Sheepfolds
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A sheepfold, in biblical terms, refers to an enclosure or pen where sheep are kept, providing them with protection and security. The concept of the sheepfold is rich with symbolism and is frequently used in the Bible to convey spiritual truths about God's care for His people, the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep, and the community of believers.

Old Testament Context

In the agrarian society of ancient Israel, sheepfolds were essential for the protection of sheep from predators and thieves. These enclosures were typically constructed with stone walls or thorny hedges and often had a single entrance guarded by a shepherd. The imagery of the sheepfold is used in the Old Testament to describe God's protective care over Israel. For instance, in Numbers 32:16, the tribes of Reuben and Gad request permission to build sheepfolds for their livestock as they settle in the land east of the Jordan River: "Then they approached Moses and said, 'We want to build sheepfolds here for our livestock and cities for our little ones.'"

New Testament Significance

The New Testament expands on the metaphor of the sheepfold, particularly in the teachings of Jesus. In John 10:1-16, Jesus uses the imagery of the sheepfold to describe His relationship with His followers. He declares Himself to be the "door of the sheep" (John 10:7), emphasizing that He is the legitimate and sole means of entry into the fold, which represents the community of believers. Jesus contrasts Himself with thieves and robbers who seek to harm the sheep, underscoring His role as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep (John 10:11).

The sheepfold metaphor in this passage highlights several key aspects of the Christian faith:

1. Security and Protection: Just as a sheepfold provides safety for sheep, Jesus offers spiritual security and protection to His followers. Believers are assured of His constant care and vigilance.

2. Community and Belonging: The sheepfold represents the Church, the body of Christ, where believers find fellowship and a sense of belonging. It is a place where they are nurtured and guided by the Good Shepherd.

3. Guidance and Leadership: Jesus, as the Good Shepherd, leads His sheep, calling them by name and guiding them to pasture. This reflects His intimate knowledge of and personal relationship with each believer.

4. Exclusivity of Christ: The imagery of Jesus as the door emphasizes the exclusivity of salvation through Him. Entry into the sheepfold is only possible through Christ, affirming the foundational Christian belief in Jesus as the only way to the Father (John 14:6).

Symbolism in Christian Theology

The sheepfold continues to be a powerful symbol in Christian theology, representing the Church as a place of refuge and spiritual nourishment. It serves as a reminder of the pastoral care that Jesus provides and the unity and fellowship that believers share within the body of Christ. The imagery of the sheepfold also calls Christians to recognize their dependence on the Good Shepherd and to follow His voice amidst the distractions and dangers of the world.

In summary, the concept of the sheepfold in the Bible is a multifaceted symbol that conveys themes of protection, community, guidance, and the unique role of Jesus as the Shepherd and Savior of His people.
Strong's Hebrew
1448. gederah -- a wall
... Word Origin from gadar Definition a wall NASB Word Usage folds (1), Gederah (1),
sheepfolds (2), sheepfolds* (2), wall (1), walls (3). hedge, wall. ...
/hebrew/1448.htm - 6k

8240a. shephattayim -- perhaps fireplaces, ash heaps
... 8240, 8240a. shephattayim. 8240b . perhaps fireplaces, ash heaps.
Transliteration: shephattayim Short Definition: sheepfolds. Word ...
/hebrew/8240a.htm - 5k

4942. mishpethayim -- perhaps fireplaces, ash heaps
... 4941, 4942. mishpethayim. 4943 . perhaps fireplaces, ash heaps. Transliteration:
mishpethayim Phonetic Spelling: (mish-pawth') Short Definition: sheepfolds ...
/hebrew/4942.htm - 6k

4356. miklaah -- an enclosure, fold
... Definition: fold. Word Origin from kala Definition an enclosure, fold NASB Word
Usage fold (1), folds (1), sheepfolds* (1). sheepfold. Or ...
/hebrew/4356.htm - 6k

723a. urvah -- a manger, crib
... Word Origin from arah, see uryah Definition a manger, crib NASB Word Usage pens
(1), sheepfolds (1), stalls (2). 723, 723a. urvah. 723b . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/723a.htm - 5k

6629. tson -- small cattle, sheep and goats, flock
... small cattle, sheep and goats, flock NASB Word Usage flock (102), flocks (58), lambs
(1), lambs* (2), Sheep (3), sheep (99), sheepfolds* (3), sheepshearers* (1 ...
/hebrew/6629.htm - 6k

Library

The Good Shepherd.
... The sheepfolds of the East are large enclosures, open to the sky, but walled around
with reeds, or stone, or brick in order to afford a protection against ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the good shepherd.htm

Recreant Reuben
... THE BOOK OF JUDGES RECREANT REUBEN. 'Why satest then among the sheepfolds,
to hear the pipings for the flocks? At the watercourses ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/recreant reuben.htm

Demonstration x. --Of Pastors.
... He destroyed kings and subdued the land, and gave them the land as a place of pasturage,
and divided the resting-places and the sheepfolds to his sheep. ...
/.../aphrahat/aphrahat select demonstrations/demonstration x of pastors.htm

The Call of David.
... about Goliath, one of them said to him in contempt, "With whom hast thou left those
few sheep in the wilderness?" Yet God took him from the sheepfolds to make ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon iv the call of.htm

The Image of Self.
... He had been a poor sheep-boy attending the flocks of his father, a farmer at Bethlehem,
and he was taken from the sheepfolds and exalted to be king. ...
/.../the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/lx the image of self.htm

The Kingdom of all Israel.
... the youngest son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, the great grandchild of the loving
Moabitess, Ruth, the same whom God had marked beside his sheepfolds as the man ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson vi the kingdom of.htm

The Gospel.
... betrothed husband to the home of their fathers, Rachel's burial place, Bethlehem,
the little city, whence David had once been called away from the sheepfolds. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xx the gospel.htm

Andromeda
... That which is done, that abides; and the wrath of the sea is against us; Hers, and
the wrath of her brother, the Sun-god, lord of the sheepfolds. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/andromeda and other poems/andromeda.htm

Deborah's Song
... Men. By the watercourses of Reuben There were great resolves of heart. Women. Why
satest thou among the sheepfolds, To hear the pipings for the flocks? Men. ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/iv deborahs song.htm

The Shepherd Boy of Bethlehem.
... he come hither.". So Jesse sent out into the sheepfolds on the hillsides
outside the city to bring the lad David in. What did the ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xix the shepherd boy.htm

Thesaurus
Sheepfolds (9 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Sheepfolds (9 Occurrences). Genesis 49:14 Issachar is
a strong ass, Couching down between the sheepfolds: (ASV NAS RSV). ...
/s/sheepfolds.htm - 8k

Folds (18 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Folds (18 Occurrences). Genesis 49:14 Issachar is a strong
ass, Couching down between the sheepfolds: (ASV JPS YLT NAS RSV). ...
/f/folds.htm - 11k

Pens (8 Occurrences)
... Pens (8 Occurrences). Numbers 32:16 They came near to him, and said, "We will build
sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones: (See NIV) ...
/p/pens.htm - 8k

Pot (46 Occurrences)
... by the general term "vessel"; for the King James Version "pots" (Psalm 68:13) the
Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "sheepfolds." The root is ...
/p/pot.htm - 25k

Sheep-folds (4 Occurrences)
Sheep-folds. Sheepfolds, Sheep-folds. Sheepgate . ... Genesis 49:14 Issachar is
a strong ass, Couching down between the sheepfolds: (See JPS). ...
/s/sheep-folds.htm - 7k

Sheep (413 Occurrences)
... forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know
his voice" (John 10:4). 4. Old Testament References: The sheepfolds of Reuben ...
/s/sheep.htm - 52k

Large-boned (1 Occurrence)
... Large-boned (1 Occurrence). Genesis 49:14 Issachar is a strong ass, Couching down
between the sheepfolds: (See JPS). Large, Large-boned. Largeness . ...
/l/large-boned.htm - 6k

Watercourses (14 Occurrences)
... of heart. (WEB ASV). Judges 5:16 Why did you sit among the sheepfolds,
To hear the whistling for the flocks? At the watercourses ...
/w/watercourses.htm - 11k

Whistling (4 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Whistling (4 Occurrences). Judges 5:16 Why did you
sit among the sheepfolds, To hear the whistling for the flocks? ...
/w/whistling.htm - 8k

Inn (7 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 41:17 margin, where geruth kimham is translated "the lodging-place of Chimham,"
but the text is very doubtful and probably refers rather to sheepfolds...
/i/inn.htm - 17k

Resources
What can we learn from the tribe of Issachar? | GotQuestions.org

What did Jesus mean when He said “I am the door” (John 10:7)? | GotQuestions.org

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Sheepfolds (9 Occurrences)

Genesis 49:14
Issachar is a strong ass, Couching down between the sheepfolds:
(ASV NAS RSV)

Numbers 32:16
They came near to him, and said, "We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones:
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV)

Numbers 32:24
Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth.'
(See NAS)

Numbers 32:36
and Beth-Nimrah, and Beth-haran, strong cities, and sheepfolds.
(DBY YLT NAS)

Judges 5:16
Why did you sit among the sheepfolds, To hear the whistling for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben There were great searchings of heart.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV)

1 Samuel 24:3
And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet; and David and his men were abiding in the recesses of the cave.
(DBY NAS RSV)

2 Chronicles 32:28
storehouses also for the increase of grain and new wine and oil; and stalls for all manner of animals, and flocks in folds.
(See NAS RSV)

Psalms 68:13
When ye lie among the sheepfolds, It is as the wings of a dove covered with silver, And her pinions with yellow gold.
(See JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV)

Psalms 78:70
He also chose David his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV)

Subtopics

Sheepfolds

Related Terms

Sheep-folds (4 Occurrences)

Folds (18 Occurrences)

Fold (23 Occurrences)

Pens (8 Occurrences)

Pot (46 Occurrences)

Sheep (413 Occurrences)

Large-boned (1 Occurrence)

Watercourses (14 Occurrences)

Whistling (4 Occurrences)

Inn (7 Occurrences)

Fence (12 Occurrences)

Recesses (5 Occurrences)

Districts (22 Occurrences)

Doorkeeper (8 Occurrences)

Piping (3 Occurrences)

Pipings (1 Occurrence)

Pinions (5 Occurrences)

Bleatings (1 Occurrence)

Campfires (2 Occurrences)

Couch (55 Occurrences)

Abodest (1 Occurrence)

Sheepgate (1 Occurrence)

Shimmer (1 Occurrence)

Sattest (3 Occurrences)

Sheep-fold (1 Occurrence)

Searchings (2 Occurrences)

Defence (48 Occurrences)

Tarry (62 Occurrences)

Dove (27 Occurrences)

Divisions (92 Occurrences)

Lain (57 Occurrences)

Searching (111 Occurrences)

Abode (112 Occurrences)

Green (72 Occurrences)

Chose (59 Occurrences)

Livestock (124 Occurrences)

Drew (162 Occurrences)

Flocks (128 Occurrences)

Build (242 Occurrences)

Clans (120 Occurrences)

Sit (216 Occurrences)

Reuben (73 Occurrences)

Cities (427 Occurrences)

Sheep-fold
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