The term "hemmed" in the biblical context often refers to being surrounded, enclosed, or confined, whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually. This concept is frequently encountered in the Scriptures, illustrating situations where individuals or groups find themselves encircled by adversaries, circumstances, or even divine protection.

Biblical Instances of Being Hemmed In:

1. Physical Enclosure by Enemies:
In the Old Testament, the Israelites often faced situations where they were hemmed in by their enemies. For example, in 2 Samuel 22:6, David describes his distress when he was surrounded by foes: "The cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me." This imagery of being hemmed in by death and destruction highlights the perilous situations from which God delivered him.

2. Divine Protection:
Conversely, being hemmed in can also signify divine protection. Psalm 139:5 states, "You hem me in behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me." Here, the psalmist acknowledges God's encompassing presence, providing security and guidance. This protective hemming assures believers of God's constant vigilance and care.

3. Spiritual and Emotional Confinement:
The feeling of being hemmed in can also be spiritual or emotional. In Lamentations 3:7, Jeremiah laments, "He has walled me in so I cannot escape; He has weighed me down with chains." This expression of being spiritually confined reflects the prophet's deep anguish and sense of entrapment during the Babylonian exile.

4. Deliverance from Being Hemmed In:
The Bible also speaks of deliverance from such confinement. In Psalm 118:5 , the psalmist declares, "In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered and set me free." This verse illustrates the transition from being hemmed in by distress to experiencing liberation through divine intervention.

Theological Implications:

The concept of being hemmed in carries significant theological implications. It serves as a reminder of human vulnerability and the ever-present need for divine intervention. While being hemmed in by adversaries or circumstances can lead to despair, it also provides an opportunity for faith to be tested and strengthened. The believer is encouraged to trust in God's sovereignty and His ability to deliver and protect.

Moreover, the dual nature of being hemmed in—either by adversaries or by God's protective presence—highlights the importance of perspective. While the former can lead to fear and anxiety, the latter assures believers of God's omnipresence and His role as a refuge and fortress.

In summary, the biblical theme of being hemmed in encompasses both peril and protection, serving as a powerful metaphor for the believer's journey through trials and divine safeguarding.(imp. & p. p.) of Hem.2346. thlibo -- to press, afflict
... compress), ie together; (figuratively) afflict (distress), ie like when circumstances
"rub us the wrong way" that make us feel confined (hemmed in); restricted ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2346.htm - 7k

2347. thlipsis -- tribulation
... 2347 ("compression, tribulation") carries the challenge of coping with the pressure
of a , especially when feeling there is "no way of escape" ("hemmed in"). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2347.htm - 7k

Petilianus Said: "Hemmed In, Therefore, by These Offenses...
... Petilianus said: "Hemmed in, therefore, by these offenses? "21. Petilianus said:
"Hemmed in, therefore, by these offenses, you cannot be a true bishop." ...
/.../chapter 9 21 petilianus.htm

Let us Therefore not Flatter the Catholic who is Hemmed in with ...
... Book IV. Chapter 19. " 27. Let us therefore not flatter the Catholic
who is hemmed in with all? "27. Let us therefore not ...
/.../writings in connection with the donatist controversy /chapter 19 27 let.htm

Psalm CXLII.
... For who comforteth thee save the Lord? "Flight hath perished from me." He
speaketh as though he were hemmed in. Let the persecutors ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxlii.htm

The Massacre
... Hemmed in by a threatening mass of infuriated and implacable enemies, some of the
Goths hewed their path to the nearest gate and forced their way through. ...
/.../chapter xxxiii the massacre.htm

The Story of Histiaeus.
... degree of solicitude lest he should find the bridge broken up and the vessels gone,
in which case his situation would be very desperate, hemmed in, as he would ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/darius the great/chapter x the story of.htm

Incidents of the Voyage.
... as travelling over a great and troubled sea, the world: sometimes, indeed, disheartened,
persecuted, dispersed, hungry, thirsty, naked, hemmed in; and, again ...
/.../unknown/epistle of peter to james/chapter xv incidents of the voyage.htm

Chapter ten
... The tent swarmed with a confused crowd of faces and he knew he was sitting there
hemmed in by a mob of people, but they had no meaning to him. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sheldon/in his steps/chapter ten.htm

Young Man! a Prayer for You
... As for the cause of godliness, it seems hemmed in by adversaries; and
they ask"What is to be done? Is not the matter desperate? ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/young man a prayer for.htm

Gregory the Patriarch and the Society at Kunwald, 1457-1473.
... The great orator hemmed and hawed, put them off with excuses, and told them, after
the manner of cowards, that they were too hasty and reckless. ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter v gregory the patriarch.htm

Our Lord Shows St. Teresa the Place which She had by Her Sins ...
... I was placed as it were in a hole in the wall; and those walls, terrible to look
on of themselves, hemmed me in on every side. I could not breathe. ...
/.../teresa/the life of st teresa of jesus/chapter xxxii our lord shows.htm

Hemmed (3 Occurrences)
...Hemmed (3 Occurrences). Exodus 14:3 And Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel,
They are entangled in the land, the wilderness has hemmed them in. (DBY NIV) ...
/h/hemmed.htm - 7k

Waters (386 Occurrences)
... It seems improbable that a force of chariots should be brought over to be hemmed
in by the rugged mountains which border the narrow plain of Huleh on both sides ...
/w/waters.htm - 42k

Maacah (30 Occurrences)
... They would thus be hemmed in by Israel, which accounts for `Geshur and Maacath dwell
in the midst of Israel" (Joshua 13:13).It is possible that Abel-beth ...
/m/maacah.htm - 20k

Merom (2 Occurrences)
... It seems improbable that a force of chariots should be brought over to be hemmed
in by the rugged mountains which border the narrow plain of Huleh on both sides ...
/m/merom.htm - 10k

Hemlock (2 Occurrences)

/h/hemlock.htm - 9k

Hemming (2 Occurrences)

/h/hemming.htm - 7k

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