Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, the term "quarter" is often used to denote a division or a part of something, whether it be land, people, or time. The concept of dividing into quarters is seen in various contexts throughout the Scriptures, reflecting both practical and symbolic meanings.
Geographical QuartersThe Bible frequently refers to the "four quarters of the earth" as a way to describe the entirety of the world or the complete scope of a particular area. This expression is used to convey the idea of universality or completeness. For instance, in
Isaiah 11:12, it is written: "He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; He will collect the scattered of Judah from the four corners of the earth." Here, the "four corners" or quarters symbolize the farthest reaches of the earth, indicating God's sovereign ability to gather His people from all directions.
Quarters in TimeWhile the Bible does not explicitly use the term "quarter" to describe divisions of time as we understand them today (i.e., three-month periods), the concept of dividing time into parts is present. The Jewish calendar, for example, is based on lunar cycles and includes various feasts and festivals that mark different times of the year. These divisions, while not called quarters, serve a similar purpose in organizing the year into significant periods for worship and remembrance.
Quarters in SocietyIn the context of society and community, the term "quarter" can also refer to a specific section or district within a city. In
Acts 16:12, Philippi is described as "a leading city of that district of Macedonia, and a Roman colony." While the term "quarter" is not used here, the idea of distinct areas within a city is evident. In ancient cities, different quarters might be home to various ethnic groups, trades, or social classes, reflecting the diverse makeup of urban life.
Symbolic UseThe division into quarters can also carry symbolic meaning in biblical literature. The number four often represents universality or completeness, as seen in the four living creatures around the throne in
Revelation 4:6-8, which symbolize all of creation worshiping God. The use of quarters in this symbolic sense underscores the comprehensive nature of God's dominion and the inclusivity of His plan for salvation.
ConclusionThe concept of "quarter" in the Bible, while not always explicitly defined, plays a significant role in illustrating the division and organization of space, time, and society. Whether referring to the geographical expanse of the earth, the structuring of time, or the layout of ancient cities, the idea of quarters helps convey the order and completeness inherent in God's creation and His divine plan.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) One of four equal parts into which anything is divided, or is regarded as divided; a fourth part or portion; as, a quarter of a dollar, of a pound, of a yard, of an hour, etc.
2. (n.) The fourth of a hundred-weight, being 25 or 28 pounds, according as the hundredweight is reckoned at 100 or 112 pounds.
3. (n.) The fourth of a ton in weight, or eight bushels of grain; as, a quarter of wheat; also, the fourth part of a caldron of coal.
4. (n.) The fourth part of the moon's period, or monthly revolution; as, the first quarter after the change or full.
5. (n.) One limb of a quadruped with the adjacent parts; one fourth part of the carcass of a slaughtered animal, including a leg; as, the fore quarters; the hind quarters.
6. (n.) That part of a boot or shoe which forms the side, from the heel to the vamp.
7. (n.) That part on either side of a horse's hoof between the toe and heel, being the side of the coffin.
8. (n.) A term of study in a seminary, college, etc, etc.; properly, a fourth part of the year, but often longer or shorter.
9. (n.) The encampment on one of the principal passages round a place besieged, to prevent relief and intercept convoys.
10. (n.) The after-part of a vessel's side, generally corresponding in extent with the quarter-deck; also, the part of the yardarm outside of the slings.
11. (n.) One of the divisions of an escutcheon when it is divided into four portions by a horizontal and a perpendicular line meeting in the fess point.
12. (n.) A division of a town, city, or county; a particular district; a locality; as, the Latin quarter in Paris.
13. (n.) A small upright timber post, used in partitions; -- in the United States more commonly called stud.
14. (n.) The fourth part of the distance from one point of the compass to another, being the fourth part of 11 15', that is, about 2 49'; -- called also quarter point.
15. (v. t.) Proper station; specific place; assigned position; special location.
16. (n.) A station at which officers and men are posted in battle; -- usually in the plural.
17. (v. t.) Place of lodging or temporary residence; shelter; entertainment; -- usually in the plural.
18. (n.) A station or encampment occupied by troops; a place of lodging for soldiers or officers; as, winter quarters.
19. (v. t.) Treatment shown by an enemy; mercy; especially, the act of sparing the life a conquered enemy; a refraining from pushing one's advantage to extremes.
20. (v. t.) Friendship; amity; concord.
21. (v. i.) To lodge; to have a temporary residence.
22. (v. i.) To drive a carriage so as to prevent the wheels from going into the ruts, or so that a rut shall be between the wheels.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
QUARTERkwor'-ter: Literally, of course, "the fourth part," and so of the four "ends" (qatsah) inJeremiah 49:36, and the King James Version of the four "corners" (so the Revised Version (British and American), gonia) inRevelation 20:8. Hence, "any part" and in this sense used freely for various words by the King James Version. the Revised Version (British and American) has usually dropped "quarter," but unfortunately has retained it inNumbers 34:3Joshua 15:5;Joshua 18:14, 15, and introduced it inJoshua 18:12, 14, 20 for pe'ah, usually rendered "side." The result is very obscure. Elsewhere in the Revised Version (British and American) only in the phrase "from every quarter" (Genesis 19:4Isaiah 56:11Mark 1:45).
Compare BORDER; COAST.
Greek
3558. notos -- the south wind, hence the southernquarter... the south wind, hence the southern
quarter. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: notos Phonetic Spelling: (not'-os) Short Definition: the south
...3047. lips -- the southwest wind
... Transliteration: lips Phonetic Spelling: (leeps) Short Definition: the south-west
wind Definition: the south-west wind, and thus thequarter from which it comes...
1137. gonia -- an angle, a corner
... angle, corner,quarter. Probably akin to gonu; an angle -- corner,quarter. see
GREEK gonu. (gonia) -- 1 Occurrence. (goniais) -- 2 Occurrences....
2835. kodrantes -- quadrans, one-fourth of an as (a Roman monetary...
... Phonetic Spelling: (kod-ran'-tace) Short Definition: the smallest Roman copper coin
Definition: a quadrans, the smallest Roman copper coin, aquarter of an as...
3836. pantachothen -- everywhere
... from everyquarter. Adverb (of source) from pantachou; from all directions -- from
everyquarter. see GREEK pantachou. 3835, 3836. pantachothen. 3836a ....
395. anatole -- a rising
... rising of the sun, hence (b) (sing. and plur.) thequarter whence the sun
rises, the East. Word Origin from anatello Definition a...
296. amphodon -- a road around
... a road around. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: amphodon Phonetic Spelling:
(am'-fod-on) Short Definition: a street,quarter, block Definition: prop...
237. allachothen -- from another place
... from another place. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: allachothen Phonetic
Spelling: (al-lakh-oth'-en) Short Definition: from anotherquarter, by another...
5117. topos -- a place
... as a position, home, tract, etc.); figuratively, condition, opportunity; specially,
a scabbard -- coast, licence, place, X plain,quarter, + rock, room, where....
5566. choros -- the northwest wind
... Masculine Transliteration: choros Phonetic Spelling: (kho'-ros) Short Definition:
the north-west wind Definition: the north-west wind, and thequarter of the...
Strong's Hebrew
1366. gebul -- border, boundary, territory... border, bound, coast, great, landmark, limit,
quarter, space.
... The territory inclosed --
border, bound, coast, X great, landmark, limit,
quarter, space.
...6285. peah -- corner, side
... corner, end,quarter, side. Feminine of poh; properly, mouth in a figurative sense,
ie Direction, region, extremity -- corner, end,quarter, side....
7307. ruach -- breath, wind, spirit
... wrath (1). air, anger, blast, breath, cool, courage, mind,quarter,. From
ruwach; wind; by resemblance breath, ie A sensible (or...
5676. eber -- region across or beyond, side
... west (2). against, beyond, by, from, over, passage,quarter, other,. From
abar; properly, a region across; but used only adverbially...
3411. yerekah -- flank, side, extreme parts, recesses
... 5), within (1). border, coast, part,quarter, side. Feminine of yarek;
properly, the flank; but used only figuratively, the rear...
6763. tsela -- rib, side
... body) or figuratively (of a door, ie Leaf); hence, a side, literally (of a person)
or figuratively (of an object or the sky, ieQuarter); architecturally, a...
3671. kanaph -- wing, extremity
... From kanaph; an edge or extremity; specifically (of a bird or army) a wing, (of
a garment or bed-clothing) a flap, (of the earth) aquarter, (of a building) a...
6828. tsaphon -- north
... Or tsaphon {tsaw-fone'}; from tsaphan; properly, hidden, ie Dark; used only of the
north as aquarter (gloomy and unknown) -- north(-ern, side, -ward, wind)....
7097a. qatseh -- end, extremity
... 2), frontiers (1), last one (1), most remote part (1), mouth (2), other (1), other*
(3), outposts (1), outskirts (6), portion (1),quarter (1), remotest part (1...
7097. qatseh -- end, extremity
... a great variety of applications and idioms; compare qets) -- X after, border, brim,
brink, edge, end, (in-)finite, frontier, outmost coast,quarter, shore, (out...
Library
The Roman Empire at the Time of the Birth of Christ. Upwards of a...
... CHAPTER I. THE ROMAN EMPIRE AT THE TIME OF THE BIRTH OF CHRIST. Upwards of
aquarter of a century before the Birth of Christ. CHAPTER...
After These Matters, Celsus Brings the Following Charges against...
... Chapter XLII. After these matters, Celsus brings the following charges against
us from anotherquarter? After these matters, Celsus...
The Ratio of the Single to the Double Comes from the Perfection of...
... But since, as the revolution of the moon determines the month for men, so the year
is marked by the revolution of the sun; and five days and aquarter of a day...
Modesty, the Flower of Manners
... And so, either way, they trifle with solicitude and negligence; by taking emptiest
precaution against (crimes) to which they grantquarter, and granting...
In Jerusalem when Herod Reigned
... The ancient Jebusite fort, the City of David, Mount Zion, [530] was now the priests'
quarter, Ophel, and the old royal palace and stables had been thrown into...
Accidental Causes of Corruption.
... If hesitation to accept the foregoing verdict lingers in anyquarter, it
ought to be dispelled by a glance at the context in 'BL....
1 Cor. x. 25
... to feel alarm, lest possibly even without their knowledge there might come in some
such thing either from the market or from some otherquarter; to release...
The Church and the Heathen
... It was the ambitions of Adalbert, Archbishop of Bremen (1043-72), which for
a time caused a serious heathen reaction in thisquarter....
Date and Place.
... improbable; nor, were it not for its absence from the original Daniel, few would
have doubted that he obtained the whole of his material from the samequarter....
The Judges Said: we Know that a Light Shines through the Whole...
... For if, to take an illustration, it should please Him who has the power of all things
to do away with thequarter [1637] which lies to the west, then, as the...
Thesaurus
Quarter (33 Occurrences)... 1. (n.) One of four equal parts into which anything is divided, or is regarded as
divided; a fourth part or portion; as, a
quarter of a dollar, of a pound, of
...Measured (91 Occurrences)
... Numbers 35:5 And ye have measured from the outside of the city, the eastquarter,
two thousand by the cubit, and the southquarter, two thousand by the cubit...
Kiriath (34 Occurrences)
... Joshua 18:14 The border extended, and turned around on the westquarter southward,
from the mountain that lies before Beth Horon southward; and ended at...
Jearim (19 Occurrences)
... Joshua 18:14 The border extended, and turned around on the westquarter southward,
from the mountain that lies before Beth Horon southward; and ended at...
Maktesh (1 Occurrence)
... It has been conjectured that it was the "Phoenicianquarter" of the city, where
the traders of that nation resided, after the Oriental custom. Int....
Corner (60 Occurrences)
... corner. 3. (n.) An edge or extremity; the part farthest from the center; hence,
anyquarter or part. 4... nook. 5. (n.) Direction;quarter. 6...
Kiriath-jearim (17 Occurrences)
... Joshua 18:14 And the border extended thence, and turned about on the westquarter
southward, from the mountain that lieth before Beth-horon southward; and the...
Beth (115 Occurrences)
... Joshua 18:12 Their border on the northquarter was from the Jordan.... This was the
westquarter. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)....
Ends (108 Occurrences)
... sea. (See RSV). Joshua 18:12 Their border on the northquarter was from the
Jordan. The... of Judah. This was the westquarter. (See RSV)....
Quart (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The fourth part; aquarter; hence, a
region of the earth. 2. (n.) A measure of capacity, both...
Resources
What was/is the importance of the gates of Jerusalem? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Herod Antipas? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Wailing Wall / Western Wall? | GotQuestions.orgQuarter: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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