Topical Bible: Compassed

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The term "compassed" in the Bible is often used to describe the act of surrounding, encircling, or encompassing something or someone. This term appears in various contexts throughout the Scriptures, illustrating both physical and metaphorical encirclement.

1. Physical Encirclement: In many instances, "compassed" refers to the physical act of surrounding. For example, in Joshua 6:11 , the Israelites compassed the city of Jericho as part of God's strategy to deliver the city into their hands: "So he had the ark of the LORD circle the city, going around it once. Then they returned to the camp and spent the night there." This act of compassing was a demonstration of obedience to God's command and a precursor to the miraculous fall of Jericho's walls.

2. Divine Protection: The term is also used to describe God's protective presence around His people. In Psalm 32:10 , it is written, "Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but loving devotion surrounds him who trusts in the LORD." Here, "compassed" conveys the idea of God's steadfast love and protection encircling the faithful, offering them security and peace amidst life's challenges.

3. Metaphorical Usage: "Compassed" can also be used metaphorically to describe being overwhelmed or surrounded by circumstances or emotions. In Psalm 22:12 , David laments, "Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me." This vivid imagery portrays the psalmist's feeling of being besieged by powerful enemies, highlighting his vulnerability and need for divine intervention.

4. Judgment and Consequence: The term is sometimes associated with judgment or the consequences of sin. In Lamentations 3:5 , the prophet Jeremiah speaks of being compassed with bitterness and hardship: "He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship." This reflects the experience of divine chastisement and the encompassing nature of suffering due to disobedience.

5. Spiritual Warfare: In the New Testament, the concept of being compassed is relevant to spiritual warfare. Hebrews 12:1 encourages believers, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us." Here, the faithful are depicted as being compassed by the testimonies of those who have gone before, urging them to persevere in their spiritual journey.

In summary, the term "compassed" in the Bible is rich with meaning, encompassing both literal and figurative senses. It serves as a reminder of God's protective presence, the reality of spiritual and physical challenges, and the call to remain steadfast in faith.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (imp. & p. p.) of Compass.

2. (a.) Rounded; arched.

Greek

4029. perikeimai -- to lie around
... From peri and keimai; to lie all around, ie Inclose, encircle, hamper (literally
or figuratively) -- be bound (compassed) with, hang about. see GREEK peri. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4029.htm - 6k

Library

Two Innumerable Series
... Innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon
me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/two innumerable series.htm

Psalm XVII.
... 9. "Mine enemies have compassed about My soul;" "they have shut up their own fat"
(ver.10). ... 10. "Casting Me forth they have now compassed Me about" (ver.11). ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xvii.htm

Psalm XVIII.
... ungodliness can hurt Me. 5. "The pains of death," that is, of the flesh, have
"compassed Me about. And the overflowings of ungodliness ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xviii.htm

Hebrews xi. 28-31
... do, were drowned. [3309] By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down, after
they had been compassed about seven days. By faith, the ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xxvii hebrews xi 28-31.htm

Of the Harmony Subsisting Between the Three Evangelists in their ...
... And when ye shall see the abomination of desolation stand in the holy place," nor
"where it ought not," but, "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with an ...
/.../the harmony of the gospels/chapter lxxvii of the harmony subsisting.htm

A Cloud of Witnesses.
... concerning his bones.... By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they
had been compassed about for seven days. By faith Rahab ...
/.../the expositors bible the epistle to the hebrews/chapter xiii a cloud of.htm

The Security of the Church
... Foes have come against her; they have compassed her about, they have compassed her
about like bees, but in the name of God she has destroyed them. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/the security of the church.htm

Of the New Jerusalem, the Spouse of the Lamb, with the Seventh ...
... 2. New Jerusalem is the beloved city; but that beloved city, as soon as the thousand
years are finished, is said to be compassed out by the. ...
/.../mede/a key to the apocalypse/synchronism vi of the new.htm

Elisha's Closing Ministry
... The prophet was in Dothan; and, learning this, the king sent thither "horses, and
chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 21 elishas closing ministry.htm

The Siege of Jericho
... So the ark of the Lord compassed the city, going about it once: and they came
into the camp, and lodged in the camp.'" Joshua 6:10, 11. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the siege of jericho.htm

Thesaurus

Compassed (52 Occurrences)
...Compassed (52 Occurrences). Luke 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed
with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. (KJV ASV DBY WBS). ...
/c/compassed.htm - 22k

Compasses (1 Occurrence)
... the senses of "to surround" and "to go round about," eg Genesis 2:11, "which compasseth
the whole land of Havilah," Deuteronomy 2:1, "We compassed (went around ...
/c/compasses.htm - 10k

Compass (51 Occurrences)
... the senses of "to surround" and "to go round about," eg Genesis 2:11, "which compasseth
the whole land of Havilah," Deuteronomy 2:1, "We compassed (went around ...
/c/compass.htm - 26k

Sorrows (37 Occurrences)
... your thousands. (BBE). 2 Samuel 22:6 The sorrows of hell compassed me about;
the snares of death prevented me; (KJV WBS). Job 9:28 ...
/s/sorrows.htm - 17k

Daybreak (19 Occurrences)
... Joshua 6:15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early at the
dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times ...
/d/daybreak.htm - 12k

Prevented (19 Occurrences)
... of Sarai. (See NAS RSV). 2 Samuel 22:6 The sorrows of hell compassed me
about; the snares of death prevented me; (KJV). 2 Samuel 22 ...
/p/prevented.htm - 11k

Beset (16 Occurrences)
... Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud
of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily ...
/b/beset.htm - 12k

Assailed (3 Occurrences)
... populace, (YLT). 2 Samuel 22:5 For the waves of death compassed me; The floods
of ungodliness made me afraid: (See JPS RSV). Psalms 18 ...
/a/assailed.htm - 7k

Streams (80 Occurrences)
... water. (BBE NIV). 2 Samuel 22:5 When the breakers of death compassed me,
The streams of the worthless terrify me, (YLT). 2 Samuel ...
/s/streams.htm - 30k

Hell (53 Occurrences)
... mountains. (KJV WBS). 2 Samuel 22:6 The sorrows of hell compassed me about;
the snares of death prevented me; (KJV BBE WBS). Job 11 ...
/h/hell.htm - 29k

Resources

What are besetting sins? | GotQuestions.org

Compassed: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Compassed (52 Occurrences)

Luke 21:20
And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS)

Hebrews 5:2
Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
(KJV ASV WBS YLT)

Hebrews 11:30
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
(KJV ASV WBS)

Hebrews 12:1
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
(KJV ASV WBS)

Revelation 20:9
And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
(KJV ASV WBS)

Genesis 19:4
But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
(KJV JPS ASV)

Deuteronomy 2:1
Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the LORD spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir many days.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Deuteronomy 2:3
Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Deuteronomy 32:10
He found him in a desert land, And in the waste howling wilderness; He compassed him about, he cared for him, He kept him as the apple of his eye.
(ASV DBY JPS)

Joshua 6:3
and ye have compassed the city -- all the men of battle -- going round the city once; thus thou dost six days;
(YLT)

Joshua 6:11
So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
(KJV WBS)

Joshua 6:14
And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Joshua 6:15
And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

Joshua 15:10
And the border compassed from Baalah westward unto mount Seir, and passed along unto the side of mount Jearim, which is Chesalon, on the north side, and went down to Bethshemesh, and passed on to Timnah:
(KJV WBS)

Joshua 18:14
And the border was drawn thence, and compassed the corner of the sea southward, from the hill that lieth before Bethhoron southward; and the goings out thereof were at Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, a city of the children of Judah: this was the west quarter.
(KJV WBS)

Judges 11:18
Then they went along through the wilderness, and compassed the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, but came not within the border of Moab: for Arnon was the border of Moab.
(KJV JPS WBS)

Judges 16:2
And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Judges 20:43
they have compassed the Benjamites -- they have pursued them -- with ease they have trodden them down till over-against Gibeah, at the sun-rising.
(YLT)

1 Samuel 23:26
And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS)

2 Samuel 18:15
And ten young men that bare Joab's armor compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS)

2 Samuel 22:5
When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

2 Samuel 22:6
The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;
(KJV WBS)

1 Kings 7:15
For he fashioned the two pillars of brass, eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits compassed either of them about.
(ASV DBY)

2 Kings 6:14
Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS)

2 Kings 6:15
And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
(KJV WBS)

2 Kings 8:21
So Joram went over to Zair, and all the chariots with him: and he rose by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him about, and the captains of the chariots: and the people fled into their tents.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS)

2 Kings 11:8
and ye have compassed the king round about, each with his weapons in his hand, and he who is coming unto the ranges is put to death; and be ye with the king in his going out and in his coming in.'
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 18:31
And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.
(KJV WBS)

2 Chronicles 21:9
Then Jehoram went forth with his princes, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him in, and the captains of the chariots.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS)

2 Chronicles 23:7
and the Levites have compassed the king round about, each with his weapon in his hand, and he who hath gone in unto the house is put to death; and be ye with the king in his coming in and in his going out.'
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 33:14
Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Job 19:6
Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Job 19:26
And after my skin hath compassed this 'body', Then from my flesh I see God:
(YLT)

Job 26:10
He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.
(KJV WBS)

Job 38:18
Hath thine understanding compassed the breadths of the earth? Declare if thou knowest it all.
(DBY)

Psalms 17:11
They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Psalms 18:4
The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 18:5
The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
(KJV WBS)

Psalms 22:12
Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Psalms 22:16
For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Psalms 40:12
For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Psalms 88:17
They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS)

Psalms 109:3
They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Psalms 116:3
The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 118:10
All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Psalms 118:11
They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Psalms 118:12
They compassed me about like bees: they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Jeremiah 31:39
And gone out again hath the measuring line Over-against it, unto the height of Gareb, And it hath compassed to Goah.
(YLT)

Lamentations 3:5
He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS)

Hosea 7:2
And they do not say to their heart, 'That' all their evil I have remembered, Now compassed them have their doings, Over-against My face they have been.
(YLT)

Jonah 2:3
For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.
(KJV WBS)

Jonah 2:5
The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Subtopics

Compassed

Related Terms

Compass (51 Occurrences)

Tools (3 Occurrences)

Divider (1 Occurrence)

Scribe (55 Occurrences)

Compassed (52 Occurrences)

Outlines (2 Occurrences)

Outline (4 Occurrences)

Leg (24 Occurrences)

Reside (17 Occurrences)