### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **gâbal**, represented by `{{H1379}}`, is a root word used to **bound** or set a border. Appearing **5 times** in **5 unique verses**, its core meaning is to establish a limit or boundary, derived from the idea of twisting a rope to form a line.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H1379}}` is applied to defining both sacred and territorial limits. It is used when God commands Moses to **set bounds** around Mount Sinai, preventing the people from approaching the holy mountain ([[Exodus 19:12]], [[Exodus 19:23]]). The word also functions geographically, establishing the Jordan River as the **border** of Benjamin's inheritance [[Joshua 18:20]] and in a prophecy concerning the territory of Hamath [[Zechariah 9:2]]. Furthermore, it carries legal weight in the prohibition against moving a neighbor's landmark which the ancestors had **set** [[Deuteronomy 19:14]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words expand upon the concept of boundaries and limits:
* `{{H1366}}` **gᵉbûwl** (border, bound, coast): This word, from which `{{H1379}}` is sometimes derived, refers to the boundary itself or the territory it encloses. It is used in the prayer of Jabez to "enlarge my **coast**" [[1 Chronicles 4:10]] and to describe the sand as the **bound** of the sea [[Jeremiah 5:22]].
* `{{H5253}}` **nâçag** (remove, turn away): This word acts as a direct contrast to setting a boundary. The law explicitly forbids one to **remove** a neighbor's landmark that has been set [[Deuteronomy 19:14]], showing the permanence intended by the act of `gâbal`.
* `{{H7097}}` **qâtseh** (border, edge, end): This term often refers to the outer edge or extremity of a boundary that has been set. When bounds were set around Sinai, the people were warned not to even touch the **border** of it [[Exodus 19:12]].
### Theological Significance
The use of `{{H1379}}` carries significant weight in establishing order and holiness.
* **Divine Authority and Sanctity:** The primary use of the word is to establish a divinely mandated separation. By commanding Moses to **set bounds** around Mount Sinai, God separates the holy from the common, creating a physical boundary that reflects a spiritual reality [[Exodus 19:23]].
* **Justice and Inheritance:** The act of setting a boundary is foundational to social justice and property rights. The law in Deuteronomy protects the **landmark** that has been set, ensuring the stability of inheritance and protecting against theft [[Deuteronomy 19:14]].
* **Territorial and National Identity:** Boundaries define a people's inheritance and place. The Jordan River is set as the **border** for the tribe of Benjamin [[Joshua 18:20]], and prophecies use borders to define the future territories of nations like Hamath, Tyrus, and Zidon [[Zechariah 9:2]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1379}}` **gâbal** is more than a simple verb for marking a line. It is a foundational action for creating order, whether sacred, legal, or geographic. From the holy ground of Mount Sinai to the inherited lots of the Israelite tribes, the act of setting a boundary establishes the framework for holiness, justice, and identity within the biblical world.
TRV