore better.htm

Compass (51 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) An inclosing limit; boundary; circumference; as, within the compass of an
encircling wall. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. COMPASS; COMPASSES. ...
/c/compass.htm - 26k

Compasses (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. COMPASS; COMPASSES. kum'-pas, kum'-pas-
iz: "Compass," noun, is the translation of chugh, "a circle ...
/c/compasses.htm - 10k

Sweep (34 Occurrences)
... (n.) The compass or range of a stroke; as, a long sweep. ... (n.) The compass of any
turning body or of any motion; as, the sweep of a door; the sweep of the eye. ...
/s/sweep.htm - 19k

Fetched (26 Occurrences)
... Acts 28:13 And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after
one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli: (KJV). ...
/f/fetched.htm - 14k

Register (14 Occurrences)
... See Register, vi 2. 13. (n.) The compass of a voice or instrument; a specified portion
of the compass of a voice, or a series of vocal tones of a given compass...
/r/register.htm - 13k

Point (106 Occurrences)
... 18. (n.) One of the points of the compass (see Points of the compass, below); also,
the difference between two points of the compass; as, to fall off a point. ...
/p/point.htm - 40k

Fetch (45 Occurrences)
... 5. (vt) To bring to accomplishment; to achieve; to make; to perform, with certain
objects; as, to fetch a compass; to fetch a leap; to fetch a sigh. ...
/f/fetch.htm - 24k

North (164 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) That one of the four cardinal points of the compass, at any place, which
lies in the direction of the true meridian, and to the left hand of a person ...
/n/north.htm - 43k

Wheel (20 Occurrences)
... 11. (n.) A turn revolution; rotation; compass. 12. ... 16. (vi) To go round in a
circuit; to fetch a compass. 17. (vi) To roll forward. Int. ...
/w/wheel.htm - 18k

Formeth (11 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 7:15 And he formeth the two pillars of brass; eighteen cubits 'is' the height
of the one pillar, and a cord of twelve cubits doth compass the second ...
/f/formeth.htm - 9k

How should Christians react to "The Golden Compass" movie? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean for Jesus to be your true north? | GotQuestions.org

What is Christian freedom? | GotQuestions.org

Compass: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus