### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **gᵉlîylâh**, represented by `{{H1552}}`, is a term for a **circuit or region; border, coast, country**. It appears 5 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible. This word is primarily used to delineate specific geographical areas, marking them as distinct territories, boundaries, or coastal regions.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H1552}}` is instrumental in defining land and boundaries. Its usage is prominent in the book of Joshua, where it marks the territorial lines of promised and conquered lands. For instance, it identifies "the borders of the Philistines" as part of the land that remained to be possessed [[Joshua 13:2]]. It is also used twice to describe the location where the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh built an altar, specifically at "the borders of Jordan" ([[Joshua 22:10]], [[Joshua 22:11]]). The term extends to prophetic geography, describing the "east country" in Ezekiel's vision of healing waters [[Ezekiel 47:8]] and the "coasts of Palestine" in a divine proclamation in Joel [[Joel 3:4]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help to provide a fuller geographical context for `{{H1552}}`:
* `{{H776}}` **ʼerets** (the earth (at large, or partitively a land)): This general term for "land" or "country" is often used alongside `{{H1552}}` to specify a region within a larger territory. This is seen when the "borders of Jordan" are described as being "in the land of Canaan" [[Joshua 22:10]].
* `{{H4136}}` **mûwl** (opposite; (over) against, before): This adverb provides spatial orientation. It is used with `{{H1552}}` to describe the location of the altar built by the eastern tribes "over against the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan" [[Joshua 22:11]], clarifying its position relative to another key landmark.
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H1552}}` is rooted in its role in defining territory within God's covenant with Israel.
* **Territorial Inheritance:** The word helps to demarcate the physical land promised to Israel. Its use in Joshua to define the "borders of the Philistines" [[Joshua 13:2]] is part of the accounting of land yet to be taken, highlighting the theme of inheritance.
* **Symbolic Locations:** A region defined by `{{H1552}}` can become a place of great spiritual importance. The "borders of Jordan" became the site of a controversial altar that served as a powerful witness between the tribes of Israel [[Joshua 22:10]].
* **Prophetic Significance:** The term is used to identify regions that are the focus of divine action. The "coasts of Palestine" are addressed in a judgment prophecy [[Joel 3:4]], while the "east country" is identified as the recipient of miraculous healing waters in Ezekiel's vision of restoration [[Ezekiel 47:8]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1552}}` is a precise geographical term that grounds key biblical events in specific locations. While it translates simply as border, coast, or country, it carries significant weight by defining the boundaries of Israel's inheritance, marking the sites of crucial historical events, and designating the territories involved in God's prophetic plans for judgment and restoration.
TRV