Topical Bible: Gardens: Often Enclosed

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In biblical times, gardens held significant cultural and spiritual symbolism, often representing beauty, fertility, and divine provision. The concept of an enclosed garden is particularly noteworthy, as it conveys themes of protection, exclusivity, and sanctity.

Biblical References and Symbolism

The imagery of an enclosed garden is vividly portrayed in the Song of Solomon, where the beloved is described as a "garden locked up" (Song of Solomon 4:12). This metaphor highlights the purity and cherished nature of the beloved, suggesting a space that is both protected and treasured. The enclosure signifies a boundary that guards the garden's beauty and fruitfulness, much like the sanctity of a committed relationship.

In the ancient Near East, gardens were often enclosed by walls or hedges to protect them from animals and intruders. This physical protection is mirrored in the spiritual realm, where the enclosed garden symbolizes a place set apart for divine encounter and blessing. The Garden of Eden, though not explicitly described as enclosed, can be seen as a prototype of this concept. It was a place of perfect communion with God, safeguarded from the chaos outside until the fall of man.

Theological Implications

Theologically, the enclosed garden can be seen as a metaphor for the believer's heart or the church. Just as a garden is cultivated and protected, so too is the heart of a believer to be guarded and nurtured in faith. Proverbs 4:23 advises, "Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life." This verse echoes the idea of an enclosed space where life and purity are preserved.

The church, as the bride of Christ, is also likened to an enclosed garden. It is a community set apart, protected by the boundaries of faith and doctrine, flourishing under the care of the divine Gardener. The imagery of the garden in the Song of Solomon can be extended to the church, emphasizing its role as a place of spiritual nourishment and growth.

Cultural Context

In the cultural context of the Bible, gardens were not only places of beauty but also of sustenance. They provided food, fragrance, and a retreat from the harshness of the surrounding environment. The enclosure of a garden ensured that these resources were preserved and could flourish without external threats. This practical aspect of enclosure underscores the spiritual truth that what is valuable and life-giving must be protected and cherished.

Conclusion

The concept of gardens being enclosed in the Bible carries rich symbolism and theological depth. It reflects the themes of protection, sanctity, and divine care, resonating with the believer's call to guard their heart and the church's role as a sacred community. Through the imagery of the enclosed garden, Scripture invites believers to cultivate a life that is both fruitful and protected under God's sovereign care.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Songs 4:12
A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Other Passages from the Song of Songs are Considered with Relation ...
... it in the recesses of your breast, for it is most often to be ... But what is meant by
the gardens He Himself points out, saying: "A garden enclosed is My ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter ix other passages from.htm

The Sweetness of Tears
... The Property of So-and-so." Often, the inscription ... Through deer-parks, enclosed by
latticed fences, wandered ... front lay the terraces, the gardens with straight ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bertrand/saint augustin/iv the sweetness of tears.htm

In Galilee at the Time of Our Lord
... its wealth and populousness, have been often described ... princes," from the beautiful
villas and gardens around ... of the deep blue of the lake, enclosed between hills ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 3 in galilee at.htm

"My Garden" --"His Garden"
... We have been enclosed by grace, we have been tilled ... that there are some of the Lord's
gardens which yield ... heart with intense delight that, though often you can ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 42 1896/my gardenhis garden.htm

Ancestors of the Blessed virgin
... ate only fruit, which they often cultivated in their gardens. ... prayer; I saw, too,
how they often lived apart ... front of the house was an enclosed courtyard, the ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/i ancestors of the blessed.htm

What Carey did for Science --Founder of the Agricultural and ...
... Often, when he was unable to walk, he was drawn ... Some of the seeds had been enclosed
in a bag ... shown in detail the utility of botanical gardens, especially in all ...
/.../smith/the life of william carey/chapter xii what carey did.htm

Book 8 Footnotes
... miles from Jerusalem, whither Solomon rode so often in state ... 6, where he says, "He
made him gardens and orchards ... compares his spouse to a garden "enclosed," to a ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 8 footnotes.htm

A Prospect of Revival
... turn her barren deserts into fruitful gardens, and her ... scanty Christians, and those
who have often heard, but ... them and find a fresh mercy enclosed in every fold ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 62 1916/a prospect of revival.htm

The First Theban Empire
... The women were employed in searching for nuggets, which were often of considerable
size; they enclosed them in little leather cases, and offered them to the ...
/.../chapter iiithe first theban empire.htm

Pagan Cemeteries.
... feet long, and two hundred feet wide, enclosed by a ... Tombstones often mention
transactions of this kind, and state the ... 1876 and cut away from the gardens of la ...
/.../lanciani/pagan and christian rome/chapter vi pagan cemeteries.htm