גְּבוּל

𐤂𐤁𐤅𐤋

gᵉbûwl

H1366 noun

SILEX Entry

Root גבל to border, to set a boundary, to demarcate

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

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Root 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