Lexical Summary Gederah: Gederah Original Word: גְּדֵרָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Gederah, hedges The same as gderah; (with the article) Gederah, a place in Palestine -- Gederah, hedges. see HEBREW gderah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom gederah Definition "wall," a city in Judah NASB Translation Gederah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. גְּדֵרָה proper name, of a location a city of Judah הַגְּדֵרָה Joshua 15:36; ᵐ5 Γαδηρα, ᵐ5L Γαδιρα; ? compare Γεδουρ LagOnom. 245, 2nd ed. 254. Topical Lexicon Canonical Occurrences Joshua 15:36 lists “Gederah or Gederothaim—fourteen cities, along with their villages” among the towns allotted to the tribe of Judah in the Shephelah (lowland foothills). 1 Chronicles 4:23 notes “the potters who lived at Netaim and Gederah; they lived there in the service of the king,” attaching the town to the clan records of Judah’s descendants. Geographical Setting Gederah lay in Judah’s western lowlands, most likely at modern Khirbet Judeira (Tell el-Judeideh) roughly eight miles northwest of Hebron. The site commands abundant agricultural land and easy access to the International Coastal Highway, explaining its appearance among towns that guarded Judah’s western approaches. Archaeological soundings have yielded Iron Age walls, store-jar fragments, and kiln debris—finds that harmonize with the biblical mention of royal potters. Historical Function 1. Frontier Outpost: Positioned between Philistia and the Judean hill country, Gederah contributed to the defensive chain protecting larger centers such as Hebron and Bethlehem. Theological Themes Enclosure and Protection: The probable root idea of “wall” or “fence” evokes the Lord’s role as shield to His covenant people (Psalm 3:3). Gederah’s fortified presence in a vulnerable corridor illustrates how God provides tangible means—cities, leaders, craftsmen—to preserve His redemptive line. Royal Service: The “potters in the service of the king” model vocational faithfulness. Their anonymous yet strategic labor anticipates New Testament teaching that every gift contributes to the body of Christ (Romans 12:4-8). Clay and Sovereignty: The potter motif at Gederah foreshadows prophetic imagery in Isaiah 64:8 and Romans 9:21, affirming divine authority over nations and individuals alike. Ministry Reflections • Spiritual craftsmanship: As Gederah’s artisans shaped vessels for royal purposes, believers are called to “be useful to the Master” (2 Timothy 2:21). Key Passage “These were the potters who lived at Netaim and Gederah; they lived there in the service of the king.” (1 Chronicles 4:23) Summary Gederah represents a modest yet potent witness to God’s protective care, vocational calling, and sovereign purposes within Judah’s territory. Its fortified walls and royal potteries echo forward to the gospel reality that believers, like earthen vessels, carry the treasure of Christ’s kingdom wherever He stations them. Forms and Transliterations וְהַגְּדֵרָ֖ה וּגְדֵרָ֑ה וגדרה והגדרה ū·ḡə·ḏê·rāh ugedeRah ūḡəḏêrāh vehaggedeRah wə·hag·gə·ḏê·rāh wəhaggəḏêrāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 15:36 HEB: וְשַׁעֲרַ֙יִם֙ וַעֲדִיתַ֔יִם וְהַגְּדֵרָ֖ה וּגְדֵרֹתָ֑יִם עָרִ֥ים NAS: and Adithaim and Gederah and Gederothaim; KJV: and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim; INT: and Shaaraim and Adithaim and Gederah and Gederothaim cities 1 Chronicles 4:23 2 Occurrences |
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