Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical terms, a "district" refers to a specific geographical area or region that is often governed or administered as a unit. The concept of districts is evident throughout the Bible, where various regions are delineated for administrative, tribal, or territorial purposes. These districts often played significant roles in the historical and spiritual narratives of the Scriptures.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, the land of Israel was divided among the twelve tribes, each receiving a specific portion of land as their inheritance. These tribal allotments can be considered districts, as they were distinct regions with their own governance and responsibilities. For example, the Book of Joshua details the division of the Promised Land among the tribes of Israel (Joshua 13-21). Each tribe's territory was a district with its own cities and boundaries.
The concept of districts is also seen in the administrative divisions established by King Solomon. In
1 Kings 4:7, it is recorded: "Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household. Each one made provision for one month of the year." These governors were responsible for specific districts, ensuring the efficient management and provision of resources for the kingdom.
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the term "district" is used to describe various regions within the Roman Empire, which had a significant influence on the political and social landscape of the time. For instance, in
Luke 3:1, the Bible states: "In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene." Here, the regions of Judea, Galilee, Iturea, Trachonitis, and Abilene are referred to as districts under the jurisdiction of different rulers.
The Apostle Paul's missionary journeys also highlight the importance of districts in the spread of the Gospel.
Acts 16:6 mentions, "Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia." The districts of Phrygia and Galatia were significant areas for early Christian evangelism and church planting.
Cultural and Historical SignificanceDistricts in biblical times were not only administrative units but also held cultural and historical significance. They often reflected the diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds of their inhabitants. For example, Samaria was a district with a distinct identity, often at odds with Judea due to historical and religious differences (
John 4:9).
The delineation of districts also played a role in the fulfillment of biblical prophecies and the unfolding of God's plan. The division and interaction between these regions often set the stage for significant biblical events and teachings.
ConclusionThe concept of districts in the Bible underscores the importance of organization, governance, and cultural identity within the biblical narrative. Whether through tribal allotments, administrative divisions, or regions of evangelistic outreach, districts served as vital components in the unfolding account of God's people and His redemptive plan.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Rigorous; stringent; harsh.
2. (n.) The territory within which the lord has the power of coercing and punishing.
3. (n.) A division of territory; a defined portion of a state, town, or city, etc., made for administrative, electoral, or other purposes; as, a congressional district, judicial district, land district, school district, etc.
4. (n.) Any portion of territory of undefined extent; a region; a country; a tract.
5. (v. t.) To divide into districts or limited portions of territory; as, legislatures district States for the choice of representatives.
Greek
1053. Galatia -- Galatia, adistrict in Asia Minor or a larger...... 1052, 1053. Galatia. 1054 . Galatia, a
district in Asia Minor or a larger
Roman province including this
district as well as others.
...1218. demos -- adistrict or country, the common people, esp. the...
... demos. 1219 . adistrict or country, the common people, esp.... Word Origin of uncertain
origin Definition adistrict or country, the common people, esp....
4066. perichoros -- neighboring
... Word Origin from peri and chora Definition neighboring NASB Word Usage country
(1),district around (2), surroundingdistrict (6), surrounding region (1)....
1179. Dekapolis -- Decapolis, a region East of the Jordan
... Feminine Transliteration: Dekapolis Phonetic Spelling: (dek-ap'-ol-is) Short Definition:
Decapolis Definition: Decapolis, meaning a group ordistrict of ten...
1481. ethnarches -- an ethnarch, a governor (not king) of a...
... ethnarch. From ethnos and arche; the governor (not king) of adistrict -- ethnarch.
see GREEK ethnos. see GREEK arche. (ethnarches) -- 1 Occurrence. 1480, 1481...
3313. meros -- a part, share, portion
... Origin from meiromai (to receive one's portion) Definition a part, share, portion
NASB Word Usage case (2), country (1), detail (1),district (3), districts (2...
536. aparche -- the beginning of a sacrifice, ie the first fruit
... the first-fruits Definition: the first-fruits, the earliest crop of the year, hence
also met., for example, of the earliest converts in adistrict; there is...
3071. Lukaonia -- Lycaonia, a region in Asia Minor
... Lukaonia Phonetic Spelling: (loo-kah-on-ee'-ah) Short Definition: Lycaonia Definition:
Lycaonia, the country of the Lykaones, adistrict of Asia Minor...
688. Arabia -- Arabia, a peninsula of Asia near Africa
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: Arabia Phonetic Spelling:
(ar-ab-ee'-ah) Short Definition: Arabia Definition: Arabia, thedistrict south of...
5435. Phrugia -- Phrygia, a region of Asia Minor
... of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: Phrugia Phonetic Spelling: (froog-ee'-
ah) Short Definition: Phrygia Definition: Phrygia, an ethnicdistrict in Asia...
Strong's Hebrew
6418. pelek -- whorl of a spindle, adistrict... 6417, 6418. pelek. 6419 . whorl of a spindle, a
district. Transliteration:
pelek Phonetic Spelling: (peh'-lek) Short Definition:
district.
...1551. galil -- a cylinder, rod, circuit,district, also adistrict...
... galil. 1552 . a cylinder, rod, circuit,district, also adistrict in Palestine.
Transliteration: galil Phonetic Spelling: (gaw-leel') Short Definition: Galilee...
3603. kikkar -- a round, a rounddistrict, a round loaf, a round...
... 3602, 3603. kikkar. 3604 . a round, a rounddistrict, a round loaf, a round
weight, a talent (a measure of weight or money). Transliteration...
1552. gelilah -- a circuit, boundary, territory, also adistrict...
... a circuit, boundary, territory, also adistrict in Palestine. Transliteration: gelilah
Phonetic Spelling: (ghel-ee-law') Short Definition: region....
763. Aram Naharayim -- "Aram of (the) two rivers," adistrict of...
Aram Naharayim. 762, 763. Aram Naharayim. 764 . "Aram of (the) two rivers,"
adistrict of Aram (Syria). Transliteration: Aram Naharayim Phonetic Spelling:...
5780. Uts -- a son of Aram, also a son of Nahor, also an Edomite...
... 5779, 5780. Uts. 5781 . a son of Aram, also a son of Nahor, also an Edomite,
also perhaps adistrict East of Pal. Transliteration...
4083. medinah -- adistrict, province
... 4082, 4083. medinah. 4084 . adistrict, province. Transliteration: medinah
Phonetic Spelling: (med-ee-naw') Short Definition: province....
1657. Goshen -- adistrict in Egypt, also a city in S. Judah
... 1656, 1657. Goshen. 1658 . adistrict in Egypt, also a city in S. Judah.
Transliteration: Goshen Phonetic Spelling: (go'-shen) Short Definition: Goshen....
780. Ararat -- adistrict in E. Armenia
... 779, 780. Ararat. 781 . adistrict in E. Armenia. Transliteration: Ararat
Phonetic Spelling: (ar-aw-rat') Short Definition: Ararat....
709b. Argob -- "heap," adistrict of Bashan, also an Israelite
... 709a, 709b. Argob. 710 . "heap," adistrict of Bashan, also an Israelite.
Transliteration: Argob Short Definition: Argob. Word Origin...
Library
Of the Modification in the Observances which May be Permitted in...
... Chapter X. Of the modification in the observances which may be permitted in accordance
with the character of the climate or the custom of thedistrict....
A Series of Letters In Defence of Divine Revelation
...District of Massachusetts, to wit:District Clerk's Office.... JOHN W. DAVIS,
Clerk of theDistrict of Massachusetts. TO THE READER....
To Constantius the Prefect.
... But now that all that is left of the city anddistrict which God has committed to
my charge is in peril of utterly perishing, and certain men have dared to...
Epistle xxxii. To Peter, Subdeacon of Sicily.
... and I, though sick, am desirous of seeing thee, do thou leave some one whom thou
hast fully proved to take thy place in the Syracusandistrict, and thyself...
Christianity
... is a waste of force: as foolish as it would be to spend millions on remedies for
people sick with malaria in a pestilential and malarialdistrict, and ignore...
Rondelet, {7} the Huguenot Naturalist {8}
... are really not exaggerated. The Narbonnaise, or Languedoc, is perhaps
the most charmingdistrict of charming France. In the far...
And Nicodemus Stood Up, and Stood Before the Sanhedrin...
... [1849] And now listen to me, and let us send into everydistrict of Israel, and
see lest perchance Christ has been taken up by a spirit, and thrown upon one of...
Unwashen Hands
... When Jesus landed on Gennesaret, He was straightway known, and as He passed through
thedistrict, there was hasty bearing of all the sick to meet Him, laying...
Jesus and the Syro-Phoenician Woman
... Mark more specifically calls them, the borders of Tyre and Sidon.' At that time
thisdistrict extended, north of Galilee, [3482] from the Mediterranean to the...
Of what Other Monks were Distinguished at this Period.
... In thedistrict of Apamea, [777] Agapetus, [778] Simeon, [779] Paulus and
others reaped the fruits of the highest wisdom. In the...
Thesaurus
District (59 Occurrences)... a defined portion of a state, town, or city, etc., made for administrative, electoral,
or other purposes; as, a congressional
district, judicial
district, land
...Half-district (4 Occurrences)
Half-district. Half-dead, Half-district. Half-furrow . Multi-Version
Concordance Half-district (4 Occurrences). Nehemiah...
Repairs (24 Occurrences)
... (See NAS NIV). Nehemiah 3:9 And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of
Hur, the ruler of half thedistrict of Jerusalem. (See NAS)....
Cush (31 Occurrences)
... One branch, called the Cossaeans, settled in the mountainousdistrict on the east
of the Tigris, known afterwards as Susiana; another occupied the lower...
Repaired (46 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV NIV). Nehemiah 3:9 Next to them repaired Rephaiah
the son of Hur, the ruler of half thedistrict of Jerusalem....
Negeb (37 Occurrences)
... the Negeb was a geographical term for a definite geographical region, just as Shephelah,
literally, "lowland," was the name of anotherdistrict of Palestine....
Negev (39 Occurrences)
... the Negeb was a geographical term for a definite geographical region, just as Shephelah,
literally, "lowland," was the name of anotherdistrict of Palestine....
Official (45 Occurrences)
... River. (See NAS). Nehemiah 3:9 Next to them repaired Rephaiah the son of
Hur, the ruler of half thedistrict of Jerusalem. (See NAS)....
Keilah (16 Occurrences)
... Among those who repaired the walls of Jerusalem was "Hashabiah, the ruler
of half thedistrict of Keilah, for hisdistrict. After...
Presbytery (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) A judicatory consisting of all the ministers within a certaindistrict,
and one layman, who is a ruling elder, from each parish or church, commissioned...
Resources
Is Ben-Hur in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho are the Amish, and what are their beliefs? | GotQuestions.orgWho was C. I. Scofield? | GotQuestions.orgDistrict: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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