In biblical times, hedge-rows were an important feature of agricultural and pastoral life, serving both practical and symbolic purposes. The term "hedge" in the Bible often refers to a barrier or boundary, typically made of thorny bushes or stones, designed to protect vineyards, fields, or livestock from intruders and wild animals. Hedge-rows are mentioned in various contexts throughout Scripture, illustrating both physical and spiritual truths.

Biblical References and Symbolism

1. Protection and Security: In the agrarian society of ancient Israel, hedge-rows were essential for safeguarding crops and livestock. The prophet Isaiah speaks of a vineyard that is left unprotected when its hedge is removed: "I will remove its hedge, and it will be consumed; I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled" (Isaiah 5:5). This imagery underscores the vulnerability of what is left unguarded and the importance of divine protection.

2. Divine Judgment and Discipline: Hedge-rows also symbolize God's protective care and the consequences of its removal as a form of judgment. In the book of Job, Satan challenges God regarding Job's faithfulness, noting the protective "hedge" God has placed around him: "Have You not placed a hedge on every side around him and his household and all that he owns?" (Job 1:10). The removal of this hedge allows for testing and discipline, illustrating God's sovereignty and the refining process of faith.

3. Boundaries and Separation: Hedge-rows serve as boundaries, marking the limits of property and distinguishing between different areas. This concept is reflected in the spiritual realm, where God sets boundaries for His people to maintain holiness and separation from sin. The hedge is a metaphor for the Law and commandments that guide and protect the faithful.

4. Parables and Teachings of Jesus: In the New Testament, Jesus uses the imagery of a hedge in His parables to convey deeper spiritual truths. In the Parable of the Tenants, He describes a landowner who "planted a vineyard, put a wall around it, dug a winepress, and built a watchtower" (Mark 12:1). The wall or hedge signifies God's provision and care, as well as the expectation of fruitfulness and accountability.

5. Spiritual Warfare and Intercession: Hedge-rows are also seen in the context of spiritual warfare and intercession. Believers are called to "stand in the gap" and build hedges of prayer and faith around their communities and loved ones. Ezekiel laments the absence of such intercessors: "I searched for a man among them to repair the wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, so that I should not destroy it, but I found no one" (Ezekiel 22:30).

Cultural and Historical Context

In the ancient Near East, hedge-rows were constructed using local materials such as stones, thorny bushes, or wooden fences. They were a common sight in rural landscapes, serving not only as protective barriers but also as markers of ownership and stewardship. The maintenance of these hedges was a practical responsibility, reflecting the diligence and care required in both physical and spiritual realms.

Theological Implications

The concept of hedge-rows in Scripture highlights themes of protection, divine care, judgment, and the necessity of boundaries. It serves as a reminder of God's provision and the importance of remaining within His protective will. The imagery of hedges calls believers to vigilance, prayer, and obedience, ensuring that their lives and communities are safeguarded against spiritual threats.

1875-1877. Mrs. Way's Sewing --Class for Jewesses --Bible Flower ...
... "'Oh, that a tithe of the wealth of fragrant, many-coloured flowers so lavishly
spread over gardens, fields, and hedgerows, could be brought to cheer those who ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lowe/gods answers/chapter vi 1875-1877 mrs ways.htm

Deaf Ears and Stammering Tongues.
... No thoughtful man can mark the spring-time coming to the woods and hedgerows, and
waking the sleeping plants as with the wand of an enchanter, or see the ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon xlvii deaf ears and.htm

In the Lanes
... I think of the long-ago summers,. With their woodbine and feathery fern". Of the
rambling lanes and the hedgerows". Of the tumbling mountain burn. ...
/.../bevan/hymns of ter steegen and others second series/in the lanes.htm

Jesus at the Bier
... it may be with all of us"for all of us carry some burden of sorrow or care"as it
is with the hedgerows and wet ploughed fields to-day; on every spray hangs ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/jesus at the bier.htm

The Wicked Man's Life, Funeral, and Epitaph
... Look at your fields to-morrow. There is the flaunting poppy, and there by the
hedge-rows are many flowers that lift their heads to the sun. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the wicked mans life funeral.htm

Of Removing Tithes.
... Id.577. Tithes is due of broom made into bavins; and of the lops and tops of
old timber pollards, and of wood growing in hedge rows. Id.542. ...
/.../prideaux/directions to church-wardens/8 of removing tithes.htm

Hedge-rows (1 Occurrence)
Hedge-rows. Hedge-hog, Hedge-rows. Hedges . Multi-Version Concordance
Hedge-rows (1 Occurrence). Luke 14:23 "'Go out ...
/h/hedge-rows.htm - 6k

Hedges (7 Occurrences)

/h/hedges.htm - 8k

Roads (34 Occurrences)
... Luke 14:23 "'Go out,' replied the master, 'to the high roads and hedge-rows, and
compel the people to come in, so that my house may be filled. (WEY BBE NIV). ...
/r/roads.htm - 16k

Hedge-hog (2 Occurrences)
Hedge-hog. Hedgehog, Hedge-hog. Hedge-rows . Multi-Version Concordance
Hedge-hog (2 Occurrences). ... Hedgehog, Hedge-hog. Hedge-rows . Reference Bible.
/h/hedge-hog.htm - 7k

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