Bible Encyclopedias
Country

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kun´tri ( ארץ , 'erec , "land," שׂדה , sādheh , "field"; ἀγρός , agrós , "field," χώρα , chō̇ra , "region"): The foregoing are the principal words rendered "country" in English Versions of the Bible, though we find also 'ădhāmāh , "earth" (Jonah 4:2 ); 'ı̄ , "island" (Jeremiah 47:4 the King James Version); gelı̄lāh , "circuit" (Ezekiel 47:8 the King James Version); ḥebhel , "rope" (Deuteronomy 3:14 ); māḳōm , "place" (Genesis 29:26 the King James Version); nepheth ,"hill" or "height" (Joshua 17:11 the King James Version); génos , "race" (Acts 4:36 the King James Version); γῆ , gḗ , "earth" (Matthew 9:31 the King James Version; Acts 7:3 the King James Version); πατρίς , patrı́s , "native land" (Luke 4:23; John 4:44; Hebrews 11:14 ); περίχωρος , perı́chōros , "country (the American Standard Revised Version "region") round about" (Matthew 14:35; Luke 3:3; Luke 4:37; Luke 8:37 ). In Hebrews 11:14 , "heaven" is referred to as a country. Egypt and Assyria were "far countries" (Jeremiah 8:19 the King James Version; Zechariah 10:9 ). The hill country (compare the numerous Gibeahs (gibh‛āh , "a hill")) was the mountainous region to the North or to the South of Jerusalem. The low country, shephēlāh (see SHEPHELAH ), consisted of the foothills to the west of the hill country. The south country or NEGEB (neghebh ), which see, was the dry, extreme southern part of Palestine,approximately between Beersheba and Kadesh-barnea.