In biblical times, the term "precinct" refers to a designated area or boundary, often associated with religious or civic spaces. While the specific term "precinct" is not frequently used in most English translations of the Bible, the concept is evident in various passages that describe the boundaries and areas set apart for specific purposes, particularly in relation to worship and governance.

Temple Precincts

The most notable example of a precinct in the Bible is the area surrounding the Temple in Jerusalem. The Temple precincts were meticulously defined and held great significance for the Israelites. These areas included the outer courts, inner courts, and the Holy of Holies, each with specific regulations regarding who could enter and what activities could take place. The Temple precincts served as the center of Jewish worship and were the focal point of religious life in Israel.

In the New Testament, Jesus' interactions within the Temple precincts are significant. For instance, in the Gospel of John, Jesus cleanses the Temple, driving out the money changers and those selling animals for sacrifice, declaring, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn My Father’s house into a marketplace!" (John 2:16). This act underscores the sanctity of the Temple precincts and Jesus' zeal for maintaining their holiness.

City Precincts

Beyond the Temple, the concept of precincts can also be applied to cities and their governance. In ancient Israel, cities often had defined boundaries that included gates and walls, serving both protective and administrative functions. These city precincts were places where elders would gather to make decisions, conduct legal proceedings, and engage in commerce.

The Book of Nehemiah provides insight into the importance of city precincts during the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. Nehemiah's efforts to restore the city's boundaries were crucial for re-establishing the community and ensuring its security. Nehemiah 3 details the reconstruction of various gates and sections of the wall, highlighting the communal effort to restore the city's precincts.

Spiritual Significance

The concept of precincts in the Bible also carries a spiritual dimension. The delineation of sacred spaces serves as a reminder of God's holiness and the need for His people to approach Him with reverence and purity. The boundaries set around the Temple and other sacred sites symbolize the separation between the holy and the common, calling believers to live lives set apart for God.

In the New Testament, the idea of spiritual precincts is expanded through the teaching that believers themselves are temples of the Holy Spirit. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 , "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body." This passage emphasizes the call for Christians to maintain the sanctity of their lives as living precincts of God's presence.

In summary, while the term "precinct" may not be explicitly used in the biblical text, the concept is deeply embedded in the structure and theology of both the Old and New Testaments. Whether referring to the physical boundaries of the Temple or the spiritual boundaries of a believer's life, precincts serve as a powerful symbol of God's order, holiness, and the call to live in accordance with His will.1. (n.) The limit or exterior line encompassing a place; a boundary; a confine; limit of jurisdiction or authority; -- often in the plural; as, the precincts of a state.

2. (n.) A district within certain boundaries; a minor territorial or jurisdictional division; as, an election precinct; a school precinct.

3. (n.) A parish or prescribed territory attached to a church, and taxed for its support.

4745. stoa -- a portico
... 4745 -- a , supporting a covered-colonnade (like in the Temple precinct); a portico,
usually open on one side so people could congregate and talk. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4745.htm - 6k

The Heathen Gods were Simply Men.
... but if people are beaten for them, and their sufferings are mysteries, they are
men, as Herodotus himself says: "Here, too, in this same precinct of Minerva at ...
/.../athenagoras/a plea for the christians/chapter xxviii the heathen gods were.htm

The Emperor Julian Extracts Money from the Christians.
... The special basilica meant here was situated, according to Valesius, in the fourth
precinct, and alone called basilike, or cathedral' without qualification. ...
/.../chapter xi the emperor julian extracts.htm

Examples of Such Offences under the Old Dispensation no Pattern ...
... from that tree not anything sweet, but something bitter; which was to pertain not
to the infernal regions, but to heaven; which was to be precinct not with the ...
/.../tertullian/on modesty/chapter vi examples of such offences.htm

Last Journey of Jesus to Jerusalem.
... the dispersed Jews; their branches served as an asylum to clouds of doves, and under
their shade were established small bazaars.[4] All this precinct was in a ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/renan/the life of jesus/chapter xxi last journey of.htm

Of the Prophecies of the Birth and Achievements of Christ.
... [1280] Lawful , then, it was for the Christ of God to be precinct, in the Psalms,
without warlike achievements, with the figurative sword of the word of God ...
/.../tertullian/an answer to the jews/chapter ix of the prophecies of.htm

Directions to Church-Wardens, &C.
Directions to Church-Wardens. <. ...
/.../prideaux/directions to church-wardens/directions to church-wardens &c.htm

The Savoy Declaration of the Congregational Churches. AD 1658.
... Church, seeing there may be wanting among them what is essentially required thereunto;
and therefore a Believer living with others in such a Precinct may join ...
/.../the savoy declaration of the.htm

On the Soul and the Resurrection.
Gregory of Nyssa: Dogmatic Treatises, Etc. <. ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/on the soul and the 2.htm

Precinct (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) A district within certain boundaries; a minor territorial or jurisdictional
division; as, an election precinct; a school precinct. ...
/p/precinct.htm - 7k

Precepts (40 Occurrences)

/p/precepts.htm - 17k

Forest (67 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A large extent or precinct of country, generally waste and woody, belonging
to the sovereign, set apart for the keeping of game for his use, not ...
/f/forest.htm - 37k

Precincts (2 Occurrences)

/p/precincts.htm - 7k

Close (186 Occurrences)
... 13. (n.) An enclosed place; especially, a small field or piece of land surrounded
by a wall, hedge, or fence of any kind; -- specifically, the precinct of a ...
/c/close.htm - 39k

Station (78 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) The headquarters of the police force of any precinct. 6. (n.) The place
at which an instrument is planted, or observations are made, as in surveying. ...
/s/station.htm - 33k

Babel (3 Occurrences)
... Within this sacred precinct was a solid tower measuring a furlong each way,
and surmounted by other towers to the number of eight. ...
/b/babel.htm - 63k

Babylon (270 Occurrences)
... Within this sacred precinct was a solid tower measuring a furlong each way,
and surmounted by other towers to the number of eight. ...
/b/babylon.htm - 93k

Greece (15 Occurrences)
... 2. Temples: In this precinct stood the temple, facing toward the East, so that the
morning sun would flood its interior when it was opened on a festival day. ...
/g/greece.htm - 59k

Ancient (64 Occurrences)
... 2. Temples: In this precinct stood the temple, facing toward the East, so that the
morning sun would flood its interior when it was opened on a festival day. ...
/a/ancient.htm - 98k

Precinct: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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