Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "surrounds" in the Bible often conveys the idea of encirclement, protection, or the presence of God and His divine intervention. This term can be understood both in a physical and spiritual sense, reflecting God's omnipresence and His protective nature over His people.
Divine Protection and PresenceOne of the most significant aspects of "surrounds" in the biblical context is the protective presence of God. In
Psalm 125:2, the psalmist writes, "As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people, both now and forevermore" . This imagery of mountains encircling Jerusalem serves as a powerful metaphor for God's enduring protection and care for His people, emphasizing His steadfastness and reliability.
Similarly,
Psalm 34:7 states, "The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them" . Here, the encampment of the angel of the LORD signifies divine protection and deliverance for those who revere God, highlighting the spiritual security provided to the faithful.
Encirclement by EnemiesConversely, the Bible also uses the concept of being surrounded to describe situations of peril or threat, often involving enemies. In
Psalm 22:12, David laments, "Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me" . This vivid imagery portrays the overwhelming presence of adversaries, reflecting moments of distress and vulnerability faced by God's servants.
In
2 Kings 6:15-17, the prophet Elisha's servant is initially terrified when he sees the city surrounded by an enemy army. However, Elisha reassures him, and God opens the servant's eyes to see the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha, symbolizing divine protection and the presence of God's heavenly host.
God's Judgment and WrathThe concept of "surrounds" is also used in the context of God's judgment. In
Jeremiah 21:4, God declares, "I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, with which you fight against the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the wall, and I will gather them into the midst of this city" . Here, the encirclement by enemy forces is a manifestation of divine judgment against the people of Jerusalem for their disobedience.
Spiritual EncirclementIn a spiritual sense, the idea of being surrounded can also refer to the encompassing presence of God's love and faithfulness.
Psalm 32:10 states, "Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but loving devotion surrounds him who trusts in the LORD" . This verse contrasts the plight of the wicked with the blessed assurance of those who place their trust in God, who are enveloped by His steadfast love.
ConclusionThe biblical theme of "surrounds" encompasses both the protective and judgmental aspects of God's interaction with humanity. Whether through divine protection, the encirclement by enemies, or the spiritual embrace of God's love, the concept serves as a reminder of God's omnipresence and His active role in the lives of His people.
Greek
4014. periaireo -- to take away (that whichsurrounds)... to take away (that which
surrounds). Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: periaireo
Phonetic Spelling: (per-ee-ahee-reh'-o) Short Definition: I strip off, cast
...4735. stephanos -- that whichsurrounds, ie a crown
... that whichsurrounds, ie a crown. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
stephanos Phonetic Spelling: (stef'-an-os) Short Definition: a crown, garland...
Strong's Hebrew
4524. mesab -- that whichsurrounds or is round... that which
surrounds or is round. Transliteration: mesab or mesibbim or mesibboth
Phonetic Spelling: (may-sab') Short Definition: direction.
...2314. chadar -- to surround, enclose
... 2313, 2314. chadar. 2315 . to surround, enclose. Transliteration: chadar Phonetic
Spelling: (khaw-dar') Short Definition:surrounds. Word Origin a prim....
5439. sabib -- circuit, round about
... 1), places around (1), round about (29), surround (10), surround* (2), surrounded
(1), surrounding (17), surrounding area (1),surrounds (2), throughout (1)....
5437. sabab -- to turn about, go around, surround
... circumference (1), opened (1), removed (2), returned (1), set (3), set* (1), sit
(1), surround (7), surrounded (18), surrounding (2),surrounds (2), swinging (1...
Library
The Glory of Jesus and Mary.
... Before entering upon the contemplation of the excellent glory whichsurrounds the
blessed in heaven, we must endeavor to form a correct idea of God's grace...
Prologue to the Oration.
... purified their ears in the streams of piety, and raised their thoughts on the soaring
wing of the mind itself, join the company whichsurrounds the Sovereign...
The Simile Reformed in Accordance with Truth.
... bags, breathing forth souls out of some other nature which was already in existence,
just as we ourselves make our breath from the air whichsurrounds us; or...
An Examination of the Question Where the Ruling Principle is to be...
... The other declares that the cerebral membrane (for so they call the tissue that
surrounds the brain) is as it were a foundation or root of all the senses, and...
The Ascent of the Body
... the idea. But as the hutsurrounds itself with other huts and grows into
a village, a new departure must take place. The village...
Degrees of Happiness in Heaven.
... He may, indeed, be a good man, but the glory whichsurrounds him is not the standard
by which you can judge of the amount of virtue which he possesses....
The Glory of the Martyrs.
... Nevertheless, the glory thatsurrounds such is far inferior to that whichsurrounds
those who, like St. John the Baptist, St. Peter, St. Paul, St....
The First Order of Production Maintained by the Heretics is...
... But if they maintain any such hypothesis, they must shut up their Bythus within
a definite form and space, while He bothsurrounds others, and is surrounded by...
The Creation of Luminous Bodies.
... When it stops and grows less it does not consume itself in all its body, but in
the measure that it deposits or absorbs the light whichsurrounds it, it...
Death
... ordinary mind. That mystery whichsurrounds the word in the natural world
shrouds only too completely its spiritual import. The...
Thesaurus
Surrounds (8 Occurrences)...Surrounds (8 Occurrences). Genesis 2:11 The name of the one is Pison: that is it
which
surrounds the whole land of Havilah, where the gold is. (DBY).
...Air (74 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) The fluid which we breathe, and whichsurrounds
the earth; the atmosphere.... 7. (n.) That whichsurrounds and influences....
Surround (39 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To enclose on all sides; to encompass; to encircle. 2. (vt) To lie or
be on all sides of; to encircle; as, a wallsurrounds the city....
Survey (6 Occurrences)
Unruly (8 Occurrences)
... Hosea 11:12 Ephraimsurrounds me with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit.
Judah still strays from God, and is unfaithful to the Holy One....
Fountain (57 Occurrences)
... The murmur of these waters is heard in every dell, and the luxuriant foliage which
surrounds them is seen in every plain." Besides its rain-water, its cisterns...
Forevermore (27 Occurrences)
... (WEB NIV). Psalms 125:2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so Yahwehsurrounds
his people from this time forth and forevermore. (WEB NIV)....
Envelop (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) That which envelops, wraps up, encases, orsurrounds; a wrapper; an inclosing
cover; esp., the cover or wrapper of a document, as of a letter....
Deceivers (5 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV). Psalms 49:5 Why should I fear in the days
of evil, when iniquity at my heelssurrounds me? (See NIV)....
Portal (1 Occurrence)
... 4. (n.) By analogy with the French portail, used by recent writers for the whole
architectural composition whichsurrounds and includes the doorways and...
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