Pasture
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words [1]
denotes (a) "pasture, pasturage," figuratively in John 10:9; (b) "grazing, feeding," figuratively in 2—Timothy 2:17 , of the doctrines of false teachers, lit., "their word will have feeding as a gangrene." See Eat.
Webster's Dictionary [2]
(1): ( n.) Grass land for cattle, horses, etc.; pasturage.
(2): ( n.) Food; nourishment.
(3): ( v. i.) To feed on growing grass; to graze.
(4): ( v. t.) To feed, esp. to feed on growing grass; to supply grass as food for; as, the farmer pastures fifty oxen; the land will pasture forty cows.
(5): ( n.) Specifically: Grass growing for the food of cattle; the food of cattle taken by grazing.
King James Dictionary [3]
P`ASTURE, n. L. pasco, pastum, to feed.
1. Grass for the food of cattle the food of cattle taken by grazing. 2. Ground covered with grass appropriated for the food or cattle. The farmer has a hundred acres of pasture. It is sometimes called pasture-land. 3. Human culture education. Not used.
Common of pasture, is the right of feeding cattle on another's ground.
P`ASTURE, To feed on grass or to supply grass for food. We apply the word to persons, as the farmer pastures fifty oxen or to ground, as the land will pasture fifty oxen.
P`ASTURE, To graze to take food by eating grass from the ground.
Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types [4]
Psalm 23:2 (a) This beautifully presents to us the precious truth that GOD's dear people are made to rest and enjoy His rich provision, His supply, and His goodness. GOD's sheep receive of GOD's best. This same truth is found in Psalm 79:13; Psalm 95:7; Psalm 100:3; Ezekiel 34:31; John 10:9.
Holman Bible Dictionary [5]
Numbers 35:2 35:7 Joshua 14:4 Joshua 21:11 Ezekiel 27:28 Ezekiel 45:2 Ezekiel 48:17
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [6]
(prop. מִרֵעֶה or מִרְעַית , from רָעָה , To Feed, Νομή ) . In the first period of their history the Hebrews led an unsettled pastoral life, such as we still find among many Oriental tribes. One great object of the Mosaical polity was to turn them from this condition into that of fixed cultivators of the soil. Pasturage was, however, only discouraged as a pursuit unfriendly to settled habits and institutions, and not as connected with agriculture. Hence, although in later times the principal attention of the Hebrews was given to agriculture, the tending of sheep and cattle was not at any time neglected. (See Cattle).
The shepherds who move about with their flocks from one pasture-ground to another, according to the demands of the season, the state of the herbage, and the supply of water, are called nomands — that is, not merely shepherds, but wandering shepherds. They feed their flocks on the "commons," or the deserts and wildernesses, which no settled or cultivating people have appropriated. At first no pastoral tribe can have any particular property in such tracts of ground in preference to another tribe; but in the end a particular tract becomes appropriated to some one tribe, or section of a tribe, either from long occupation, or from digging wells therein. According to the ideas of the East, the digging of a well is so meritorious an act that he who performs it acquires a property in the waste lands around. In the time of the patriarchs Palestine was but thinly peopled by the Canaanites, and offered many such tracts of unappropriated grounds fit for pasturage. In these they fed their flocks, without establishing any exclusive claims to the soil, until they proceeded to dig wells, which, being considered as an act of appropriation, was opposed by some of the inhabitants ( Genesis 21:25-26). After the conquest of Canaan, those Israelites who possessed large flocks and herds sent them out, under the care of shepherds, into the "wildernesses," or commons, of the east and south, where there are rich and juicy pasturages during the moist seasons of the year ( 1 Samuel 17:28; 1 Samuel 25:4-15; 1 Chronicles 27:29-31; Isaiah 65:10; Jeremiah 1:39). The nomads occupy, successively, the same stations in the deserts every year. In summer, when the plains are parched with drought, and every green herb is dried up, they proceed northwards, or into the mountains, or to the banks of rivers; and in winter and spring, when the rains have reclothed the plains with verdure, and filled the watercourses, they return. When these pastors remove, they strike their tents, pack them up, and convey them on camels to the next station. Nearly all the pastoral usages were the same anciently as now. The sheep were constantly kept in the open air, and guarded by hired servants, and by the sons and daughters of the owners. Even the daughters of emirs, or chiefs, did not disdain to tend the sheep ( Genesis 24:17-20; Genesis 29:9; Exodus 2:16). The principal shepherd was responsible for the sheep entrusted to his care, and if any were lost he had to make them good, except in certain cases ( Genesis 31:39; Exodus 22:12; Amos 3:12). Their services were often paid by a certain proportion of the young of the flock ( Genesis 30:30). On the more dangerous stations towers were erected, from which the approach of enemies might be discovered. These were called the Towers of the Flock ( Genesis 25:21; 2 Chronicles 26:10; Micah 4:8). (See Shepherd).
