Strong's Greek: 3252 -- (Not Used)zzz

Lexical Summary

(Not Used): (Not Used)

(Not Used)
Part of Speech:
Transliteration: (Not Used)
(Not Used)

Topical Lexicon

Overview

Strong’s Greek 3252 designates a word used in pre-Christian and later Koine literature for a “border” or “boundary.” While absent from the Greek New Testament, it occurs frequently in the Septuagint to mark tribal allotments and territorial lines in the land of Israel. The term therefore sits at the crossroads of covenant promise, stewardship of the land, and the ethical demand to respect God-given limits.

Old Testament (Septuagint) Usage

1. Tribal Allotments
• Joshua 15–19 repeatedly frames the inheritance of Judah, Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin, and the smaller tribes with the phrase “the boundary of…” (e.g., Joshua 15:1, 17:7). The word identifies literal lines drawn by divine command, underlining that Israel’s geography was not arbitrary but ordained.
2. Protection of Property
• Deuteronomy 19:14; 27:17; Proverbs 22:28; 23:10 warn against moving a neighbor’s boundary marker. The practice was a direct assault on the Lord’s justice, since He Himself had set the borders (cf. Hosea 5:10). The LXX often renders “boundary marker” with this noun, emphasizing permanence.
3. Symbol of Covenant Faithfulness
• In passages such as Ezekiel 47:13–23, restored borders depict future blessing. The same term marks those fresh lines, tying return from exile to earlier tribal divisions.

Historical and Cultural Background

Boundary stones in the Ancient Near East carried inscriptions invoking deities to protect the landowner’s claim. Israel’s boundaries, however, rested on Yahweh’s oath to Abraham (Genesis 15:18) and His sovereign act through Joshua. Hence to tamper with a boundary was to rebel against the covenant itself.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Ownership and Stewardship
• “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1). By assigning borders, God entrusts stewardship while retaining ultimate ownership.
2. Justice and Neighbor Love
• Respecting boundaries safeguarded the weak from exploitation. Proverbs 15:25 reminds that the Lord “protects the widow’s boundary,” showing His concern for social equity.
3. Ordered Worship
• Borders defined cities of refuge (Numbers 35) and the Levitical districts, enabling proper worship and instruction throughout the land.

Connections to the New Testament

Though 3252 itself is missing from the New Testament, the concept endures.
• Acts 17:26: “He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation.” Paul roots human geography in divine sovereignty, echoing Joshua.
• Romans 13:9: “You shall not covet.” Covetous boundary-shifting is a practical denial of neighbor love.
• Hebrews 4:8-10: The “rest” Joshua could not give points forward to a greater inheritance whose limits are fixed by God alone.

Ministry Principles

1. Integrity in Possessions
• Christians honor God by respecting contracts, deeds, and intellectual or digital property.
2. Restorative Justice
• Where boundaries have been violated—land grabs, red-lining, or family disputes—biblical reconciliation includes restitution (Luke 19:8).
3. Healthy Personal Boundaries
• As physical borders protected Israel, wise personal limits guard holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5).

Christological and Eschatological Outlook

Christ, the true Joshua, secures an “inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” (1 Peter 1:4). Revelation 21:12-14 portrays the New Jerusalem with measured walls and gates—permanent boundaries testifying to order, security, and belonging for the redeemed.

Practical Application for the Church

• Land owners, urban planners, and civil authorities serve Christ when they uphold just property lines.
• Mission strategy recognizes that God has “allotted periods and boundaries” for peoples; crossing those lines with the gospel respects culture while proclaiming universal truth.
• Congregational life benefits from clear governance documents—constitutions and bylaws—that function as agreed-upon boundaries fostering unity (1 Corinthians 14:40).

Related Concepts

Ὅριον (horion) – “limit, territory” (used in Matthew 15:22, Mark 7:24)

Ὅρος (horos) – “mountain” or “boundary marker” depending on context

Ὅροθεσία (horothesia) – “setting of boundaries” (Acts 17:26)

By tracing Strong’s 3252 through Scripture’s unfolding narrative, one sees that boundaries—physical or spiritual—are gifts from a wise and gracious God, meant to safeguard inheritance, promote justice, and anticipate the consummate order of His coming kingdom.

Links

Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts