Desert
Summary
A term in Scripture not primarily meaning barren sandy waste, but designating uncultivated wilderness regions used for pasturage, often translated also as 'wilderness.'
☩Hebrew Terminology
The most common Hebrew word translated 'desert' or 'wilderness' is midbar, derived from a root meaning 'to drive' flocks, signifying pasture ground or open country used for grazing. This term properly designates wide, open tracts used for pasturage—essentially a 'common.' Other Hebrew terms include arabah (parched or dry land), chorbah (desolation), and yeshimon (empty waste). Each conveys a different aspect of uninhabited terrain.
☩Character of Biblical Deserts
The 'desert' of Scripture is not the sterile sandy waste we associate with the Sahara. The peninsula of Sinai, through which Israel wandered, is mountainous country with scanty soil producing grass and herbs in early spring—sand is exceptional, not the rule. East of the Jordan, the desert is an undulating plain, parched in summer but yielding good pasture after winter rains. The Israelites could sustain their flocks during forty years of wandering because the midbar provided seasonal pasturage.
☩Types of Desert Regions
Scripture mentions various specific wilderness regions, often named after nearby towns: the wilderness of Judah (the bleak mountains along the Dead Sea), the wilderness of Sinai (the peninsula between Egypt and Canaan), and numerous smaller 'commons' beyond cultivated areas. The Arabah denotes specifically the Jordan valley and Dead Sea depression. In the New Testament, John preached in the 'wilderness'—open, unpopulated country rather than barren waste.
Related Verses50 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Desert," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. II (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Desert," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Desert, Wilderness," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).