In biblical times, hedges were commonly used as protective barriers and are frequently mentioned in Scripture as symbols of protection, separation, and divine care. The concept of a hedge in the Bible often extends beyond the physical to encompass spiritual and moral dimensions.

Physical Hedges

Hedges in the ancient Near East were typically made of thorny bushes or stone walls, serving as enclosures for vineyards, fields, and gardens. They protected crops from animals and intruders, ensuring the safety and productivity of the land. In Isaiah 5:5, the removal of a hedge signifies vulnerability and exposure: "Now I will tell you what I am about to do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be consumed; I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled."

Symbolic and Spiritual Hedges

The Bible often uses the imagery of a hedge to convey God's protection over His people. In Job 1:10, Satan acknowledges the divine protection around Job: "Have You not placed a hedge around him and his household and everything he owns?" This hedge signifies God's safeguarding presence, preventing harm from befalling His faithful servant.

Hedges also symbolize moral and spiritual boundaries. In Ezekiel 13:5, the prophets are criticized for failing to "go up into the gaps or build a wall for the house of Israel to stand in battle on the day of the LORD." Here, the hedge represents the spiritual fortifications necessary to withstand moral and spiritual challenges.

Hedges in Parables

Jesus uses the imagery of hedges in His parables to illustrate spiritual truths. In the Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Matthew 21:33), a landowner plants a vineyard and places a hedge around it, symbolizing God's provision and care for Israel. The hedge serves as a boundary, delineating the sacred space entrusted to the tenants.

Moral and Ethical Implications

The concept of a hedge extends to moral and ethical teachings, emphasizing the importance of maintaining spiritual boundaries and adhering to God's commandments. Proverbs 15:19 contrasts the path of the sluggard with that of the upright, using the imagery of a hedge: "The way of the sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway." This highlights the consequences of moral laxity versus the clarity and direction found in righteous living.

Conclusion

In summary, hedges in the Bible serve as powerful symbols of protection, divine care, and moral boundaries. They remind believers of God's safeguarding presence and the importance of maintaining spiritual and ethical integrity. Through the imagery of hedges, Scripture calls for vigilance in upholding the boundaries that preserve and protect one's faith and relationship with God.5418. phragmos -- a fencing in, a fence
... partition. Word Origin from phrasso Definition a fencing in, a fence NASB Word
Usage barrier (1), hedges (1), wall (2). hedge, partition. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5418.htm - 6k1449. Gederah -- "wall," a city in Judah
... Gederah, hedges. The same as gderah; (with the article) Gederah, a place in Palestine --
Gederah, hedges. see HEBREW gderah. 1448, 1449. Gederah. 1450 . ...
/hebrew/1449.htm - 6k

1447. gader -- a wall
... wall. Word Origin from gadar Definition a wall NASB Word Usage fence (1),
hedges (1), wall (11), walls (1). fence, hedge, wall. From ...
/hebrew/1447.htm - 6k

Compel them to Come In
... I FEEL in such a haste to go out and obey this commandment this morning, by compelling
those to come in who are now tarrying in the highways and hedges, that I ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/compel them to come in.htm

The King's Potters
... Judah were a hereditary caste of potters who lived in 'Netaim and Gederah,' if we
adhere to the Revised Version's text, or 'among plantations and hedges' if we ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the kings potters.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke xiv. 16, "A Certain Man Made a ...
... had been sent," brought answer, "Lord, it is done as Thou hast commanded, and yet
there is room." "Go out," saith He, "into the highways and hedges, and compel ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon lxii on the words.htm

Christ's Advice to Invite the Poor in Accordance with Isaiah the ...
... [4748] My third remark is this, [4749] that although the place abounded with people,
He yet commanded that they gather men from the highways and the hedges. ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xxxi christs advice to invite.htm

'Other Sheep'
... islands.' And now this new Teacher, not content with declaring them hirelings, and
Himself the only true Shepherd of Israel, breaks down the hedges and speaks ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/other sheep.htm

It is Indeed Better as no one ever could Deny that Men Should...
... making answer to Him, "Lord, it is done as Thou hast commanded, and yet there is
room," He said to them, "Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them ...
/.../writings in connection with the donatist controversy /chapter 6 21 it.htm

Letter clxxiii. (AD 416. )
... And the Lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel
them to come in, that my house may be filled." [2822] Mark, now, how it was ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter clxxiii a d 416.htm

The Three Parables of Warning: to the Individual, to the Nation ...
... so that the Master's house may be filled.' But now he is bidden to go out,' outside
the City, outside the Theocracy, into the highways and hedges,' to those ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xvi the three parables.htm

The Gospel Supper
... And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the high-ways, and hedges,
and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/the gospel supper.htm

The Broken Fence
... Fields are often surrounded with wooden palings which soon decay, or with hedges
which may very easily have gaps made in them; but this was a stone wall. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/the broken fence.htm

Hedges (7 Occurrences)
...Hedges (7 Occurrences). Luke 14:23 "The lord said to the servant,'Go out into the
highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. ...
/h/hedges.htm - 8k

Thorn-hedges (1 Occurrence)
Thorn-hedges. Thorn-hedge, Thorn-hedges. Thorns . Multi-Version
Concordance Thorn-hedges (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 7:19 ...
/t/thorn-hedges.htm - 6k

Hedge (12 Occurrences)
... (2) gadher, and geherah, translated "hedges" in the Revised Version (British and
American) only in Psalm 89:40 ... (3) na`atsuts, "thorn-hedges" (Isaiah 7:19). ...
/h/hedge.htm - 12k

Thorn (30 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary. (1.) Hebrews hedek (Proverbs 15:19), rendered "brier"
in Micah 7:4. Some thorny plant, of the Solanum family, suitable for hedges. ...
/t/thorn.htm - 35k

Flesh (468 Occurrences)
... it means a "thorn hedge." (7) na`atsuts (Isaiah 7:19, the King James Version "thorns,"
the Revised Version (British and American) "thorn hedges"; Isaiah 55:13 ...
/f/flesh.htm - 69k

Botany
... The common variety, Opuntia ficus-Indica with its innumera ble sharp prickles makes
impenetrable hedges round many of the village gardens, while the Opuntia ...
/b/botany.htm - 38k

Netaim (1 Occurrence)
... Codex Vaticanus Azaeim; Codex Alexandrinus Ataeim): In 1 Chronicles 4:23 the King
James Version reads "those that dwell among plants and hedges," the Revised ...
/n/netaim.htm - 7k

Lanes (2 Occurrences)
... Luke 14:23 "The lord said to the servant,'Go out into the highways and hedges, and
compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. (See NIV). ...
/l/lanes.htm - 7k

Lane
... 2. (n.) A passageway between fences or hedges which is not traveled as a highroad;
an alley between buildings; a narrow way among trees, rocks, and other ...
/l/lane.htm - 7k

Gederathite (1 Occurrence)
... Version (British and American) reads, "the inhabitants of Netaim and Gederah," for
the King James Version, "those that dwelt among plants and hedges." It is ...
/g/gederathite.htm - 7k

What is a hedge of protection? | GotQuestions.org

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