Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical terminology, the term "fold" primarily refers to an enclosure or pen for sheep, symbolizing safety, community, and divine care. The imagery of the fold is deeply rooted in the pastoral culture of ancient Israel, where shepherding was a common occupation. This concept is used metaphorically throughout Scripture to convey spiritual truths about God's relationship with His people.
Old Testament ReferencesThe fold is often mentioned in the context of shepherding, a prevalent theme in the Old Testament. In
Ezekiel 34:14-15 , God promises to care for His people as a shepherd cares for his flock: "I will tend them in good pasture, and their grazing place will be on the mountain heights of Israel. There they will lie down in a good grazing land; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I will tend My flock and make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD." Here, the fold represents a place of provision and rest, highlighting God's protective and nurturing nature.
New Testament ReferencesIn the New Testament, the concept of the fold is expanded upon by Jesus Christ, who identifies Himself as the Good Shepherd. In
John 10:1-16 , Jesus uses the imagery of the sheepfold to describe His relationship with His followers. He states, "I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture" (
John 10:7-9). Here, the fold signifies the safety and salvation found in Christ, who is both the Shepherd and the gate.
Spiritual SignificanceThe fold is emblematic of the Church, the community of believers who are gathered and protected by Christ. It represents the spiritual home where believers find fellowship, guidance, and sustenance. The imagery of the fold underscores the importance of unity and belonging within the body of Christ, as well as the assurance of divine oversight.
Theological ImplicationsTheologically, the fold illustrates the doctrine of divine election and the security of the believer. Just as a shepherd knows his sheep and calls them by name, God knows those who are His and ensures their eternal security. This is reflected in
John 10:27-28 : "My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand."
Practical ApplicationFor believers, the concept of the fold encourages trust in God's provision and protection. It calls for a commitment to the community of faith, where believers can grow and thrive under the care of the Good Shepherd. The fold also serves as a reminder of the mission to bring others into the safety of Christ's fold, echoing the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations.
In summary, the biblical imagery of the fold is rich with meaning, portraying God's loving care, the security of salvation, and the communal nature of the Christian faith.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
An enclosure for flocks to rest together (
Isaiah 13:20). Sheep-folds are mentioned
Numbers 32:16, 24, 36;
2 Samuel 7:8;
Zephaniah 2:6;
John 10:1, etc. It was prophesied of the cities of Ammon (
Ezek. 25:5), Aroer (
Isaiah 17:2), and Judaea, that they would be folds or couching-places for flocks. "Among the pots," of the Authorized Version (
Psalm 68:13), is rightly in the Revised Version, "among the sheepfolds."
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To lap or lay in plaits or folds; to lay one part over another part of; to double; as, to fold cloth; to fold a letter.
2. (v. t.) To double or lay together, as the arms or the hands; as, he folds his arms in despair.
3. (v. t.) To enclose within folds or plaitings; to envelop; to enfold; to clasp; to embrace.
4. (v. t.) To cover or wrap up; to conceal.
5. (v. i.) To become folded, plaited, or doubled; to close over another of the same kind; to double together; as, the leaves of the door fold.
6. (n.) A doubling, esp. of any flexible substance; a part laid over on another part; a plait; a plication.
7. (v.) Times or repetitions; -- used with numerals, chiefly in composition, to denote multiplication or increase in a geometrical ratio, the doubling, tripling, etc., of anything; as, fourfold, four times, increased in a quadruple ratio, multiplied by four.
8. (v.) That which is folded together, or which enfolds or envelops; embrace.
9. (n.) An enclosure for sheep; a sheep pen.
10. (n.) A flock of sheep; figuratively, the Church or a church; as, Christ's fold.
11. (n.) A boundary; a limit.
12. (v. t.) To confine in a fold, as sheep.
13. (v. i.) To confine sheep in a fold.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
FOLD; FOLDINGfold fold'-ing (verb; chabhaq, sabhakh; helisso):
The verb occurs only 3 times in the King James Version, and in each instance represents a different word; we have chabhaq "to clasp" (Ecclesiastes 4:5), "The fool foldeth his hands together" (compareProverbs 6:10); cabhak, "to interweave" (Nahum 1:10, "folded together as thorns," the English Revised Version "like tangled thorns" the American Standard Revised Version "entangled like thorns"; see ENTANGLE); helisso "to roll or fold up" (Hebrews 1:12, quoted fromPsalm 102:26 (Septuagint), the Revised Version (British and American) "As a mantle shalt thou roll them up"). Folding occurs as translation of galil, "turning" or "rolling" (1 Kings 6:34 bis, folding leaves of door).
See alsoHOUSE.
W. L. Walker
Greek
4428. ptusso -- tofold, ie roll up... to
fold, ie roll up. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ptusso Phonetic Spelling:
(ptoos'-so) Short Definition: I
fold, roll up Definition: I
fold, roll up
...1362. diplous -- twofold, double
... twofold, double. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: diplous Phonetic Spelling:
(dip-looce') Short Definition: double, two-fold Definition: double, two...
833. aule -- a courtyard, a court
... aule Phonetic Spelling: (ow-lay') Short Definition: court-yard, fore-court, palace,
house Definition: court-yard, fore-court, sheep-fold; but it may be...
1667. helisso -- to roll up, to coil
... up, to coil. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: helisso Phonetic Spelling:
(hel-is'-so) Short Definition: I roll, roll up Definition: I roll, roll up,fold...
4167. poimne -- a flock
... flock,fold. Contraction from poimaino; a flock (literally or figuratively) --
flock,fold. see GREEK poimaino. (poimne) -- 1 Occurrence....
5073. tetraplous -- fourfold
... fourfold. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: tetraplous Phonetic Spelling:
(tet-rap-lo'-os) Short Definition: four-fold Definition: four-fold, four...
4263. probaton -- a little sheep
... neuter of a presumed derivative of probaino; something that walks forward (a quadruped),
ie (specially), a sheep (literally or figuratively) -- sheep(-fold)....
1835. hexekonta -- sixty
... sixty, threescore. The tenth multiple of hex; sixty -- sixty(-fold), threescore.
see GREEK hex. (exekonta) -- 9 Occurrences. 1834, 1835. hexekonta. 1836 ....
2859. kolpos -- the bosom
... Definition: (a) sing. and plur: bosom; (sinus) the overhangingfold of the
garment used as a pocket, (b) a bay, gulf. 2859 -- properly...
1794. entulisso -- to wrap up
... Word Origin from en and tulisso (to twist) Definition to wrap up NASB Word
Usage rolled (1), wrapped (2). wrap together,fold up....
Strong's Hebrew
1223. botsrah -- an enclosure, afold (for sheep)... 1222, 1223. botsrah. 1224 . an enclosure, a
fold (for sheep). Transliteration:
botsrah Phonetic Spelling: (bots-raw') Short Definition:
fold.
...4356. miklaah -- an enclosure,fold
... 4355, 4356. miklaah or miklah. 4357 . an enclosure,fold. Transliteration:
miklaah or miklah Phonetic Spelling: (mik-law-aw') Short Definition:fold....
1563. galam -- to wrap up,fold,fold together
... 1562, 1563. galam. 1564 . to wrap up,fold,fold together. Transliteration:
galam Phonetic Spelling: (gaw-lam') Short Definition: together. Word Origin a prim...
1699. dober -- a pasture
... 1698, 1699. dober. 1699a . a pasture. Transliteration: dober Phonetic
Spelling: (do'-ber) Short Definition:fold.fold, manner From...
7257. rabats -- stretch oneself out, lie down, lie stretched out
... crouch down, fall down, make afold, lay, cause to, make to lie down, make
to rest, sit. A primitive root; to crouch (on all four...
2263. chabaq -- to clasp, embrace
... embrace,fold. A primitive root; to clasp (the hands or in embrace) -- embrace,
fold. 2262, 2263. chabaq. 2264 . Strong's Numbers.
5116. naveh -- abode of shepherd or flocks, habitation
... Short Definition: comely. comely, dwelling place,fold, habitation, pleasant
place, sheepcote, stable, tarried Or (feminine) navah...
2264. chibbuq -- a clasping, folding (of the hands)
...fold. From chabaq; a clasping of the hands (in idleness) --fold. see HEBREW
chabaq. 2263, 2264. chibbuq. 2265 . Strong's Numbers.
5440. sabak -- to interweave
... root Definition to interweave NASB Word Usage tangled (1), wrap around (1).fold
together, wrap. A primitive root; to entwine --fold together, wrap....
6471. paam -- a beat, foot, anvil, occurrence
... oftentimes* (1), once (1), once more (3), once* (4), other times (5), ranks (2),
steps (3), stroke (1), this once (2), this time (4), thousand-fold* (1), time...
Library
The Four-Fold Gospel
The Four-Fold Gospel. <. The Four-Fold Gospel JW McGarvey. Table of
Contents. Title Page. Introduction. Preserving the Text....
The Shepherd and theFold
... THE BOOK OF EXODUS THE SHEPHERD AND THEFOLD. '... Thou hast guided them in Thy
strength unto Thy holy habitation.' EXODUS XV.13. What a grand triumphal ode!...
Seven-Fold Joy
... HYMNS SEVEN-FOLD JOY. "Seven times a day do I praise Thee because of Thy righteous
judgments.""Psalm 119:164.... I bring unto Thy grace a seven-fold praise,....
Of a Three-Fold Coming of Our Lord in the Inward Man
... THE SECOND BOOK CHAPTER V. OF A THREE-FOLD COMING OF OUR LORD IN THE INWARD
MAN. Even though the eye be clear and the sight keen, if...
Of a Three-Fold Unity which is in us by Nature
... THE SECOND BOOK CHAPTER II. OF A THREE-FOLD UNITY WHICH IS IN US BY NATURE.
Now mark this with diligence: a threefold unity is found...
The Five-Fold Division of the Bible.
... THE FIVE-FOLD DIVISION OF THE BIBLE. The whole Bible is divided into five
great divisions, each determined by its subject-matter....
OneFold and one Shepherd
... THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL ONEFOLD AND ONE SHEPHERD. 'Then came all the tribes
of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold...
Of the Three-Fold Meaning of the Prophecies, which are to be...
... Chapter 3."Of the Three-Fold Meaning of the Prophecies, Which are to Be Referred
Now to the Earthly, Now to the Heavenly Jerusalem, and Now Again to Both....
The Two-Fold Aspect of the Divine Working
... THE PROVERBS THE TWO-FOLD ASPECT OF THE DIVINE WORKING. 'The way of the
Lord is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be...
Two-Fold Bearing of the Kingdom of God --An Inward, Spiritual...
... GENERAL. Section 52. Two-fold bearing of the Kingdom of God"an inward,
spiritual Power, and a world-renewing Power. There are...
Thesaurus
Fold (23 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (vt) To lap or lay in plaits or folds; to lay one
part over another part of; to double; as, to
fold cloth; to
fold a letter.
...Seven-fold (6 Occurrences)
Seven-fold. Sevenfold, Seven-fold. Seven-headed . Multi-Version
Concordance Seven-fold (6 Occurrences). Genesis 4:15...
Thirty-fold (3 Occurrences)
Thirty-fold. Thirtyfold, Thirty-fold. Thirty-four . Multi-Version
Concordance Thirty-fold (3 Occurrences). Matthew 13...
Four-fold (2 Occurrences)
Four-fold. Fourfold, Four-fold. Fourfooted . Multi-Version Concordance
Four-fold (2 Occurrences). Luke 19:8 And Zaccheus...
Sixty-fold (1 Occurrence)
Sixty-fold. Sixtyfold, Sixty-fold. Sixty-four . Multi-Version
Concordance Sixty-fold (1 Occurrence). Matthew 13:8 But...
Sheep-fold (1 Occurrence)
Sheep-fold. Sheepfold, Sheep-fold. Sheepfolds . Easton's Bible Dictionary... (See
also Matthew 26:31; Luke 2:8; 1 Corinthians 9:7.) (seeFOLD.)....
Two-fold (1 Occurrence)
Two-fold. Twofold, Two-fold. Two-horned . Multi-Version Concordance
Two-fold (1 Occurrence). Matthew 23:15 Woe to you...
Three-fold (1 Occurrence)
Three-fold. Threefold, Three-fold. Three-pronged . Multi-Version
Concordance Three-fold (1 Occurrence). Ecclesiastes...
Thousand-fold (1 Occurrence)
Thousand-fold. Thousand, Thousand-fold. Thousands . Multi-Version
Concordance Thousand-fold (1 Occurrence). Deuteronomy...
Folding (14 Occurrences)
... 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) ofFold. 2. (n.) The act of making afold or folds; also, a
fold; a doubling; a plication.... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.FOLD; FOLDING....
Resources
What is the five (5) fold ministry? | GotQuestions.orgWhy would God leave the 99 to find 1? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is Wicca? Is Wicca witchcraft? | GotQuestions.orgFold: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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