Country

COUNTRY kun'-tri ('erets, "land," sadheh, "field"; agros, "field," chora, "region"):

The foregoing are the principal words rendered "country" in English Versions of the Bible, though we find also 'adhamah, "earth" (Jonah 4:2); 'i, "island" (Jeremiah 47:4 the King James Version); gelilah, "circuit" (Ezekiel 47:8 the King James Version); chebhel, "rope" (Deuteronomy 3:14); maqom, "place" (Genesis 29:26 the King James Version); nepheth,"hill" or "height" (Joshua 17:11 the King James Version); genos, "race" (Acts 4:36 the King James Version); ge, "earth" (Matthew 9:31 the King James Version; Acts 7:3 the King James Version); patris, "native land" (Luke 4:23; John 4:44; Hebrews 11:14); perichoros, "country (the American Standard Revised Version "region") round about" (Matthew 14:35; Luke 3:3; 4:37; 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`ah, "a hill")) was the mountainous region to the North or to the South of Jerusalem. The low country, shephelah (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.

Alfred Ely Day

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Bibliography Information

Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'COUNTRY'".  "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia".  1915.