גֶּ֫דֶר (ge.der)
ge.der
Geder
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun geder, meaning "wall," appears only once in the Old Testament as a proper noun: Geder. Located in Joshua 12:13, it is listed among the Canaanite cities defeated by the Israelites under Joshua’s leadership. The name itself likely reflects the city’s fortified nature, serving as a geographic marker for a place of resistance that was overcome.
Lexical sources note that Geder is another name for Gedor (H1446), suggesting these entries refer to the same location despite the slight spelling variation. This single occurrence anchors the word in the historical narrative of conquest, highlighting how physical structures like walls were central to the identity and defense of ancient Canaanite towns.
While the term geder can generally denote any kind of wall or fence, its use here as a city name emphasizes strength and separation. The brevity of its biblical appearance underscores the specific historical moment it records, rather than offering broader theological commentary on fortifications.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word geder literally means a wall or enclosure. In the Old Testament, it appears as a proper noun for the city of Geder, listed among the Canaanite towns subdued by Joshua. This single mention anchors the term in a specific historical moment, marking a place of resistance that was overcome.
For your faith, this reminds us that no barrier stands against God’s purposes. Whether physical walls or personal struggles, they do not thwart His plan. The narrative shows that what seems fortified can be part of a larger story of deliverance and new beginnings for God’s people.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Geder1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- גֶּ֖דֶר1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 12:13
the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;
This verse lists Geder among the defeated kings, showing how the city's name signifies a fortified place that was ultimately overcome in the conquest narrative.