In biblical terminology, the concept of being "hedged" often refers to the idea of protection, enclosure, or limitation, both in a physical and metaphorical sense. The imagery of a hedge is used throughout Scripture to convey God's providence, judgment, and the boundaries He sets for His people.

Protection and Providence

One of the most notable uses of the term "hedged" is found in the Book of Job. Satan, in his dialogue with God, refers to the divine protection surrounding Job: "Have You not placed a hedge around him and his household and everything he owns?" (Job 1:10). Here, the hedge symbolizes God's protective barrier, safeguarding Job from harm and blessing him with prosperity. This passage underscores the belief in God's sovereign care over His faithful servants, providing a spiritual and physical shield against adversities.

Judgment and Limitation

Conversely, the imagery of a hedge can also signify judgment and limitation. In Isaiah 5:5, God speaks of removing the hedge from His vineyard, symbolizing Israel: "Now I will tell you what I am about to do to My vineyard: I will remove its hedge, and it will be consumed; I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled." This act of removing the hedge represents God's judgment upon Israel for their unfaithfulness, exposing them to the consequences of their disobedience. The hedge, in this context, serves as a boundary that, when removed, leads to vulnerability and destruction.

Spiritual Boundaries

The concept of a hedge also extends to spiritual boundaries and moral constraints. In the wisdom literature, particularly in Proverbs, the idea of a hedge can be seen as a metaphor for the moral and ethical boundaries that God establishes for His people. These boundaries are intended to guide believers in righteous living and to protect them from the spiritual dangers of sin and temptation.

New Testament Implications

While the specific term "hedged" is less frequently used in the New Testament, the underlying principles of divine protection and moral boundaries continue to be evident. The Apostle Paul speaks of the "armor of God" in Ephesians 6:11-18, which serves a similar purpose as a hedge, providing spiritual protection against the "schemes of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11). This passage emphasizes the importance of being spiritually fortified through faith, truth, righteousness, and the Word of God.

In summary, the biblical concept of being "hedged" encompasses themes of divine protection, judgment, and the establishment of spiritual and moral boundaries. It reflects God's active role in the lives of His people, both in safeguarding them and in holding them accountable to His standards.(imp. & p. p.) of Hedge.5480b. suk -- to hedge or fence about, shut in
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to hedge or fence about, shut in NASB Word Usage
enclosed (1), hedged (1). 5480a, 5480b. suk. 5481 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5480b.htm - 5k

The Prophets were Sent from one and the Same Father from whom the ...
... the world, except His own Father, when He speaks as follows in His teaching: "There
was a certain householder, and he planted a vineyard, and hedged it round ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxxvi the prophets were sent.htm

Whether the Dead Can be Assisted by the Works of the Living?
... Now after death men are no longer wayfarers, because to them the words of Job
19:8, refer: "He hath hedged in my path round about, and I cannot pass ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the dead can be.htm

The Sorrowful Man's Question
... On Lord's-day Evening, October 8th, 1882. "Why is light given to a man
whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?""Job 3:23. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 46 1900/the sorrowful mans question.htm

Fences and Serpents
... And before we have gone many steps, some sort of keeper or other meets us and says
to us, 'Trespassers, back again to the road!' Life is rigidly hedged in and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/fences and serpents.htm

The Well-Beloved's vineyard.
... Thorns and briars were all our growth naturally, but He bought us with a price,
He hedged us about, and set us apart for Himself, and then He planted and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/till he come/the well-beloveds vineyard.htm

Salvation of the Lord
... First, I shall endeavor to explain the doctrine; then I shall try to show you how
God has guarded us from making any mistakes, and has hedged us up to make us ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/salvation of the lord.htm

"Getting Things from God"
... so is it with my Heavenly Father. Prayer has been hedged about with too
many man-made rules. I am convinced that God has intended ...
/.../goforth/how i know god answers prayer/i getting things from god.htm

Book Eight Conversion to Christ. ...
... is his name." [233]. Thy words had stuck fast in my breast, and I was hedged
round about by thee on every side. Of thy eternal life ...
/.../augustine/confessions and enchiridion/book eight conversion to christ .htm

Book vii. This is the Seventh Book of Our Treatise against the ...
... desertion of the truth. For this cunning heresy has hedged itself round with
marvellous devices of perverted ingenuity. First there is ...
/.../hilary/the life and writings of st hilary of poitiers/book vii this is the.htm

Choosing the Tens
... The low, shapeless tents and thatched hovels of the Israelites stood in the center
of gardens of lentils, garlic and lettuce, securely hedged against the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter i choosing the tens.htm

Hedged (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Hedged (6 Occurrences). James 1:2 Reckon it nothing but
joy, my brethren, whenever you find yourselves hedged in by various trials. ...
/h/hedged.htm - 7k

Hedgehog (3 Occurrences)

/h/hedgehog.htm - 8k

Hedge (12 Occurrences)

/h/hedge.htm - 12k

Vine (76 Occurrences)
... John 15:1). In one of his parables also (Matthew 21:33) our Lord compares his Church
to a vineyard which "a certain householder planted, and hedged round about ...
/v/vine.htm - 46k

Fetter (4 Occurrences)
... in JPS ASV YLT NAS). Lamentations 3:7 He hath hedged me about, and I go
not out, He hath made heavy my fetter. (YLT). Hosea 5:2 And ...
/f/fetter.htm - 8k

Fence (12 Occurrences)
... Psalm 108:10 (margin Joshua 19:29, "the city of Mibzar-zor, that is, the fortress
of Tyre," the English Revised Version, "fenced"), for "hedged" (Lamentations 3 ...
/f/fence.htm - 15k

Trials (11 Occurrences)
... NIV). James 1:2 Reckon it nothing but joy, my brethren, whenever you find
yourselves hedged in by various trials. (WEY NAS RSV NIV). ...
/t/trials.htm - 9k

Reckon (34 Occurrences)
... of; (YLT). James 1:2 Reckon it nothing but joy, my brethren, whenever you
find yourselves hedged in by various trials. (WEY). 1 Peter ...
/r/reckon.htm - 16k

Placeth (28 Occurrences)
... name to the age, (YLT). Job 19:8 My way He hedged up, and I pass not over,
And on my paths darkness He placeth. (YLT). Psalms 7:5 An ...
/p/placeth.htm - 14k

Euphrates (36 Occurrences)
... can be traced along the lines of the principal canals "by the winding curves of
layers of alluvium in the bed," while the lateral channels "are hedged in by ...
/e/euphrates.htm - 26k

Does Satan have to get God's permission before he can attack us? | GotQuestions.org

Hedged: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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