Definition and Usage:
The term "encircle" refers to the act of surrounding or forming a circle around something. In biblical contexts, it often conveys the idea of encompassing or surrounding either in a physical or metaphorical sense. This concept is used in various passages to describe military tactics, divine protection, or the encompassing nature of God's presence.

Biblical References:

1. Military Contexts:
· In the Old Testament, the act of encircling is frequently associated with military strategies. For example, in the conquest of Jericho, the Israelites were commanded to encircle the city as part of God's plan for its defeat. Joshua 6:3 states, "March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days."
· Encircling was also a tactic used by enemies of Israel. In 2 Kings 6:14 , the king of Aram sent horses and chariots and a great army to encircle the city of Dothan to capture the prophet Elisha: "So the king sent horses, chariots, and a great army. They came by night and surrounded the city."

2. Divine Protection:
· The imagery of encircling is also used to describe God's protection over His people. Psalm 34:7 illustrates this: "The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them." This verse highlights the protective and encompassing nature of God's presence.
· Similarly, Psalm 125:2 uses the imagery of mountains encircling Jerusalem to describe God's protection: "As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people, both now and forevermore."

3. Metaphorical and Spiritual Uses:
· Encircling can also have a metaphorical meaning, representing the idea of being surrounded by troubles or adversaries. In Psalm 22:12 , David laments, "Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me," expressing a sense of being overwhelmed by enemies.
· Conversely, the concept can also reflect the encompassing nature of God's love and faithfulness. In Hosea 11:4 , God speaks of His tender care for Israel: "I led them with cords of kindness, with ropes of love; I lifted the yoke from their necks and bent down to feed them."

Theological Implications:
The act of encircling in the Bible often carries significant theological implications. It can symbolize God's omnipresence and His ability to protect and deliver His people from harm. The imagery of encircling also serves as a reminder of the spiritual battles believers face and the assurance of God's surrounding presence in times of trouble. The concept underscores the importance of faith and reliance on God's protective power, as well as the need for obedience to His commands, as seen in the account of Jericho.

Conclusion:
The biblical use of "encircle" provides rich imagery that conveys both the threats faced by God's people and the assurance of His protective presence. Whether in the context of military strategy, divine protection, or spiritual metaphor, the concept of encircling serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty and faithfulness.(v. t.) To form a circle about; to enclose within a circle or ring; to surround; as, to encircle one in the arms; the army encircled the city.2944. kukloo -- to encircle
... to encircle. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kukloo Phonetic Spelling:
(koo-klo'-o) Short Definition: I encircle, besiege, surround Definition: I encircle ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2944.htm - 6k

4033. perikukloo -- to encircle
... to encircle. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: perikukloo Phonetic Spelling:
(per-ee-koo-klo'-o) Short Definition: I encircle, surround Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4033.htm - 6k

2943a. kukleuo -- to encircle
... to encircle. Transliteration: kukleuo Short Definition: surrounded. Word Origin
from the same as kuklo Definition to encircle NASB Word Usage surrounded (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2943a.htm - 5k

2943. kuklothen -- to encircle
... to encircle. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: kuklothen Phonetic Spelling:
(koo-kloth'-en) Short Definition: in a circle round Definition: in a circle ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2943.htm - 5k

4029. perikeimai -- to lie around
... Word Origin from peri and keimai Definition to lie around NASB Word Usage beset
(1), hung (2), surrounding (1), wearing (1). enclose, encircle, wear. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4029.htm - 6k

4735. stephanos -- that which surrounds, ie a crown
... Word Origin from stepho (to encircle) Definition that which surrounds, ie a crown
NASB Word Usage crown (14), crowns (3), wreath (1). crown. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4735.htm - 7k

4023. periecho -- to surround
... 4023 (from 4012 , "encompassing" and 2192 , "have") -- properly, have
all-around, ie encompass (encircle); " contained" (). Word ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4023.htm - 7k

3730. kaphtor -- capital, knob, bulb
... 9:1) kaphtowr {kaf-tore'}; probably from an unused root meaning to encircle; a chaplet;
but used only in an architectonic sense, ie The capital of a column, or ...
/hebrew/3730.htm - 6k

247. azar -- to gird, encompass, equip
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to gird, encompass, equip NASB Word Usage binds
(1), bound (1), encircle (1), gird (7), girded (5), girds (1). ...
/hebrew/247.htm - 6k

6858. tsepheth -- probably plated capital (of a pillar)
... chapiter. From an unused root meaning to encircle; a capital of a column --
chapiter. 6857, 6858. tsepheth. 6859 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6858.htm - 6k

5849. atar -- to surround
... compass, crown A primitive root; to encircle (for attack or protection); especially
to crown (literally or figuratively) -- compass, crown. 5848c, 5849. ...
/hebrew/5849.htm - 5k

The Dream of St. Ursula
... colourless. Her hair is tied with a narrow riband, and divided into two
wreaths, which encircle her head like a double crown. The ...
//christianbookshelf.org/ruskin/saint ursula/ii the dream of st.htm

Jesus and his Mother.
... Instantly the little stranger has a friend, a bosom to nestle in, an arm to encircle
it, a hand to minister to its helplessness. Love is born with the child. ...
/.../miller/personal friendships of jesus/chapter ii jesus and his.htm

Friendship.
... One or more of these bonds of attachment may encircle each person, and each bond
has its varying strength, and is capable of endless lengthening and contracting ...
/.../judy/questionable amusements and worthy substitutes/viii friendship.htm

Opening Thoughts.
... However holy be the memories which encircle other localities trodden by Him in the
days of His flesh,"Bethlehem, with its manger cradle, its mystic star, and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/i opening thoughts.htm

Moses the Type of Christ.
... They cling about us and grow; they multiply themselves, they shoot out and spread
forth, and encircle us, those chains of sin, with many links, minute but heavy ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol vii/sermon ix moses the type.htm

Foreword to the Third Edition
... testimony, that a check was sent to be used in sending free copies to missionaries
in fifty foreign countries, "that its glorious message may encircle the globe ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/foreword to the third edition.htm

From the Seventh Chapter.
... prophet: "Then shall there be peace for our land, when there shall arise in it seven
shepherds and eight attacks of men; and they shall encircle Assur," that is ...
/.../commentary on the apocolypse of the blessed john/from the seventh chapter.htm

Fasting, and the Goat Sent Away, were Types of Christ.
... "Accursed," says He, "is the one." Mark how the type of Jesus [1532] now comes out.
"And all of you spit upon it, and pierce it, and encircle its head with ...
/.../barnabas/the epistle of barnabas /chapter vii fasting and the goat.htm

The Song of the Redeemed
... When they shall attain the end of their hope and encircle the Throne, day without
night, rejoicing, their remembrance of what they once were, their sense of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 2/sermon xlviii the song of.htm

Thirtieth Day. Not of the World.
... Seek to feel the nobility of your regenerated nature; that you have a nobler heritage
to care for than the transitory glories which encircle "an indivisible ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/the mind of jesus/thirtieth day not of the.htm

Encircle (6 Occurrences)
... (vt) To form a circle about; to enclose within a circle or ring; to surround;
as, to encircle one in the arms; the army encircled the city. ...
/e/encircle.htm - 8k

Gird (44 Occurrences)
... 6. (vt) To encircle or bind with any flexible band. ... 8. (vt) To surround; to encircle,
or encompass. 9. (vt) To clothe; to swathe; to invest. 10. ...
/g/gird.htm - 20k

Encircled (17 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Encircle. Multi-Version Concordance
Encircled (17 Occurrences). Acts 14:20 But while the ...
/e/encircled.htm - 11k

Surround (39 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To enclose on all sides; to encompass; to encircle. 2. (vt) To lie or
be on all sides of; to encircle; as, a wall surrounds the city. ...
/s/surround.htm - 17k

Round (664 Occurrences)
... 38. (prep.) On every side of, so as to encompass or encircle; around; about; as,
the people stood round him ... 40. (vt) To surround; to encircle; to encompass. 41. ...
/r/round.htm - 40k

Enchantments (12 Occurrences)

/e/enchantments.htm - 11k

Vat (7 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 15:14 thou dost certainly encircle him out of thy flock, and out of
thy threshing-floor, and out of thy wine-vat; 'of' that which Jehovah thy God ...
/v/vat.htm - 9k

Girt (13 Occurrences)
... 1. (imp. & pp) of Gird. 2. (v.) imp. & pp of Gird. 3. (v.) To gird; to encircle;
to invest by means of a girdle; to measure the girth of; as, to girt a tree. ...
/g/girt.htm - 10k

Wine-vat (7 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 15:14 thou dost certainly encircle him out of thy flock, and out of
thy threshing-floor, and out of thy wine-vat; 'of' that which Jehovah thy God ...
/w/wine-vat.htm - 8k

Wind (180 Occurrences)
... wind thread on a spool or into a ball. 2. (vt) To entwist; to enfold; to
encircle. 3. (vt) To have complete control over; to turn ...
/w/wind.htm - 45k

How many prophecies did Jesus fulfill? | GotQuestions.org

Encircle: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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