Compass
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) A passing round; circuit; circuitous course.

2. (n.) An inclosing limit; boundary; circumference; as, within the compass of an encircling wall.

3. (n.) An enclosed space; an area; extent.

4. (n.) Extent; reach; sweep; capacity; sphere; as, the compass of his eye; the compass of imagination.

5. (n.) Moderate bounds, limits of truth; moderation; due limits; -- used with within.

6. (n.) The range of notes, or tones, within the capacity of a voice or instrument.

7. (n.) An instrument for determining directions upon the earth's surface by means of a magnetized bar or needle turning freely upon a pivot and pointing in a northerly and southerly direction.

8. (n.) A pair of compasses.

9. (n.) A circle; a continent.

10. (v. t.) To go about or entirely round; to make the circuit of.

11. (v. t.) To enclose on all sides; to surround; to encircle; to environ; to invest; to besiege; -- used with about, round, around, and round about.

12. (v. t.) To reach round; to circumvent; to get within one's power; to obtain; to accomplish.

13. (v. t.) To curve; to bend into a circular form.

14. (v. t.) To purpose; to intend; to imagine; to plot.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
COMPASS; COMPASSES

kum'-pas, kum'-pas-iz: "Compass," noun, is the translation of chugh, "a circle," "vault" or "arch" ("when he set a compass upon the face of the depth" Proverbs 8:27 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American), the American Standard Revised Version "circle"; compare Job 26:10; and see CIRCLE; VAULT OF EARTH); of karkobh, "a margin" "border" (Exodus 27:5, "the compass of the altar," the Revised Version (British and American) "the ledge round," so 38:4); the phrase "to fetch a compass" is the translation of sabhabh, "to turn about," "go round about" (Numbers 34:5 Joshua 15:3, the Revised Version (British and American) "turn about," 2 Samuel 5:23 2 Kings 3:9, the Revised Version (British and American) "make a circuit"); of perierchomai, "to go about" (Acts 28:13, the Revised Version (British and American) "made a circuit"; margin "Some ancient authorities read cast loose"; see CIRCUIT).

"Compasses" is the Revised Version (British and American) for "compass," mechughah, an instrument for describing a circle: "He marketh it out with the compasses" (Isaiah 44:13) in making an idol.

The verb "to compass" occurs frequently in the senses of "to surround" and "to go round about," e.g. Genesis 2:11, "which compasseth the whole land of Havilah," Deuteronomy 2:1, "We compassed (went around) mount Seir many days"; in Jeremiah 31:22 we have "A new thing on the earth: a woman shall compass a man," the Revised Version (British and American) "encompass"; possibly as a suitor; but more probably as a protector. In those happy days, the protection of women (under God, 31:28) will be sufficient, while the men are at their work; "to encompass" ("The cords of death compassed me" Psalm 18:4; "the waves of death," 2 Samuel 22:5). "To gird" (Isaiah 50:11 the Revised Version (British and American)); "to lie around," "to be laid around" (Hebrews 5:2, "compassed with infirmity" (clothed with it); Hebrews 12:1, "compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses").

In Apocrypha we have "compassed about with yawning darkness" (The Wisdom of Solomon 19:17); "compassed the circuit of heaven" (Ecclesiasticus 24:5); "compassed with pomegranates of gold" (Ecclesiasticus 45:9); "The rainbow compasseth the heaven" (Ecclesiasticus 43:12); the course of the sun (1 Esdras 4:34).

W. L. Walker

Greek
4013. periago -- to lead around, to go about
... lead round, go round about. From peri and ago; to take around (as a companion);
reflexively, to walk around -- compass, go (round) about, lead about. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4013.htm - 6k

2944. kukloo -- to encircle
... to surround, encircle. From the same as kukloi; to encircle, ie Surround --
compass (about), come (stand) round about. see GREEK kukloi. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2944.htm - 6k

4033. perikukloo -- to encircle
... encircle, surround. From peri and kukloo; to encircle all around, ie Blockade
completely -- compass round. see GREEK peri. see GREEK kukloo. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4033.htm - 6k

4022. perierchomai -- to go about
... go about. From peri and erchomai (including its alternate); to come all around,
ie Stroll, vacillate, veer -- fetch a compass, vagabond, wandering about. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4022.htm - 6k

4107. planetes -- a wanderer
... noun derived from 4105 , "to wander") -- properly, a wandering star (planet);
(figuratively) a false teacher, operating without moral compass and -- ie ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4107.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew
4230. mechugah -- a compass
... 4229c, 4230. mechugah. 4231 . a compass. Transliteration: mechugah Phonetic
Spelling: (mekk-oo-gaw') Short Definition: compass. ...
/hebrew/4230.htm - 6k

5849. atar -- to surround
... 5848c, 5849. atar. 5849a . to surround. Transliteration: atar Phonetic
Spelling: (aw-tar') Short Definition: compass. compass, crown ...
/hebrew/5849.htm - 5k

6059. anaq -- to serve as a necklace
... Usage furnish him liberally (1), necklace (1). compass about as a chain,
furnish, liberally. A primitive root; properly, to choke ...
/hebrew/6059.htm - 6k

2329. chug -- vault, horizon
... circle, circuit, compass. From chuwg; a circle -- circle, circuit, compass. see
HEBREW chuwg. 2328, 2329. chug. 2330 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/2329.htm - 6k

4524. mesab -- that which surrounds or is round
... about (1), surrounding area (1), table (1). that compass about, place round
about, at table. Plural masculine mcibbiym {mes-ib-beem ...
/hebrew/4524.htm - 6k

5439. sabib -- circuit, round about
... surrounding area (1), surrounds (2), throughout (1). place, round about, circuit,
compass, on every side. Or (feminine) cbiybah {seb-ee-baw ...
/hebrew/5439.htm - 6k

3803. kathar -- to surround
... root Definition to surround NASB Word Usage crowned (1), encircled (1), surround
(2), surrounded (1), wait (1). beset round, compass about, be crowne, suffer. ...
/hebrew/3803.htm - 6k

2219. zarah -- to scatter, fan, winnow
... 1), winnowed (1), winnows (2). cast away, compass, disperse, fan, scatter
away, spread, strew, winnow. A primitive root (compare ...
/hebrew/2219.htm - 6k

247. azar -- to gird, encompass, equip
... bind compass about, gird up, with. A primitive root; to belt -- bind (compass) about,
gird (up, with). 246, 247. azar. 248 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/247.htm - 6k

5437. sabab -- to turn about, go around, surround
... about on every side, apply, avoid, beset (about), besiege, bring again, carry (about),
change, cause to come about, X circuit, (fetch a) compass (about, round ...
/hebrew/5437.htm - 7k

Library

The Needle of the Compass of Need.
... The Need The Needle of the Compass of Need. Let us look a little at these peoples. ...
So we'll begin there. The needle of a magnetic compass always points north. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks with world winners/the needle of the compass.htm

Great Love Divine, Whose Compass Broad
... HYMNS OF THE EARLY CHURCH Great love Divine, whose compass broad. 8,8,8,8,8,8. Great
love Divine, whose compass broad. Involves the utmost point from God; ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the early church/great love divine whose compass.htm

Still More Popular in Its Own Day was the Second Hymn that Luther ...
... Still more popular in its own day was the second hymn that Luther ever wrote; no
doubt from its containing in short compass a complete epitome. ...
/.../winkworth/christian singers of germany/still more popular in its.htm

For as a Fountain Within a Narrow Compass, is More Plentiful...
... Book XII Chapter XXVII For as a fountain within a narrow compass, is more
plentiful? For as a fountain within a narrow compass ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter xxvii for as a.htm

Behold all Ye that Kindle a Fire, that Compass Yourselves About ...
... Behold all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks, walk
in the light of your fire and in the sparks that ye have kindled. ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/behold all ye that kindle.htm

Psalm 118
... 10The nations, joining all in one,. did compass me about: But in the Lord's most
holy name. ... 11They compass'd me about; I say,. they compass'd me about: ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/scottish psalter and paraphrases/psalm 118.htm

Unsound Spiritual Trading
... Travelling some time ago in an iron steamboat to the Continent, the captain told
me that the compass was far from trustworthy where so much iron was on every ...
/.../spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/unsound spiritual trading.htm

A Description of the Sea-Coast, Out of Pliny and Strabo.
... Tyrus, heretofore an island, &c. It is in compass nineteen miles, Palae-Tyre, lying
within, being included. The town itself contains two-and-twenty furlongs. ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 10 a description of.htm

Psalm XLIX.
... The iniquity of my heel shall compass me" (ver.5). He beginneth something obscurely. ...
For why should he fear? Will the iniquity of his heel compass him? ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xlix.htm

It was Therefore Better for Me to Hide Myself, and to Wait for ...
... scrupled not to utter such calumnies against me, before the great Augustus, and
who so violently assailed Bishops and Virgins, sought also to compass my death. ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/35 it was therefore better.htm

Thesaurus
Compass (51 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) An inclosing limit; boundary; circumference; as, within the compass of an
encircling wall. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. COMPASS; COMPASSES. ...
/c/compass.htm - 26k

Compasses (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. COMPASS; COMPASSES. kum'-pas, kum'-pas-
iz: "Compass," noun, is the translation of chugh, "a circle ...
/c/compasses.htm - 10k

Sweep (34 Occurrences)
... (n.) The compass or range of a stroke; as, a long sweep. ... (n.) The compass of any
turning body or of any motion; as, the sweep of a door; the sweep of the eye. ...
/s/sweep.htm - 19k

Fetched (26 Occurrences)
... Acts 28:13 And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after
one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli: (KJV). ...
/f/fetched.htm - 14k

Register (14 Occurrences)
... See Register, vi 2. 13. (n.) The compass of a voice or instrument; a specified portion
of the compass of a voice, or a series of vocal tones of a given compass...
/r/register.htm - 13k

Point (106 Occurrences)
... 18. (n.) One of the points of the compass (see Points of the compass, below); also,
the difference between two points of the compass; as, to fall off a point. ...
/p/point.htm - 40k

Fetch (45 Occurrences)
... 5. (vt) To bring to accomplishment; to achieve; to make; to perform, with certain
objects; as, to fetch a compass; to fetch a leap; to fetch a sigh. ...
/f/fetch.htm - 24k

North (164 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) That one of the four cardinal points of the compass, at any place, which
lies in the direction of the true meridian, and to the left hand of a person ...
/n/north.htm - 43k

Wheel (20 Occurrences)
... 11. (n.) A turn revolution; rotation; compass. 12. ... 16. (vi) To go round in a
circuit; to fetch a compass. 17. (vi) To roll forward. Int. ...
/w/wheel.htm - 18k

Formeth (11 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 7:15 And he formeth the two pillars of brass; eighteen cubits 'is' the height
of the one pillar, and a cord of twelve cubits doth compass the second ...
/f/formeth.htm - 9k

Resources
How should Christians react to "The Golden Compass" movie? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean for Jesus to be your true north? | GotQuestions.org

What is Christian freedom? | GotQuestions.org

Compass: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Compass (51 Occurrences)

Matthew 23:15
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS)

Luke 19:43
For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
(KJV ASV WBS YLT)

Acts 28:13
And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:
(KJV)

Exodus 27:5
And thou shalt put it under the compass of the altar beneath, that the net may be even to the midst of the altar.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Exodus 38:4
And he made for the altar a brazen grate of network under the compass thereof beneath unto the midst of it.
(KJV WBS)

Numbers 21:4
They traveled from Mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

Numbers 34:5
And the border shall fetch a compass from Azmon unto the river of Egypt, and the goings out of it shall be at the sea.
(KJV)

Joshua 6:3
And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Joshua 6:4
And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

Joshua 6:7
And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

Joshua 6:11
So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
(Root in KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Joshua 6:14
And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.
(Root in KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

Joshua 6:15
And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.
(Root in KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

Joshua 7:9
For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and will compass us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do for thy great name?
(ASV JPS)

Joshua 15:3
And it went out to the south side to Maalehacrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side unto Kadeshbarnea, and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and fetched a compass to Karkaa:
(KJV WBS)

2 Samuel 5:23
And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.
(KJV WBS)

1 Kings 7:15
For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

1 Kings 7:23
He made the molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and its height was five cubits; and a line of thirty cubits encircled it.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

1 Kings 7:24
And under the brim of it round about there were knops compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about: the knops were cast in two rows, when it was cast.
(Root in KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

1 Kings 7:35
In the top of the base was there a round compass half a cubit high; and on the top of the base its stays and its panels were of the same.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS)

2 Kings 3:9
So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days' journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them.
(KJV WBS)

2 Kings 11:8
And ye shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand: and he that cometh within the ranges, let him be slain: and be ye with the king as he goeth out and as he cometh in.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

2 Chronicles 4:2
Also he made the molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass; and its height was five cubits; and a line of thirty cubits encircled it.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

2 Chronicles 4:3
And under it was the similitude of oxen, which did compass it round about: ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about. Two rows of oxen were cast, when it was cast.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

2 Chronicles 14:7
And he saith to Judah, 'Let us build these cities, and compass 'them' with wall, and towers, two-leaved doors, and bars, while the land 'is' before us, because we have sought Jehovah our God, we have sought, and He giveth rest to us round about;' and they build and prosper.
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 23:7
And the Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whosoever else cometh into the house, he shall be put to death: but be ye with the king when he cometh in, and when he goeth out.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Job 16:13
His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Job 40:22
The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Psalms 5:12
For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

Psalms 7:7
So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Psalms 17:9
From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Psalms 26:6
I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Psalms 32:7
Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Psalms 32:10
Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Psalms 48:12
Compass Zion, and go round her, count her towers,
(YLT)

Psalms 49:5
Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Psalms 118:10
All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.
(Root in KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Psalms 118:11
They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
(Root in KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Psalms 118:12
They compassed me about like bees: they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
(Root in KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Psalms 140:9
As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Psalms 142:7
Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.
(KJV ASV WBS YLT)

Proverbs 8:27
When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
(KJV WBS)

Isaiah 44:13
The carpenter stretches out a line. He marks it out with a pencil. He shapes it with planes. He marks it out with compasses, and shapes it like the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to reside in a house.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 50:11
Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.
(KJV DBY WBS)

Jeremiah 31:22
How long will you go here and there, you backsliding daughter? for Yahweh has created a new thing in the earth: a woman shall encompass a man.
(Root in WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Jeremiah 31:39
And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Jeremiah 52:21
As for the pillars, the height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits; and a line of twelve cubits did compass it; and its thickness was four fingers: it was hollow.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Daniel 11:4
And when he has become strong, his kingdom will be broken and parted to the four winds of heaven; but not to his offspring, for it will be uprooted; and his kingdom will be for the others and not for these: but not with the same authority as his.
(See NAS)

Jonah 2:3
For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.
(Root in KJV WBS YLT)

Jonah 2:5
The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.
(Root in KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Habakkuk 1:4
Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Subtopics

Compass

Related Terms

Compasses (1 Occurrence)

Sweep (34 Occurrences)

Fetched (26 Occurrences)

Register (14 Occurrences)

Point (106 Occurrences)

Fetch (45 Occurrences)

North (164 Occurrences)

Wheel (20 Occurrences)

Formeth (11 Occurrences)

Fly (33 Occurrences)

Rim (18 Occurrences)

Brim (9 Occurrences)

Contract (3 Occurrences)

Circular (5 Occurrences)

Shape (17 Occurrences)

Molten (41 Occurrences)

I-iii

Introduction (3 Occurrences)

Imagine (24 Occurrences)

Compassing (6 Occurrences)

Compassed (52 Occurrences)

Cubits (156 Occurrences)

Bible

Cord (47 Occurrences)

Wherever (107 Occurrences)

Quarter (33 Occurrences)

Volume (4 Occurrences)

Karkaa (1 Occurrence)

Kadeshbarnea (9 Occurrences)

Narrow (21 Occurrences)

Northward (41 Occurrences)

Net-work (11 Occurrences)

Untoward (1 Occurrence)

Overwhelm (18 Occurrences)

Josephus

Ledge (7 Occurrences)

Lily (9 Occurrences)

Lotus-trees (2 Occurrences)

Ledges (7 Occurrences)

Goath (1 Occurrence)

Grate (6 Occurrences)

Gihon (6 Occurrences)

West (110 Occurrences)

Within (400 Occurrences)

Wind (180 Occurrences)

Infinitude

Infinite (8 Occurrences)

Innocency (5 Occurrences)

Flavius

Foresight (2 Occurrences)

Fitteth (1 Occurrence)

Fillet (1 Occurrence)

Fishing (4 Occurrences)

Trench (8 Occurrences)

Twofold (4 Occurrences)

Trusting (45 Occurrences)

Text (5 Occurrences)

Two-fold (1 Occurrence)

Think (601 Occurrences)

Trusteth (30 Occurrences)

Taanach (7 Occurrences)

Thickness (12 Occurrences)

Trumpet (74 Occurrences)

Traverse (5 Occurrences)

Two-leaved (6 Occurrences)

Tuck (3 Occurrences)

Ranges (5 Occurrences)

Roughs (1 Occurrence)

Rampart (9 Occurrences)

Range (9 Occurrences)

Room (174 Occurrences)

Reckoning (32 Occurrences)

Rose (279 Occurrences)

Reins (15 Occurrences)

Exposure (1 Occurrence)

East (228 Occurrences)

Encompass (20 Occurrences)

Extent (15 Occurrences)

Depth (22 Occurrences)

Comparisons
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