Bible Dictionary
Fence
A fence was a wall or rough stone construction used to protect vineyards, gardens, sheepfolds, and other property. In biblical language, related terms may also describe walls or fortified defenses around cities.
Definition
A fence is a wall or construction used to protect gardens, vineyards, sheepfolds, and other property. In biblical usage the related language may also refer to a hedge, wall, bulwark, or fortified defense.
Biblical Usage
Scripture uses fences and walls both literally and figuratively. A broken fence may leave a vineyard exposed, while the language of fenced or fortified places describes protected cities and defenses.
Historical Background
Fences around gardens and vineyards were commonly made of unmortared stones and could bulge or fall. Their crevices were places where serpents might lurk. Related Hebrew terms can denote walls, fortifications, citadels, or fortified cities.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(Heb. gader), Num. 22:24 (R.V.). Fences were constructions of unmortared stones, to protect gardens, vineyards, sheepfolds, etc. From various causes they were apt to bulge out and fall (Ps. 62:3). In Ps. 80:12, R.V. (see Isa. 5:5), the psalmist says, “Why hast thou broken down her fences?” Serpents delight to lurk in the crevices of such fences (Eccl. 10:8; comp. Amos 5:19).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>fens (batsar, mibhtsar):</p><p>Commonly used in the King James Version in the description of fortified places, as the translation of batsar, "to cut off," "to separate," "to fortify" (and forms) (De 3:5; 9:1; 28:52, etc.); mibhtsar, "fenced city," is a fortified place (Nu 32:17,36; Jos 10:20; 19:35, etc.); matsor, "fenced cities," means "bulwark," "citadel" (2Ch 8:5); metsurah, "fortification" (2Ch 11:23; 12:4; 14:6; 21:3); for "fenced" the American Standard Revised Version substitutes "fortified" in all these instances; in Da 11:15, mibhtsar is "a well-fortified city," margin "the fortified cities," the English Revised Version "well-fenced"; "fence" is also the translation of gadher, "a wall" or "fence" (Job 19:8 the American Standard Revised Version, "walled up" (gadhar); Ps 62:3); `azaq, "to loosen" (the ground) as with a mattock (Isa 5:2, where the King James Version has "fenced" it (the vineyard), the American Standard Revised Version "digged it," the English Revised Version "made a trench about it," it" margin "digged it" sukh, "to interweave" or "interlace" (Job 10:11, the Revised Version (British and American) "clothed"); male', "to be or become full" (2Sa 23:7, the Revised Version (British and American) "armed," margin "Hebrew filled").</p><p>ERV has "fence" for "wall" (Nu 22:24; Isa 5:5; Ho 2:6; the American Standard Revised Version retains "wall"), for "hedge" (Ec 10:8; Eze 13:5; 22:30; the American Standard Revised Version "wall"); "fenced" for "walled" (Nu 13:28; De 1:28; the American Standard Revised Version "fortified"); compare for "strong" Jos 19:29; Ne 9:25; Ps 108:10 (margin Jos 19:29, "the city of Mibzar-zor, that is, the fortress of Tyre," the English Revised Version ,"fenced"), for "hedged" (La 3:7, American Revised Version, "walled"); compare for "defenced," the English Revised Version "fenced," the American Standard Revised Version "fortified" (Isa 36:1; 37:26, etc.); "fences" for "hedges" (Ps 80:12, the American Standard Revised Version "walls"); in Jer 49:3, the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version have "fences."</p><p>See also HEDGE.</p><p>W. L. Walker</p>