גְּבוּל
𐤂𐤁𐤅𐤋
gᵉbûwl
H1366 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A fixed boundary, border, or limit demarcating a specific area—commonly a territorial border between regions, tribes, or nations; by extension, the area or territory enclosed by such a boundary. Also includes conceptual boundaries, such as limits for individuals or activities.
Semantic Range
boundary, border, marked limit, frontier (of land or territory), territory within set borders, allotment, property boundary, figurative limit, restriction, demarcation
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root גבל, meaning 'to border, to bound, to delineate'. The noun גְּבוּל originally referred to a physical or marked boundary, evolving to signify any type of border or limit, whether territorial, social, or functional.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In early Israelite contexts (e.g., Torah and early historical books), גְּבוּל most frequently refers to the marked boundaries between territories allocated to specific tribes, settlements, or nations (e.g. Numbers 34, Joshua 13-21). Such boundaries were often determined by natural features (rivers, mountains), marked stones, or other physical indicators. The word also appears in reference to property boundaries and individual land allotments (Proverbs 15:25; Deuteronomy 19:14), where the inviolability of the גְּבוּל is a matter of legal and religious significance—removing or moving boundary markers is considered a grave transgression. In poetic and prophetic texts (Psalms, Isaiah), גְּבוּל can be used metaphorically for the limitation or extent of divine power, human life, or historical domains (e.g., Psalm 74:17). The Septuagint commonly translates גְּבוּל as ὅριον (horion), 'boundary'. English translations sometimes obscure the distinction between geographic borders and legal/property limits. Contrast with other Hebrew terms such as קָצֶה (qāṣeh, 'extremity, end, edge') and פֵּאָה (pe'ah, 'corner, edge'), both of which describe edges or limits but lack the connotation of formal or legal demarcation found in גְּבוּל. The semantic range broadens in later biblical periods to encompass conceptual or legal limits as well as geographic ones.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or גְּבֻל; (shortened) from גָּבַל; properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the territory inclosed; border, bound, coast, [idiom] great, landmark, limit, quarter, space.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
גבל (g-b-l) — to border, to set a boundary, to demarcate
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1367 | גְּבוּלָה | in boundary-lines of |
| H1379 | גָּבַל | they bounded |
| H1380 | גְּבַל | Gebal |
| H1381 | גְּבָל | Gebal Borderland |
| H1382 | גִּבְלִי | the Gebalite |
Word Forms
27 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1366-07 |
גְּב֤וּל | gevul | HNcmsc |
border | boundary of | 100 |
H1366-19 |
הַ/גְּבֽוּל | hagevul | HTd/Ncmsa |
the border | the boundary | 47 |
H1366-25 |
וּ/גְב֣וּל | ugevul | HC/Ncmsc |
and-border | and boundary-of | 18 |
H1366-09 |
גְבוּלָ֗/ם | gevulam | HNcmsc/Sp3mp |
their border | their boundary | 15 |
H1366-12 |
גְּבוּלְ/ךָ֖ | gevulekha | HNcmsc/Sp2ms |
your border | your boundary | 11 |
H1366-01 |
בִּ/גְב֥וּל | bigevul | HR/Ncmsc |
in the border | in boundary of | 7 |
H1366-18 |
גְּבֻל֖/וֹ | gevulo | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
of its border | his boundary | 6 |
H1366-08 |
גְּבוּלָ֔/הּ | gevulah | HNcmsc/Sp3fs |
its territory | her boundary | 5 |
H1366-21 |
לִ/גְב֥וּל | ligevul | HR/Ncmsc |
boundary | to boundary of | 4 |
H1366-23 |
מִ/גְּב֣וּל | migevul | HR/Ncmsc |
from-border | from boundary of | 4 |
Occurrences in Scripture
241 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1366-07 |
Genesis 10:19 | גְּב֤וּל | gevul | HNcmsc |
the border | boundary of |
H1366-18 |
Genesis 23:17 | גְּבֻל֖/וֹ | gevulo | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
its borders | his boundary |
H1366-07 |
Genesis 47:21 | גְבוּל | gevul | HNcmsc |
of the border | boundary of |
H1366-12 |
Exodus 7:27 | גְּבוּלְ/ךָ֖ | gevulekha | HNcmsc/Sp2ms |
your territory | your boundary |
H1366-04 |
Exodus 10:4 | בִּ/גְבֻלֶֽ/ךָ | bigevulekha | HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms |
into your borders | within your boundary |
H1366-07 |
Exodus 10:14 | גְּב֣וּל | gevul | HNcmsc |
borders | boundary of |
H1366-07 |
Exodus 10:19 | גְּב֥וּל | gevul | HNcmsc |
borders | boundary of |
H1366-12 |
Exodus 13:7 | גְּבֻלֶֽ/ךָ | gevulekha | HNcmsc/Sp2ms |
your borders | your boundary |
H1366-12 |
Exodus 23:31 | גְּבֻלְ/ךָ֗ | gevulekha | HNcmsc/Sp2ms |
border | your boundary |
H1366-12 |
Exodus 34:24 | גְּבוּלֶ֑/ךָ | gevulekha | HNcmsc/Sp2ms |
your border | your boundary |